These pressbooks were sent out by the film's producers/ distributers, to inform theatres in the proper way to promote and project these films. Have you even bothered to look through any of the links I gave for some of them?

But hey, if you want to insist you're right, that's your prerogative. However, I'd like to think that we can agree that both the theatrical ratio and the animated ratio should be given on future releases, as that would satisfy, mostly, both camps on the ratio issue.


Scott

From what I can gather, after Lady and SB, which were costly for the Disney company to make, they went back to shooting live-action, and animating, Disney films at academy ratio, framing the action in that 1.75:1 frame, which became the "Disney" ratio, as it was more cost effective for them to do it this way. Of course, as with anything, there were exceptions, "Old Yeller" & "The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band" being instructed at 1.85, and "Swiss Family Robinson", etc. being shown at the wider, cinemascope ratio of 2.35.



Scott

I don't know the answer, but some other studios used 1.75:1 from time to time. Sabrina (1954) which is open matte on the Paramount DVD, was advertised in Variety as being 1.75:1. The Manchurian Candidate (1964) was a UA release at 1.75:1, and is framed that way on the MGM DVD (with very thin black bars at the sides of the frame).

Were there any 70 mm engagements of Sleeping Beauty in its original release? What aspect ratio were they?

most 70mm were/are 2.20:1

Maybe I need a refresher course. Wasn't Sleeping Beauty supertechnirama? I think it's 4 perf 70mm. I thought supertechnirama's AR was 2.55.

Sleeping Beauty was acutally photographed in 8-perf 35 mm Technirama process and then optically enlarged to 70 mm 5-perf prints for select venues that were equipped to present the movie as such.

http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/wingtr3.htm

Disney's 'The Black Cauldron' was also a Super Techirama 70 film - the last one actually. 26 films were released as such and most were shot in 35mm (2.35) but when projected in SPTech70 were 2.20:1

Ah, I knew I needed a refresher, thanks. It was a horizontal process using 35mm film in-camera, running "double wide" across what would be two standard frames. Kind of like Vista Vision. Right?

Yes, it's basically anamorphically "squeezed" VistaVision.

I want to say that "Tron", I believe, is one of those 26 films, not sure though. Do you have a link to those 26?



Scott

I have some pressbook information to add...


"The Black Hole" 1979 Premiere Release Information:

"FOR A PERFECT PRESENTATION THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A SUPER WIDESCREEN IMAGE MUST BE 2:35 to 1"

(NOTE: Both the Disney and Anchor Bay DVDs present "The Black Hole" in it's original theatrical aspect ratio.)


The Disney DVD is 16X9 enhanced, not sure about the Anchor Bay one. Also, this pressbook is one of three from an order I placed, the other two were shipped separately, waiting on them still...


"Sleeping Beauty" 1959 Premiere Release Information:

"MR. EXHIBITOR...IMPORTANT NOTE!

To Present "Sleeping Beauty" In It's Full, Breathtaking Scope, It Is Absolutely Necessary That You Use Aspect Ratio 2:35 to 1"


Of course, we already had the link to the letter from the pressbook, from that Digital Bits article. The pressbook I received had an insert, not the letter, stating the same info in the letter... "IMPORTANT! The 35mm Print of "Sleeping Beauty" Must Be Projected at an Aspect Ratio of 2.35 to 1"


For 1960's "The Sign Of Zorro", there were no projection instructions in it's pressbook, adding to the list of those not having that info.



"Lady And The Tramp" was shipped separately, so I'm waiting on that one.



Scott

I also wanted to add these four to the list, which I had already known about them, but wanted to add to my collection...



"The Aristocats" 1970 Premiere Release Information:

"MR. EXHIBITOR THE ASPECT RATIO FOR "THE ARISTOCATS" FOR BEST SCREEN QUALITY IS 175 TO 1." *

(NOTE: Only the 'Special Edition' DVD release of "The Aristocats" presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1.)

*That's not a typo from me by the way, it actually says 175 TO 1 in the pressbook, not 1.75 or 1:75.



