60's & 70's Aspect Ratios (from Sword in the Stone)

[AlwaysOAR]

I went back through the previous pressbooks I had purchased to see if I had missed anything and to update with the running times for each...


1967's The Jungle Book - 78 min., 7 sec., matching it's 78 min. runtime on its DVD releases. Also, 67's Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar was double-billed with JB in some venues, alone in others apparently. Haven't located a pressbook for it yet.

1968's The Horse In The Gray Flanel Suit -113 min., DVD states 114 min, a rounding up I'm sure. The featurette, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, that preceded it states runtime of 25 min., as does its own pressbook.

1974's The Island at the Top of the World - 1 hr., 33 min., 39 sec., matching its 94 min runtime on DVD. The featurette, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, that preceded it doesn't have a runtime, nor does its own pressbook.

1977's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 1 hr., 13 min., 58 sec., matching its 74 min runtime on its DVD releases. Something I hadn't caught before, and not a big deal, is that throughout the pressbook, it states that TMAOWTP is re-released in feature form by Buena Vista. Now, this is the original pressbook, unlike the Mary Poppins one in the above post, 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.


Anyway, I'm out of time for now, and I'll be updating later tonight or tomorrow with some interesting info concerning Old Yeller, The Parent Trap and Pollyanna. Till then...


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I went to that memorabilia store and they did have some pressbooks there including some already revealed on this thread. These included "King of the Grizzlies", which I just recently received, "Ride A Wild Pony", "Pete's Dragon", and "The Apple Dumpling Gang". With Apple, I noticed that the animated featurette "Donald and his Duckling Gang" premiered with this as well.

They also had a couple of re-release pressbooks, though I'm only interested in the original/premiere ones. The first one was a 1969 re-release of "One Hundred and One Dalmatians", and there were no aspect ratio instructions for it, adding to the growing list of those pressbooks not having them, and stated a runtime of 80 min., matching its DVD releases.

The second one was..."Swiss Family Robinson" 1968 Re-Release Information

MR. EXHIBITOR...PLEASE NOTE!

RUNNING TIME: 2 HOURS AND 8 MINUTES

For top projection results do not exceed ASPECT RATIO 2:35 TO 1

This matches the original pressbook and presentation of Swiss, though the dvd has a runtime of 126 min.


Also, I ran across the pressbooks for the Paramount/ Walt Disney co-productions of 1980's "Popeye", stated runtime of 114 min., matching its DVD release and 1981's "Dragonslayer", stated runtime of 110 min., DVD says 109 min. There are no projection instructions for these, though they were advertised in Technovision and Panavision respectively, and I'm pretty sure their 2.35:1 ratios on DVD are correct.

Finally, I found the following...

"Never Cry Wolf" 1983 Premiere Release Information

THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A SUPER IMAGE IS 1.75 TO 1

...and it states a runtime of 1 hr., 45 min., matching its DVD release...

Never Cry Wolf is overmatted on both its Anchor Bay and Disney DVDs at 1.85:1.


Then I got 1969's "The Love Bug", stated runtime of 1 hr., 47 min., dvd has 108 min. There are no projection instructions in it, and now the list of those pressbooks not having projection instructions in it is as follows...

1963's Savage Sam
1963's The Sword In The Stone
1967's The Jungle Book
1968's The Horse In The Gray Flannel Suit
1969's The Love Bug
1969's The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
1980's Popeye (Paramount/Disney)
1981's Dragonslayer (Paramount/Disney)

1966/RR Mary Poppins
1968/RR The Incredible Journey
1969/RR One Hundred And One Dalmatians


Regarding The Love Bug, I had forgotten that the Special Edition DVD I rented for it some time ago had in it's special features a gallery of pictures of the pressbook. I decided to rent it again, along with some others which will lead to the next post I make. The Love Bug pressbook I got is of course the exact same one on the DVD, though the dvd doesn't show every page.


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

In addition to The Love Bug, I rented/borrowed Old Yeller, The Parent Trap, and Pollyanna, as I thought they might have pictures of their pressbooks as well, and their reviews stated production archives. And they did have them, and I wonder if 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Swiss Family Robinson have them as well. I'll have to check on them at a later date. Not all of the pictures are readable, as some are out of focus, but I could make out what I wanted to find out. Anyway, we have the following...


"Pollyanna" 1960 Premiere Release Information

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 "Pollyanna" do not exceed ASPECT RATIO 1.75 To 1, or you will lose top and bottom of the picture.


