The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) now with 2025 Hammer Editions

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Brett C

Not sure I swallow the open frame original ratio bit. It would of been projected 1.66.1 in the UK and 185.1 in the US.
Besides there is an awful lot of extraneous headroom in the full frame of this film.

But if you can have both its great IMO. Better resolution and interesting to watch to boot.

Plus according to Hammer

Yes, it’s full frame, but matted just off the edges for sharp mask. We also always thought the film was intended for 1.66:1 exhibition till we reviewed the entire film (4k open gate scan of I/P) open matte in a screening room. It is crystal clear, upon viewing, that the film was intended to be screened at 1.37:1. The framing is perfectly composed throughout at full frame and there are zero production artefacts in the frame at any point. Although 1.66:1 had mostly became the widescreen standard by the end of the 50s, many films in that decade were still shot with the intention that they would be exhibited at the Academy ratio

The comments on the subject at their site is very interesting to read through
http://blog.hammerfilms.com/?p=135#comments

I do like that they will be releasing both versions. Especially since originally it was going to be academy only.