"The Strongest Man In The World" 1975 Premiere Release Information:

"The Aspect Ratio for "The Strongest Man in the World" to create the most spectacular screen image is 1.75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the theatrical framing for this release is 1.75:1, the DVD release is at a (Open-matte/ Pan & Scan?) 1.33:1 ratio.)



"The Apple Dumpling Gang" 1975 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The animated featurette, *"Donald and his Duckling Gang" premiered with this.)

*EDIT - This was a compilation of previous animated shorts/ Thanks to Mabuse for catching that...

"MR. EXHIBITOR: THE ASPECT RATIO TO BEST EXHIBIT THE HILARIOUS WILD WEST ACTION IN THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG IS 1-75 TO 1."

(NOTE: Only the DVD releases of "The Apple Dumpling Gang" presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1.)



"Pete's Dragon" 1977 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The theatre kit states that the running time of the film is 2 hours and 7 minutes, while the DVD releases are 2 hours and 9 minutes. That makes an extra 2 minutes.)

"So Elliott the Dragon can be seen at his brazzle dazzle best, please project "Pete's Dragon" at the
ASPECT RATIO 1.75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the theatrical framing for this film is 1.75:1, the DVD releases are misframed at 1.66:1.)


I'll update the list shortly...


Scott

I don't have a link, but here's the list I got from the publication:

'Digital & 65mm'

the films:

Solomon and Sheba
Sleeping Beauty
Spartacus
The Trials of Oscar Wilde
El Cid
King of Kings
Carthagine in Fiamme
The Savage Innocents
Madame Sans Gene
Barabbas
Black Tights/Les Collants Noirs
The Music Man
Shin No Shikotei/The Great Wall
Venus Imperiale
55 Days of Peking
The Golden Head
Shaka / Buddha
Hercule a la Conquette de l'Atlantide
La Fayette
Zulu
The Pink Panther
Circus World
The Long Ships
Custer of the West
Clint, El Solitario
The Black Cauldron

'Tron' is listed as a Super Panavision 70 release.

in regards to Pete's Dragon - I've read from various sources the original roadshow version ran at 134 minutes.

Oh, Okay, thanks for the clarification on that, and the above list.


Scott

I think I remember now something about that as well, the missing 7 or so minutes might be mostly overture and exit music, not really sure. Or could it be something akin to "Bedknobs And Broomsticks", where there were trims before the premiere, but unlike Bedknobs, haven't been restored on video?

In any event, whatever is missing hopefully will be made available on the next release of Pete's Dragon, in addition to it's theatrical release, and the aspect ratio being fixed.


Scott

"The Apple Dumpling Gang" 1975 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The animated featurette, "Donald and his Duckling Gang" premiered with this.)

"MR. EXHIBITOR: THE ASPECT RATIO TO BEST EXHIBIT THE HILARIOUS WILD WEST ACTION IN THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG IS 1-75 TO 1."

(NOTE: Only the DVD releases of "The Apple Dumpling Gang" presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1.)
----------------------------------------

What is Donald and his Duckling Gang? I've never heard of it. There were no original Donald shorts in the '70s. This must have been a retitle of an old cartoon or something.

scant IMDB entry

wikipedia article infers that it was a compilation

http://www.cinemarts.com/viewitem.aspx?id=3822

Oh wow...Nice catch! I usually check both wiki and IMDB for that stuff, not that they're that reliable sometimes, and IMDB even says 1977 for "Donald And His Duckling Gang", and Apple... premiered in '75. I don't remember what I read originally from them. Looking at IMDB again, it is apparent that this is a compilation of some previous shorts.

Usually for any live-action or animated featurette attached to a feature release, it'll say Released by or Re-released by Walt Disney...which is indication as to whether or not it is a premiere. For "Donald And His Duckling Gang" it only says Walt Disney Productions next to it.

I'll correct that in the list...Thanks again for catching that...


Scott

I have seen that before too, however I'm only looking for the U.S. pressbook for it. Thanks for linking that though...


