MovieChat Forums > Atlantis: The Lost Continent (1961) Discussion > First post-DVD showing on TCM...and not ...

First post-DVD showing on TCM...and not letterboxed!

posted 13 years ago by hobnob53
4 replies | jump to latest

On May 31, 2011, TCM had its first broadcast of Atlantis, the Lost Continent since the film's release on DVD in September, 2010. The DVD is in the film's proper aspect ratio, 1.77:1. For some reason, TCM has always run it at 1.37:1, but on the 31st, even with the DVD out, they still ran it full screen. While the aspect ratios might not seem too different, in fact in at least one crucial scene, a key element of the shot is cropped out when shown full screen (discussed on another thread, but I don't want to spoil anything here).

This isn't the first time TCM, which prides itself on showing movies as they were originally presented, has failed to do just that. (Over this past Memorial Day weekend, they ran the Alan Ladd film The Deep Six full screen, though it was also a widescreen picture.) Why TCM persists in doing such things, however rarely, is a mystery.

Frankly, I don't know how they can live with themselves.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 13 years ago

The only audience members who truly care are those who own the films themselves. All the rest of us either don't give a damn or are drooling in gutters far from home.

Let it be unsaid: insignificance is the locus of true increpation.

[–] xerses13 7 years ago

hobnob53; TCM appears to have fixed its problem with ATLANTIS, T.L.C. Was shown Thursday afternoon 12/01/16 in C.A.R. (Correct Aspect Ratio) and subtitled.

[–] hobnob53 7 years ago

Yes, you're right, xerxes13, thank you. Actually they finally began showing he film in its right a.r. some time after my initial post above. But it took a while.

You say the showing yesterday was subtitled? Do you mean, closed-captioned, or in another language? Obviously only if you had your TV set adjusted to see it.

[–] xerses13 7 years ago

hobnob53; Yes, close-captioned through our cable company and was recorded as such. DVD's in the U.S.A. use close-captioned or subtitled interchangeable depending on manufacturer or studio.