Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I had posted earlier that the "Winnie The Pooh And The Honey Tree" animated featurette premiered with the release of "The Ugly Dachsund".

With that, I have some more aspect ratio info to add...


1968's The Horse In The Gray Flannel Suit, no projection instructions for it's pressbook, but the animated featurette, "Winnie The Pooh And The Blustery Day" premiered with this.


"The Island At The Top Of The World" 1974 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The animated featurette, "Winnie The Pooh And Tigger Too!" premiered with this.)

"The Aspect Ratio for "THE ISLAND AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD" to achieve the best screen image is 1.75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, it is misframed at 1.66:1, and also has a pan & scan version, on the Anchor Bay release. For the Disney release, the packaging states 1.85:1.)



"The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh" 1977 Premiere Release Information:

"To pooh-ject a pooh-rific picture on your screen THE ASPECT RATIO IS 1.75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film is 1.75:1, the DVD releases are at an Open-matte, 1.33:1 ratio.)


Now, throughout the pressbook, it states that TMAOWTP is re-released in feature form by Buena Vista. Now, this is the original pressbook from 1977, but being that the three featurettes making up the feature were previously released of course, the featurettes technically are a re-release, the tying animation between the shorts being new. The feature was instructed to be at a 1.75:1 ratio, though this doesn't mean the shorts were at that ratio, though I suspect them to be.

In any event, I'd like to see the next release of The Many Adv... in it's correct theatrical ratio, and the three shorts as a bonus in their original theatrical presentation.


I'll update the list shortly...



Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

actually I think it was done in reverse, filmed in cinemascope that recomposed for 2.35:

I can't vouch if this accurate, but from the Disney Archives they state:

"This was the first Disney animated feature filmed in CinemaScope®, which necessitated extra work in planning scenes and action to fill the entire screen."

from wiki (sourced info from the DVD special edition):

"More problems arose as the premiere date got closer. Although Cinemascope was becoming a growing interest to movie-goers, not all theaters had the capabilities at the time. Upon learning this, Walt issued two versions of the film to be created: one in widescreen, and another in the Academy ratio. This involved gathering the layout artists to restructure key scenes when characters were on the outside area of the screen."

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Thanks for that info, as I don't think I have seen that before. Though it would seem that if they greenlit both a cinemascope version and an academy ratio version, it would have been easier to have done the academy version first. I don't know really, and in any event, instead of getting the academy ratio version with the cinemascope one on the last release, we got a pan & scan of the cinemascope.


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

A couple of weeks ago, someone I know acquired the pressbook, or campaign book as pressbooks were originally called, for the 1953 Disney film "The Sword And The Rose", and he revealed that on the bottom right of page 3 it states...

""THE SWORD AND THE ROSE" IS THE FIRST WALT DISNEY FEATURE TO BE SHOWN ON THE GIANT MIRACLE-SCREEN

Wide-Screen Prints Are Available at All RKO Radio Exchanges"


Today, I came across a link provided for someone selling a copy of this pressbook on ebay, and on the second of seven scans provided it shows that info...

http://www.guardianskins.com/the_swo...aign_book#Next

It's a little blurry, but you can make out most of it, and I don't know how long it will be available.

I had thought that "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" was the first widescreen release from Disney, but this is apparently not the case. As far as what ratio Sword was shown in, I don't know.

The Paramount film, "Shane" had just premiered as the first matted widescreen picture a few months prior, and it's ratio was 1.66 I believe, and it's possible that Sword was at this ratio. My guess is that Sword probably was shown mostly at academy ratio in most venues, as it was only a few months since the beginning of widescreen pictures. As far as "the Giant Miracle-Screen", I can't seem to find anything about it.

The live-action featurette, "Prowlers of the Everglades" also premiered with this.


Anyway, I wanted to pass this along for those interested...




Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I wanted to add that I've ordered the following pressbooks, and that I should have the info out in about two weeks...

1958's Tonka
1961's One Hundred And One Dalmatians
1964's Mary Poppins
1967's The Gnome-Mobile



Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I received the following pressbooks a couple of days ago...



"Ten Who Dared" 1960 Premiere Release Information:

"MISTER EXHIBITOR, PLEASE NOTE: Give your patrons the best possible picture on your theatre screen. For top projection results in presentation of TEN WHO DARED, do not exceed ASPECT RATIO 1:75 to 1 or you will lose top and bottom of picture"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the Disney Movie Club Exclusive DVD release is framed at a 1.33:1 (Open-matte/ Pan & Scan?) ratio.)