Scott

I received the remaining pressbooks I ordered...



1955's "Lady And The Tramp", no projection instructions in it's pressbook, though it states throughout, "FIRST All-Cartoon Feature In Cinemascope". It is pretty much established though that Lady premiered at the 2.55:1 ratio, along with an academy ratio version, when it came out in '55.

Also, the live-action featurette, "Switzerland", premiered with Lady, and it also was advertised as the first "People and Places" featurette to be shown in Cinemascope.


1964's "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones", no projection instructions in it's pressbook.


1966's "The Ugly Dachsund", no projection instructions in it's pressbook.
Also, the animated featurette, "Winnie The Pooh And The Honey Tree" premiered with this.


1980's "Midnight Madness", again no projection instructions in it's pressbook.



"Babes In Toyland" 1961 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The animated featurette, "Aquamania" premiered with this. Also, the theatre kit states a run time of 100 Minutes, while the DVD release states 106 min., that's a gain of 6 minutes.)

"Mr. Exhibitor...

Perfect projection will assure your audiences of getting all the wonderful pleasures of "Babes in Toyland"... so be sure to use

ASPECT RATIO 1:75 to 1

WARNING: If projected at a ratio less than 1:75 to 1 there will be a black border at top and/or bottom of screen!"

(NOTE: While the theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is (Open-matte/ Pan & Scanned?) at 1.33:1.)



For 1966's Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., I got the '74 re-release one for it, and I will be sending it back, as the seller will be sending me the premiere release one he should have sent me originally. I'll get it in a couple of weeks at my work address overseas.



I also received the following pressbook, but didn't bother to mention it previously as we already had the info for it...


For The Parent Trap , it does state a runtime of 129 MINUTES. I had mistakenly believed it's pressbook said 125 minutes from the scans of it on it's Vault Disney release, as the scans were somewhat blurry, but the rest of the information I posted about it earlier is still correct.

Anyway, I'll be updating the list soon with the new info...


Scott

I wanted to add that in addition to waiting for 1966's Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., I ordered for delivery, at my work address overseas, the following...

1960's Ten Who Dared
1971's The Wild Country
1971's The Barefoot Executive
1972's Napoleon And Samantha

Anyway, I'll be getting the info out for these in about two weeks...


Scott

in regards to Lady and the Tramp were all the theatrical engagements, even the non-Cinemascope mass 35mm prints released in 2.55 or optically reduced/cropped to 2.35 or lower?

By what I can gather, in 1956/57 I believe, the original 2.55:1 aspect ratio of CinemaScope was changed into 2.35:1, to allow for an optical mono track (plus 2.35:1 was getting to be the standard screen ratio), if I'm remembering what I read somewhere correctly, and the website escapes me now.

So unlike 1959's "Sleeping Beauty", which was animated at 2.55:1, but premiered at 2.35:1 (or 2.20:1 for the 70mm roadshow engagements), 1955's "Lady And The Tramp" I believe was premiered at 2.55:1. Also, from your earlier post... in a memo dated July 28, 1953, the Studio green lit the CinemaScope version of Lady and the Tramp, while it also established a "Standard Version" ...

I believe that the standard version (academy ratio) backgrounds for L&TT were animated first, with additional information animated on the sides of the academy ratio version to create the cinemascope version. The characters and action were then animated for both versions, or were basically repositioned from the academy to the wider cinemascope.

As it was 1955, and widescreen was only a couple of years into becoming the norm, I assume Disney wasn't sure if the cinemascope version could be shown everywhere, as the transition from the standard to widescreen was still in it's earliest stages. Just my guess/theory anyway. Also, for the Platinum DVD release of L&TT, instead of giving us that standard version, we got a pan & scan of the cinemascope version. I guess Disney didn't want to go through the trouble/cost of remastering the standard version.

When you compare Lady and the Tramp to other CinemaScope pictures of 1955 (The Seven Year Itch, Guys & Dolls, Rebel Without A Cause, etc.), all of them use the 2.55:1 ratio also.


Scott