Turner Classic Movies: Letterbox

[xfilesmanson]

well if fullscreen sucks so much quit releasing it, i think they already did

[ArkadiosTheodulus]

What was the last movie shown?

[Usul573]

@ArkadiosTheodulus

I think that's Gigi also.

[SeahorseOfDoom]

Did anyone else notice that this video was itself presented in 4:3 ratio? Just made me chuckle

[ormaisazio]

This video should be projected in every school!!! However, the Last Supper example is funny, haha

[kerrigilpin]

Just watched this on TCM and had to find it for my video production students!

[Vassilika1]

I've had my first widescreen-TV (16:9) back in 1995, I brought lots of videos back after read this silly phrase:

" this film has been modified to fit your screen (4:3)"

How the fuck should they now what screen I have?!

This letterboxing and pan scan is a really big shit, shame on it!!!

[Usul573]

@Vassilika1

I popped in the Jurassic Park VHS.

I was like, modified to fit this screen my ass!! when using my HDTV.

I guess since fullscreen was the standard in the 90s for TVs, VHS tapes often have that notice.

[Vassilika1]

@Usul573

well, not only VHS, but also DVD's, since then I'm always very careful what I buy, I even check the bluray's before buy them...

[Usul573]

@Vassilika1

Hopefully all blu-rays have the proper aspect ratio, but you never know.

If you're going to buy one you should check so you don't get upset at yourself.

DVDs you gotta be careful of course, at the library the other day, I noticed they had Terminator 3 in a fullscreen DVD and widescreen DVD. Some let you select.

I hope all current DVDs and blu-rays are released in the right aspect ratio, that is, widescreen for almost everything new.

DVD is going to linger.........maybe indefinitely.

[Loumens]

Fuckin Letterbox

[LadyAmerican]

Love this!!!!! When was this TCM PSA made BTW?



[griffin324]

I get pissed when there AREN'T black bars.

[BoogsterSU2]

The widest aspect ratio you can get is 4.00:1, also called Polyvision.

Also, this is why EVERY broadcaster should STOP using pan scan. Pan scanning ruins a broadcast. Every one of them.

[Belcoot0161]

k this doesnt really answer the question i had, obviously i get why wider is better because otherwise some of the movie is being cut out, but can someone tell me why it is necessary to have the top and bottom of the television cut off as well even when watching with a wide screen tv?

[mthemaniac]

@Belcoot0161 Yes, the answer is simple. Your "wide screen" TV is 16:9 or about 1.77:1. Wide screen movies are frequently 2.35:1 or higher aspect. If the aspect of the film is higher than the aspect of the TV you will have black bars top and bottom. Wide screen TVs are not really wide screen, they are wider than old TVs' but not as wide as most movies. A CIH projection system is what you need to eliminate black bars top and bottom for all aspect ratios.

[EmpireLS56KW]

Panned and scanned butches the integrity of the filmmaker’s original intent.

[JonasEBothun]

I've loved letterboxing ever since my days as a Hong Kong action film fanatic. I always enjoy watching this interstitial on TCM. I think they should produce one for subtitles as well, detailing the properties of the original sound mix of a film as well as the performers' natural voices and how dubbing ruins these qualities. TCM recently showed a botched copy of Godard's Contempt; it was simply the worst dubbing I've ever heard (it was also pan & scanned.) It would be a fine example.

[poolboyinla]

@JonasEBothun I also used to be a fan of HK cinema.

[mmmark]

Can this be re-posted in the wide screen format?

[griffin324]

@mmmark Haha no I don't think so. It was filmed in full screen.

[Foxamigo]

@mmmark Actually if you think about it, you can't and you'd be defeating the purpose of this segment. They shot in 4:3 so the interviews would be cropped if you changed it to 16:9.

[poolboyinla]

@Foxamigo No doubt.

[BudDwiker]

Before seeing this little short, I was one of those idiots who was annoyed by the Black Bars. After seeing this I always watched movies widescreen

[bryoneill11]

@BudDwiker I cant see a movie with the black bars, i cant unsee them

[soulpopped]

that last supper example is phenomenal

[EmpireLS56KW]

I like black bars top and bottom narrow for W/S when looking at the 35mm you see thicker rack lines top and bottom. With scope you see thinner rack lines top and bottom yet on TV they’re shown as thicker black bars top and bottom, it doesn’t bother me at all.