Shane (1953)

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

Thank you, Warner Bros.! This film is so long overdue on BD! I'm praying for the original 1.37:1 Academy ratio to be preserved here. I have a feeling they might screw that up.

Paramount is providing the elements, Warner is just distributing Shane. With that said, the DVD is presented in the proper AR so I doubt Paramount is going to do 1.66:1 presentation. Of course, this is all speculation until the actual release.

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Paramount is providing the elements, Warner is just distributing Shane. With that said, the DVD is presented in the proper AR so I doubt Paramount is going to do 1.66:1 presentation. Of course, this is all speculation until the actual release.

Look at what happened to Hondo last year, even though that was actually framed for widescreen but filmed open matte for projection in Academy ratio theaters. The BD was 1.78:1. I'm a bit worried that the same thing will happen to Shane and the original The War of The Worlds, though. They did receive a limited release in 1.66:1 with 3-track stereo, even though they were framed and intended for showing in 1.37:1 Academy. I'm afraid this will carry over as there was some speculation on the HTF about it.
I don't trust Paramount, they've made too many blunders in the past to be worthy of pre-ordering a restoration from them.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

Look at what happened to Hondo last year, even though that was actually framed for widescreen but filmed open matte for projection in Academy ratio theaters. The BD was 1.78:1. I'm a bit worried that the same thing will happen to Shane and the original The War of The Worlds, though. They did receive a limited release in 1.66:1 with 3-track stereo, even though they were framed and intended for showing in 1.37:1 Academy. I'm afraid this will carry over as there was some speculation on the HTF about it.
I don't trust Paramount, they've made too many blunders in the past to be worthy of pre-ordering a restoration from them.

Funny how years ago we all were miffed when widescreen films were formated for 1.33 and now we have to worry about 1.37 films getting made 1.66 or 1.78.

[BluPat]

This cover art looks odd to me. I don't know why...it just does. Looks all 'glowy' looking.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

Look at what happened to Hondo last year, even though that was actually framed for widescreen but filmed open matte for projection in Academy ratio theaters. The BD was 1.78:1.

So that's correct. Remember spherical lens widescreen films are exposed "open matte" because 35mm cameras still have a 4:3 gate, but framed (composed) for widescreen in the camera viewfinder. That's how it gets done.

Shoulda been 3-D tho

Originally Posted by bluknight1

I'm a bit worried that the same thing will happen to Shane and the original The War of The Worlds, though. They did receive a limited release in 1.66:1 with 3-track stereo, even though they were framed and intended for showing in 1.37:1 Academy.

That's not the same thing. It's the opposite. As you say framed (composed) for Academy 1.37 but to make it contemporary with the new widescreen releases competing with them at the time, the prints were projected cropped on wide screens.

We'll see if to make it contemporary with the new HDTV BD releases competing with them at this time, the BD will be transferred cropped on 16:9 screens. or not

[SilentDawn]

Love this film, can't wait to see it on Blu!!

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

So that's correct. Remember spherical lens widescreen films are exposed "open matte" because 35mm cameras still have a 4:3 gate, but framed (composed) for widescreen in the camera viewfinder. That's how it gets done.

Shoulda been 3-D tho



That's not the same thing. It's the opposite. As you say framed (composed) for Academy 1.37 but to make it contemporary with the new widescreen releases competing with them at the time, the prints were projected cropped on wide screens.

We'll see if to make it contemporary with the new HDTV BD releases competing with them at this time, the BD will be transferred cropped on 16:9 screens. or not

My bad. I wasn't paying attention to my terminology. What I meant to say is that I want to see this and War of the Worlds presented on BD in 1.37:1 and not cropped to 1.66:1 or 1.78:1. A film should not be cropped to compete with other releases. If anything, that would increase grain and softness to levels that were not intended. The idea of a catalog release should be to reproduce the original experience as best as possible and not to make it more modern.

[Abdrewes]

I hope everyone has read the book. No offense to this really good flick, but its miles better.

I recommend reading the book first (it's very short too).

I'm excited to pick this up in the Summer

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Glad the price is pretty low on this one as it'll be a blind-buy for me.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

My bad. I wasn't paying attention to my terminology. What I meant to say is that I want to see this and War of the Worlds presented on BD in 1.37:1 and not cropped to 1.66:1 or 1.78:1. A film should not be cropped to compete with other releases. If anything, that would increase grain and softness to levels that were not intended. The idea of a catalog release should be to reproduce the original experience as best as possible and not to make it more modern.

I agree. Warner has been pretty good in doing their Academy movies in 1.37 (not 1.33)

[retablo]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Paramount is providing the elements, Warner is just distributing Shane. With that said, the DVD is presented in the proper AR so I doubt Paramount is going to do 1.66:1 presentation. Of course, this is all speculation until the actual release.