"The Wild Country" 1971 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR DISNEY'S "THE WILD COUNTRY" IS 175 TO 1."

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



"The Barefoot Executive" 1971 Premiere Release Information:

"TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SCREEN QUALITY FOR "BAREFOOT EXECUTIVE," IT IS NECESSARY THAT YOU ADHERE TO THE ASPECT RATIO OF 1:75 TO 1."

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



"Napoleon And Samantha" 1972 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR "NAPOLEON AND SAMANTHA" IS 1.75 TO 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film is 1.75:1, it is misframed on both the Disney and Anchor Bay DVDs at 1.85:1, and the Anchor Bay DVD also has a pan & scan version.)



For 1966's Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., there were no projection instructions in it's pressbook, and the live-action featurette "Run, Appaloosa, Run!" premiered with this.


I also have been meaning to add that the premiere release pressbook for 1967's The Jungle Book, unfortunately, doesn't have projection instructions in it. I suspect though that it's Platinum Edition release is in it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75:1.


I'll update the list shortly...


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Okay, I got in yesterday the following pressbooks...


1964's Mary Poppins - no projection instructions in it's pressbook, and...

1967's The Gnome-Mobile - again, no projection instructions in it's pressbook.

The live-action featurette, "The Legend Of The Boy And The Eagle" also premiered with this.




"Tonka" 1958 Premiere Release Information:

"MR. EXHIBITOR - PLEASE NOTE!

For Best Projection Results In The Presentation of "Tonka" Use ASPECT RATIO 1:75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the Disney Movie Club Exclusive DVD release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/ pan & scan?) ratio.)



:thumbsup: "One Hundred And One Dalmatians" 1961 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The live-action featurette, "The Horse With The Flying Tail" premiered with this.)

"MR. EXHIBITOR PLEASE NOTE

Give your patrons the best possible picture on your theatre screen. For top projection results in the presentation of "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" do not exceed

ASPECT RATIO 1:33 to 1

or you will lose top and bottom of picture"

(NOTE: All DVD releases present this film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1.)


That's right, 101 Dalmatians' original theatrical ratio was at the standard academy ratio of 1.33:1. From what I can gather, Dalmatians was premiered at the academy ratio because it had something to do with the xerox process first utilized in that film. The production of Dalmatians had begun a few years prior to it's release, and at that time Disney had never matted an animated feature.

Being that Disney had gone back to animating their films at academy ratio after "Lady And The Tramp" and "Sleeping Beauty", mostly due to costs, it seems the animators didn't frame the feature to be matted when they started on it. By the time it came to releasing Dalmatians, it was realized that it would have to be released at academy ratio.

So, in the time frame between Dalmatians and "The Aristocats" release, probably "The Sword In The Stone" or "The Jungle Book" was the first Disney animated film to be framed for and matted at a widescreen release.


Anyway, I'll update the list shortly...


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I wanted to add that I placed an order for the following pressbooks...


1964's The Three Lives of Thomasina
1965's Those Calloways
1965's The Monkey's Uncle
1979's Take Down

...and I should receive them within a couple of weeks...


Also, I updated the Turner Classic Movie links for those pressbooks viewable on that website, as they had tweaked their site, and the links were no longer viewable.



Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Anyone else have any thoughts on this news? I'm surprised I guess that no one has commented on it, as I know I was surprised when I first found out...


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I'm only surprised that the press book says that, with my surprise being based on the content of the others you've been citing.

Actually watching The Jungle Book will show that it was not framed for a matted widescreen release. Or if it was, retroactively after the animation was under way, it was certainly done in a half-assed way and shouldn't be respected. The matting of The Jungle Book crops out pieces of characters, and it looks stupid.

So I guess your surprise about 101 Dalmatians is not really in how the movie was designed to be shown, but that it was actually promoted to be shown in the way it had been designed to be shown. But we've been down this road in this thread before, so I'll go back to passive lurking and grumbling.

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Regarding "The Jungle Book", I've read in other places that it's possible that the Platinum release has the film matted from a zoomed-in transfer of the animated ratio, so that even though it was matted in theatres, the presentation on DVD doesn't show the correct matted version. I don't really know, and if that is the case, hopefully on the next release we'll get the correct matted transfer, and of course the animated ratio along with it. ;)

While I believe the 1.75:1 ratio for "The Jungle Book" is the ratio that it premiered in theatres at, for "The Sword In The Stone", I do have the tiniest of doubts as to whether it premiered at that ratio or not, though I do lean towards 1.75.

