Evil dead question

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01-26-05, 05:51 PM

#26

djtoell

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Quote:

Originally Posted by QuiGonJosh

No it was not.

What was not what? Are you saying that the film was not intended to be projected at 1.66:1 when it was shot? Follow my earlier suggestion to another poster and go buy Bill Warren's "The Evil Dead Companion," written with the cooperation of Sam Raimi, to find out how the film was intended to be projected when it was shot. Again, your baseless speculation holds little water in light of documented history.

DJ

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01-26-05, 06:19 PM

#27

Adam Tyner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by QuiGonJosh

No it was not.

:sigh: Here's the relevant quote from the book djtoell mentioned.

Quote:

Apart from the title, the movie shown that night [during the premiere] is the movie you see today, with only one other difference -- Sam had composed the film for a 1.66:1 aspect ratio (that is, the image was 1.66 times as wide as it was high; 1.85:1 is today's standard), but 16mm occupies the full 1.37:1 'Academy Standard' aperature, the way films were projected up until the early 1950s. The Redford Theater accommodated the old ratio, so that's how Book of the Dead was projected for the premiere, and it's never been shown that way again.

The very last part isn't entirely accurate as many of the revival screenings have been at 1.37:1. Raimi always intended for the movie to get a theatrical release, and even then, hardly anyone was exhibiting films at 1.37:1. 1.66:1 is a common aspect ratio directors shooting in 16mm use, even though most theaters, as djtoell mentioned, almost certainly overmatted to the more traditional 1.85:1.

Yes, they did approve the Elite DVD at 1.33:1. That has no bearing on whether or not they tried to compose for 1.66:1 during principal photography.