Though not all of the pages of the pressbook are shown, three different pages of this pressbook have this info. I could see no runtime, but I did notice that the featurette, "Mysteries of the Deep" was shown with this. And it is shown in it's correct theatrical ratio on this Vault Disney edition DVD.



"The Parent Trap" 1961 Premiere Release Information

MR. EXHIBITOR - AN IMPORTANT NOTE!

Give your patrons the best possible picture on your theatre screen. For top projection results in the presentation of Walt Disney's "The Parent Trap" you must 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!


Though not all of the pages of the pressbook are shown, it states a runtime of 125 min, the dvd releases have 129 min. Also, the Donald Duck animated featurette "Donald and the Wheel" was shown with this, not "Donald's Double Trouble"(which came out in 1946), which is on the Vault Disney DVD, and some reviews have it as having premiered with Parent.
Now, the packaging for The Parent Trap states a 1.78:1 original theatrical ratio, which of course is impossible as it was 30 some odd years later that the 1.78 widescreen tv ratio came into being. My guess is it has been released at this 1.78 tv ratio on DVD, and is not a typo, though I'm not sure.

Now for the kicker...


"Old Yeller" 1957 Premiere Release Information

Mr. Exhibitor...Please Note

For best projection results in the presentation of "Old Yeller"

Use Aspect Ratio 1.85 to 1


Not all of the pages of the pressbook are shown, and I could see no runtime, but this is stated on both page 14 and 18 of pressbook.

Now, here we have actual pictures of the pressbook put on the Vault Disney DVD release of Old Yeller, stating a 1.85:1 ratio, yet it is misframed at 1.75:1 on the DVD. My guess is the makers of the DVD assumed it to be the very common for the era 1.75, not bothering to even notice what was stated on the pictures of the pressbook.
Old Yeller now joins The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band as the odd ones out at not being at 1.75 for those titles not released at a wider Cinemascope, etc. type ratio.


Scott

[Luke]

<i>Old Yeller</i> looks overmatted on the DVD at 1.75:1. At 1.85:1, it'd be even worse. Unless somehow they didn't get the ratio in the right way, I find it tough to believe it should be wider than how the DVD shows it.

[KubrickFan]

<i>Old Yeller</i> looks overmatted on the DVD at 1.75:1. At 1.85:1, it'd be even worse. Unless somehow they didn't get the ratio in the right way, I find it tough to believe it should be wider than how the DVD shows it.

1.75:1 is just a ratio. It could be that the DVD was simply zoomed in too much.

[AlwaysOAR]

<i>Old Yeller</i> looks overmatted on the DVD at 1.75:1. At 1.85:1, it'd be even worse. Unless somehow they didn't get the ratio in the right way, I find it tough to believe it should be wider than how the DVD shows it.

1.75:1 is just a ratio. It could be that the DVD was simply zoomed in too much.

That would be my guess as well, and other titles that immediately come to mind that might be zoomed in too are The Jungle Book and 101 Dalmatians. We need someone knowledgeable to take over the release of classic Disney titles, as whoever's been running the show as far as DVD releases go at Disney doesn't seem to know what they're doing.


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I came across a listing with pictures i was going to link, it's gone now, for the press book for the 1975 Re-Release of Blackbeard's Ghost. It showed the front cover and page 2 and 3, and from page 3 it had...


"Blackbeard's Ghost" 1975 Re-Release Information

The Aspect Ratio for "Blackbeard's Ghost" to achieve the best screen image is 1:75 to 1


My guess too is that it was originally released at that ratio, won't be sure of course till an original pressbook is aquired.



Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I've ordered the original pressbooks for the following...

1978's "Candleshoe"
1979's "Unidentified Flying Oddball"

They will be shipped to where I work overseas, and I should have the projection instructions for them out in about 2 weeks...


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I received those two pressbooks I ordered last week today. Pretty quickly considering where they were being shipped to. Anyway, I've got the following info...


"Candleshoe" 1978 Premiere Release Information

To make "Candleshoe" a gleaming treasure on your screen

THE ASPECT RATIO IS 1:75 to 1


Candleshoe is undermatted on the Anchor Bay release at 1.66, and according to this sites review, is also undermatted at 1.66, despite packaging stating 1.85, on the Disney release.