I was only surprised in that in being 1961, and widescreen had been the norm for more than five years, that a release at this time in theatres would have been at the academy ratio. In any event, as always, I'm for the original theatrical version/ ratio, at whatever ratio that might be. For 101 Dalmatians then, as it wasn't designed/ framed for a widescreen release as their later animated films were, it has been released on DVD in it's correct theatrical ratio.


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I received the following four pressbooks yesterday...all without projection instructions in them...

1964's The Three Lives of Thomasina

1965's Those Calloways

1965's The Monkey's Uncle
(Also, the animated featurette, "Freewayphobia" premiered with this.)

1979's Take Down
(This film was an American Film Consortium production, distributed by Buena Vista.)



Anyway, I'll update the list shortly...


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I also ordered the following pressbooks today, and should receive them within two weeks...


1954's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
1971's Scandalous John
1976's No Deposit, No Return
1977's Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo
1980's Herbie Goes Bananas



Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Hadn't checked in for a while. Interesting bit on the 101 Dalmatians, I've never watched this one very closely like I started doing for other Disney features after I started learning about this matting stuff.

I've used the zoom feature on my widescreen set to matte the 1.33 DVD of The Jungle Book down to 1.77 and it seemed to fit pretty well, though I might not have done the whole feature.

Keep on keepin' on Always!

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Okay, I got that batch of pressbooks in...


1954's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea...no projection instructions in it's pressbook. Also, the animated featurette, "Grand Canyonscope" premiered with this.



:up: "Scandalous John" 1971 Premiere Release Information:

"FOR YOUR AUDIENCE PLEASURE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ADHERE TO THE ASPECT RATIO OF 2.35 To 1"

(NOTE: The Disney Movie Club Exclusive DVD presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1.)



"No Deposit, No Return" 1976 Premiere Release Information:

"The Aspect Ratio for "NO DEPOSIT, NO RETURN" to achieve the best screen image is 1:75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is pan & scanned at 1.33:1)



"Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo" 1977 Premiere Release Information:

"To make Herbie a winner on your screen THE ASPECT RATIO IS 1:75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is pan & scanned at 1.33:1.)



"Herbie Goes Bananas" 1980 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A SUPER IMAGE IS 1:75 To 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is pan & scanned at 1.33:1.)

Also, the pressbook states a runtime of 1 hr., 40 min., while the DVD release states a runtime of 102 min.



I'll update the list shortly...


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Somehow, I missed posting this one a couple of months ago when I started this thread, as I've had it for some time...

"Treasure Of Matecumbe" 1976 Premiere Release Information:

"The Aspect Ratio for "TREASURE OF MATECUMBE" to achieve the best screen image is 1:75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is pan & scanned at 1.33:1.)


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

in regards to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea given it's wide aspect ratio (2.55) I'm sure not a lot of theatres had screens at that width to present the film as such.

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I've ordered a few more pressbooks...



1966's Follow Me, Boys!

1977's The Littlest Horse Thieves

1978's The Cat from Outer Space

I should have the info out for these within two weeks.


Also, I updated the list at the beginning of this thread, as I discovered half of it was missing for some reason.


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Okay, I received these pressbooks about two weeks ago, just haven't had time to post about them...



"Follow Me, Boys!" 1966 Premiere Release Information:

"Mr. Showman; THE ASPECT RATIO of "Follow Me, Boys!" is 1:75 to 1

Adhere to this ratio to achieve the best screen image possible, and a quality image for your theatre."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/ pan & scan?) ratio.)



"The Littlest Horse Thieves" 1977 Premiere Release Information:

"For the biggest and best picture of "The Littlest Horse Thieves" on your screen THE ASPECT RATIO IS 1:75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the Anchor Bay release is misframed at 1.85:1, and has a pan & scan version, while the Disney release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/ pan & scan?) ratio.)



:thumbsup: "The Cat From Outer Space" 1978 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR AN OUT OF THIS WORLD SCREEN IMAGE IS 1:75 to 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the Anchor Bay release is misframed at 1.66:1. For the Disney release, it presents this film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.75:1.)



I'll update the list shortly...

Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

Wow! Thanks for gathering all of this data. I remember many of these like "The Cat From Outer Space". Now I see to avoid the Anchor Bay release. I'll have to refer to this thread again and again when purchasing these films. Thanks again.

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I received these pressbooks awhile ago, just haven't been able to find the time to post...


1963's "The Incredible Journey"...no projection instructions in it.



