Aspect Ratio
Is IMDB correct? Surely this wasn't released in theatres in 1.37 : 1? Anyone have any further information about this?
shareUmmm, that was still a very common aspect ratio in the late '60s, when this was shot...especially as it was shot on 16mm. It was originally planned for TV after all.
As a former projectionist, I can tell you that films were often sent to theaters with specific instructions as to what aspect ratio to project in, but many projectionists just left in their 1.85:1 plates all the time (except for when a CinemaScope film came in).
There's more info about this in the trivia section. Basically it was shot on standard 16mm film which has an aspect ratio of approx. 1.37:1, then when it was decided to show it in cinemas instead of on TV the image was blown up to 35mm and tilted either up or down to accommodate for all the most important image info and matted to an approx. 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Most transfers were made from THOSE prints, with the sides chopped off for the 1.33:1 TV screen!
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=5184666