"Unidentified Flying Oddball" 1979 Premiere Release Information

THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A SUPER IMAGE IS 1:75 TO 1


Unidentified Flying Oddball is undermatted at 1.66, and also has a pan & scan version, on the Anchor Bay release. For the Disney release, the packaging states 1.85, though this sites review says it is at 1.78. However, looking at the screencaps on this site, presumably from a 16:9 TV, it is slightly pillarboxed, so it's possible it is at it's correct 1.75 ratio.


I also placed an order today for a pressbook lot consisting of the following...

1964's A Tiger Walks
1973's One Little Indian
1975's One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
1978's Hot Lead And Cold Feet


Once I receive these in a week or two, I'll get that info out...


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

This post has been updated and bumped to the next page...


Scott

[Heil Donald Duck]

Intresting, does those pressbooks mentones anything about the Disney's animated shorts?

[Heil Donald Duck]

"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 only 1.33:1)

As fair as I know this film was made up of earlier Winnie the Pooh shorts from 1966, 1968 and 1974 al made in 1.37:1 thus the DVD presentation might be more correct than the 1.75:1 on the 1977 premiere theaterical "re-release" a part from the new bridge animation that might have been filmed in 1.75:1.

[AlwaysOAR]

Intresting, does those pressbooks mentones anything about the Disney's animated shorts?

The only pressbooks that mention the animated shorts that premiered with a feature film that I know of are the following...

1961's "Donald And The Wheel" (premiered with "The Parent Trap")

1968's "Winnie The Pooh And The Blustery Day" (premiered with "The Horse In The Gray Flannel Suit")

1974's "Winnie The Pooh And Tigger Too" (premiered with "The Island At The Top Of The World")

1975's "Donald And His Duckling Gang" (premiered with "The Apple Dumpling Gang")



Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

"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 only 1.33:1)

As fair as I know this film was made up of earlier Winnie the Pooh shorts from 1966, 1968 and 1974 al made in 1.37:1 thus the DVD presentation might be more correct than the 1.75:1 on the 1977 premiere theaterical "re-release" a part from the new bridge animation that might have been filmed in 1.75:1.

The Pooh shorts were animated in academy ratio but probably, like most of the animated films/shorts from this era, were matted at 1.75 in theatres, my guess anyway. Now we know the 77 release of The Many Adventures... was instructed to be shown at 1.75. Technically, the shorts making up TMAOWTP were a re-release, but the tying animation between the shorts was new.
I know I would like to see a release of TMAOWTP in it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75, along with the shorts in their correct ratio, whatever that might be. And of course, an open-matte version for those who prefer that to the matted version.


Scott

[Heil Donald Duck]

As fair as I know this film was made up of earlier Winnie the Pooh shorts from 1966, 1968 and 1974 al made in 1.37:1 thus the DVD presentation might be more correct than the 1.75:1 on the 1977 premiere theaterical "re-release" a part from the new bridge animation that might have been filmed in 1.75:1.

The Pooh shorts were animated in academy ratio but probably, like most of the animated films/shorts from this era, were matted at 1.75 in theatres, my guess anyway. Now we know the 77 release of The Many Adventures... was instructed to be shown at 1.75. Technically, the shorts making up TMAOWTP were a re-release, but the tying animation between the shorts was new.
I know I would like to see a release of TMAOWTP in it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75, along with the shorts in their correct ratio, whatever that might be. And of course, an open-matte version for those who prefer that to the matted version.


Scott

You said you had infoes on two of those 3 shorts that made up the feature 1977 but were any information on how those shorts were supposed be premered. That could aslo say a lot about the current DVD in 1.33 rather than 1.75. but what I said was only my theory that could explain why the DVD is in 1.33 raher then perfered 1.75.

[The_Iceflash]

As fair as I know this film was made up of earlier Winnie the Pooh shorts from 1966, 1968 and 1974 al made in 1.37:1 thus the DVD presentation might be more correct than the 1.75:1 on the 1977 premiere theaterical "re-release" a part from the new bridge animation that might have been filmed in 1.75:1.

The Pooh shorts were animated in academy ratio but probably, like most of the animated films/shorts from this era, were matted at 1.75 in theatres, my guess anyway. Now we know the 77 release of The Many Adventures... was instructed to be shown at 1.75. Technically, the shorts making up TMAOWTP were a re-release, but the tying animation between the shorts was new.
I know I would like to see a release of TMAOWTP in it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75, along with the shorts in their correct ratio, whatever that might be. And of course, an open-matte version for those who prefer that to the matted version.


Scott

This supports my idea of a Pooh Treasures set.