It's not speculation. The director's son, who's involved in the restoration, has already publicly stated that the film will be in 1.66. As has restoration guru Robert Harris: "While I would love to also see the film in 1.37, the 1.66 has been formatted on a shot-by-shot basis, as opposed to locking in at a 1.66 center and running. George Stevens, Jr., whom I trust implicitly, has approved. He was not only on set for the shoot in 1951, but also, rumor has it, knew the director reasonably well. Hopefully, a dual format release can occur, as the data would have been completed both ways.”

We can only hope they present both versions, but what films other than Criterion's On The Waterfront and Raimi's Evil Dead have been presented in alternate ARs for blu-ray?

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

Look at what happened to Hondo last year, even though that was actually framed for widescreen but filmed open matte for projection in Academy ratio theaters. The BD was 1.78:1. I'm a bit worried that the same thing will happen to Shane and the original The War of The Worlds, though. They did receive a limited release in 1.66:1 with 3-track stereo, even though they were framed and intended for showing in 1.37:1 Academy. I'm afraid this will carry over as there was some speculation on the HTF about it.
I don't trust Paramount, they've made too many blunders in the past to be worthy of pre-ordering a restoration from them.

You don't trust Paramount because they issued a version of Hondo in its correct ratio? Hmmm. Hondo was a widescreen film.

In the case of Shane, the original theatrical release aspect ratio was 1.66. It was shot for Academy, but by the time it was finished and Stevens had the film edited the widescreen revolution was happening and Paramount wanted it widescreen - Stevens participated in that decision and agreed to it.

What everyone really should want with Shane is both versions on one disc - the original theatrical release ratio (which I understand will definitely be on the disc) and the Academy version (whether that will accompany it is unknown at this time as there has been no official word on what this disc will contain).

[Daredevil666]

The DVD of Shane isn't a proper academy presentation it's cropped to 1.33:1 and zoomboxed. It's a crap presentation, the widescreen 1.66:1 Blu will kill it.

[Akijama]

The June 4 Blu-ray debut of "Shane'' will now be presented in the 1:37 aspect ratio instead of the originally announced 1:66 ratio, I've just been told by a rep for Warner Home Video, which is handling release of many catalogue titles owned by Paramount Pictures. TCM, which had planned to show a DCP of a new restoration in the 1:66 ratio at its annual Classic Film Festival in Hollywood next week, also indicated today that the Alan Ladd classic will now be shown in 1:37 instead of the planned 1:66 "because Paramount provided both versions.''

It's unclear when, if ever, this 1:66 version will be seen. The WHV rep said the Blu-ray would contain only the 1:37 version.

Read more: DVD Extra Extra: 'Shane' Blu-ray now going out at 1:37 http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies...#ixzz2Qm3s1q31

[Canada]

I want this.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Read more: DVD Extra Extra: 'Shane' Blu-ray now going out at 1:37 http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies...#ixzz2Qm3s1q31

Badabing! Wonder if the 1:66 was ever really in the works? Whatever, it's great this is the correct AR.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by retablo

We can only hope they present both versions, but what films other than Criterion's On The Waterfront and Raimi's Evil Dead have been presented in alternate ARs for blu-ray?

Paramount's THE TRAP (1959) for some reason was released to Blu-ray by Olive with both 1.78 and 1.33 aspect ratios. It looks good in both, but a little better in 1.78 for most shots.

I'm really glad they finally decided to release SHANE in its original 1.37 composition, and now definitely plan to buy it as soon as it's available. I might try watching it once with the 16x9 zoom setting, but expect I'll mainly watch it at the proper 1.37:1.

However, it would be nice to have both the 1.37 and 1.66 scans on the same disc for comparison (and to have higher native resolution for those curious to see the widescreen version, instead of losing pixels by manually zooming the smaller 1.37 image out to fill the 16x9 screen, not to mention having the actual theatrical aspect ratio used in 1953 instead of the 1.78 compromise that crops even more). Of course those with projectors and good absorbent black masking can always zoom the picture out to exactly 1.66 if they really want to, but won't have the shot-by-shot supervised reframing apparently done for Paramount's 1.66 scan.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Paramount's THE TRAP (1959) for some reason was released to Blu-ray by Olive with both 1.78 and 1.33 aspect ratios. It looks good in both, but a little better in 1.78 for most shots.

Well if it's from 1959 it's a widescreen movie.

[quickdraw]

So, according to the NY Post article, it looks like the June release date has been pushed back.

[oscarmerkx]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

So, according to the NY Post article, it looks like the June release date has been pushed back.

Here is that update

April 18 update: A Warner rep adds: "We may not be able to release the BD as planned in June. We are waiting word from mastering as to when we will have things ready on the new version and then will officially reschedule the release date.''

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by HDvision

The DVD of Shane isn't a proper academy presentation it's cropped to 1.33:1 and zoomboxed. It's a crap presentation, the widescreen 1.66:1 Blu will kill it.

Then I'm happy. I was worried that the 1.66-only BD would crop info I was used to seeing in the picture.