"Monkeys, Go Home!" 1967 Premiere Release Information:

"Mr. Exhibitor!

THE ASPECT RATIO OF "MONKEYS, GO HOME!" is 1.75:1

ADHERE TO THIS RATIO TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE SCREEN IMAGE."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/ pan & scan?) ratio.)



"The World's Greatest Athlete" 1973 Premiere Release Information:

"The Aspect Ratio to achieve the "World's Greatest Screen Image" is 1.75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is misframed at 1.85:1.)



"The Shaggy D.A." 1976 Premiere Release Information:

"To make "The Shaggy D.A." a winner on your screen THE ASPECT RATIO IS 1:75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is misframed at 1.85:1.)



"Amy" 1981 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A HEART-FELT IMAGE IS 1:75 TO 1"

(NOTE: This film has NOT been released on DVD. Tell Disney you want it, and released in the proper framing of 1.75:1. Call Disney at 1-800-723-4763.)



I also received the pressbook for "Pollyanna" and is the same of course as the scans of it presented on the Vault Disney release, confirming it's 1.75:1 ratio.


I'll update the list shortly...

Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I've placed an order for the following pressbooks, and should receive them within two weeks...


1960's "Kidnapped"

1963's "Summer Magic"

1969"s "Smith!"

1972's "The Biscuit Eater"

1981's "The Watcher In The Woods"


Regarding Watcher, I had linked the projection info before, from what was in the pressbook for the aborted 1980 premiere, on a previous page...

http://shop.vendio.com/comicod/item/...871/index.html

The one I ordered was for the actual 1981 premiere, and has a different cover than what is in the link, but my guess is that there were probably no changes from one to the other.


Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I received these pressbooks a week ago, just now getting around to posting about them...



"Kidnapped" 1960 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The theatre kit states a running time of 97 min., while the DVD release states 95 min. That's a loss of 2 minutes.)

"MR. EXHIBITOR PLEASE NOTE

Give your patrons the best possible picture on your theatre screen. For top projection results in the presentation of Walt Disney's "Kidnapped," do not exceed

ASPECT RATIO 1:75 to 1

or you will lose top and bottom of the picture."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the Disney Movie Club Exclusive DVD release is pan & scanned at 1.33:1.)


...on a side note, the live action featurette "Mysteries of the Deep" premiered with this, not with "Pollyanna", which came out a couple of months after "Kidnapped", and also showed the featurette before that presentation...



"The Biscuit Eater" 1972 Premiere Release Information:

"The Aspect Ratio for "The Biscuit Eater" is 1.75 to 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/pan & scan?) ratio.)



"The Watcher In The Woods" 1981 Premiere Release Information:

"THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A SPIRITED IMAGE IS 1:75 TO 1"

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film was 1.75:1, the DVD release is misframed at 1.85:1.)

*Also, the theatre kit states a runtime of 1 hr., 23 min., 16 sec., matching it's runtime on DVD.


*The pressbook for the aborted 1980 premiere stated a runtime of 1 hr., 40 min., which you can somewhat see in the link provided in the post above.



1963's "Summer Magic" and 1969's "Smith!"...no projection instructions for these.



I'll update and correct the list on the first page shortly...

Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I also placed an order for the following pressbooks about two weeks ago, and should receive them any day now...


1955's "The African Lion"

1955's "The Littlest Outlaw"

1956's "Secrets Of Life"

1964's "The Moon-Spinners"

1972's "Snowball Express"



Scott

Re: The Disney Films - Theatrical Aspect Ratios Verified
 

I've got those pressbooks in...and with the exception of "Snowball Express", no projection instructions for any of them...


1955's "The African Lion"


1955's "The Littlest Outlaw"


1956's "Secrets Of Life"...states a runtime of 73 Minutes, while it's runtime on DVD is 70 min, a loss of 3 minutes.

Also, throughout the pressbook, it states "Buena Vista is releasing "Secrets of Life," partly in Cinemascope."

And, we have not one, but two featurettes that premiered with this...
The animated "A Cowboy Needs A Horse" and the live-action "Cow Dog."


1964's "The Moon-Spinners"



"Snowball Express" 1972 Premiere Release Information:

(NOTE: The live-action featurette, "The Magic of Walt Disney World" premiered with this.)

"The Aspect Ratio For Best Viewing Quality Is 1.75 To 1."

(NOTE: While the original theatrical framing for this film is 1.75:1, the DVD release is at a 1.33:1 (open-matte/pan & scan?) ratio.)


I'll update the list shortly...


Scott