[AlwaysOAR]

The Pooh shorts were animated in academy ratio but probably, like most of the animated films/shorts from this era, were matted at 1.75 in theatres, my guess anyway. Now we know the 77 release of The Many Adventures... was instructed to be shown at 1.75. Technically, the shorts making up TMAOWTP were a re-release, but the tying animation between the shorts was new.
I know I would like to see a release of TMAOWTP in it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75, along with the shorts in their correct ratio, whatever that might be. And of course, an open-matte version for those who prefer that to the matted version.


Scott

You said you had infoes on two of those 3 shorts that made up the feature 1977 but were any information on how those shorts were supposed be premered.

Both of the pressbooks I got for those shorts, ...the Blustery Day and ...Tigger Too!, didn't have projection instructions in them, but I'm inclined to believe that they were shown at 1.75. Now for ...Tigger Too!, it premiered before "The Island at the Top of the World" which was instructed to be at 1.75, so you have to think that probably the short before it was as well, just a guess anyway.

That could aslo say a lot about the current DVD in 1.33 rather than 1.75. but what I said was only my theory that could explain why the DVD is in 1.33 raher then perfered 1.75.

Basically, both DVD releases are the open matte, or animated ratio versions. Another example would be "The Fox and the Hound", which was instructed to be at 1.75:1, but has only been released on both of it's releases at 1.33, though I'm not sure if it's a open matte, or pan and scan for that title.
Again, the shorts might have been initially released at 1.33, don't really know, but my guess is that they too were matted at 1.75. If not, I'd like to see the next release for TMAOWTP shown at it's correct theatrical ratio of 1.75, and the shorts in their theatrical ratio, whatever that might be.


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

This supports my idea of a Pooh Treasures set.

Definitely agreed on that. Or in lieu of a treasures set, if they aren't continuing that line, some sort of release with the feature in it's correct ratio, and the shorts in their correct ratio, as well as an open matte version for those that want that version.


Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I received the pressbooks for the following...

1964's A Tiger Walks...there were no projection instructions for this title, and joins the list of those not having those instructions. It states a runtime of 1 Hour, 31 Minutes, and I don't know what the runtime is for the Disney Movie Club dvd of this title.



"One Little Indian" 1973 Premiere Release Information

The Aspect Ratio to best present all the adventure of "One Little Indian" is 1.75 to 1.

...the theatre kit states a runtime of 1 Hr., 30 min., while the DVD has a runtime of 91 min...

"One Little Indian" is overmatted on both the Disney and Anchor Bay DVDs at 1.85:1, while the Anchor Bay dvd also has a pan & scan version.



"One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing" 1975 Premiere Release Information

The Aspect Ratio For "ONE OF OUR DINOSAURS IS MISSING" to achieve the best screen image is 1:75 to 1.

...the theatre kit states a runtime of 1 hr., 37 min...

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



"Hot Lead And Cold Feet" 1978 Premiere Release Information

THE ASPECT RATIO FOR A BLAZING IMAGE IS 1:75 to 1.

...the theatre kit states a runtime of 1 hr., 30 min., matching its runtime on its DVD release...

"Hot Lead And Cold Feet" is overmatted at 1.85:1 on its Disney DVD release.



I'll add these to the list in the above post.


Also, I meant to link the six viewable pressbooks from the Turner Classic Movies website in that list. I will do so shortly for those who haven't seen a pressbook before. Those six were the following...

The Shaggy Dog
The Absent-Minded Professor
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Herbie Rides Again
Freaky Friday



Scott

[AlwaysOAR]

I've ordered the following pressbooks, and should receive them within a couple of weeks...

"The Legend Of Lobo/ Dumbo" 1962 Combo Premiere/Re-Release Pressbook

EDIT: This was a misadvertisement by the seller, it was a 1972 Combo Re-Release of these two features...

"Blackbeard's Ghost" 1968 Premiere Release Pressbook

"Treasure of Matecumbe" 1976 Premiere Release Pressbook


Also, I went back through the Turner Classic Movie website, and discovered two new pressbooks on there. I don't know if they were missed the first time I went through it, or if they had been added since.

The first one is 1960's "Swiss Family Robinson", http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/archive/viewer ... tId=216100 , which Disneyfella had acquired some time ago.

The other one is 1963's "Son Of Flubber", http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/archive/viewer ... tId=215282 , and I could see no projection instructions for it, adding to the growing list of those that don't have that info. Also, the theatre kit states a runtime of Approx. 100 minutes, while the DVD release is 103 minutes.

Anyway, I'll add those two links to the above list shortly.


Scott