Most listings I`ve seen online state 1.33:1 and one reviewer confirms this on Amazon.I must admit I haven`t seen the disc myself yet but what a massive disappointment if anyone else can confirm it.Been waiting years for this and seems like Optimium may have ****** it up!!!!
shareI've just noticed this too, I hope someone can confirm it? Because I'm not buying it until I find out.
What a serious *beep* up if it's true, I thought pan & scan had died the death it deserved.
Yes, it's 4:3 instead of 1.85:1! I thought Optimum would do better than that!
Here are the people to ask why Optimum have done this:
Emilie Barra: [email protected]
Claire Leaver: [email protected]
Chloe Page: [email protected]
Ellie Davies: [email protected]
Telephone (London): 0207 637 5403
I'm asking.
It almost beggars` belief that companies are still releasing films panned-scanned and have the cheek to charge a tenner for it at that.I`d buy a nice pristine widescreen print for £20 but it seems Optimum still don`t understand the market they supposedly represent.You could probably get away with this in 1997 when dvd first appeared but to try it now is almost well...Robbery.
Thanks for posting the info although wouldn`t hold out much hope for a re-issue as the film is relatively obscure now- think I`ll send an email all the same though.
Just bought Robbery DVD 4.99 free P&P from Play, and it is the great film that I remember from decades ago when it was last on TV, though now has the added feel of a 'Historical Document'(!).As mentioned , it is a shame no extras etc, and not W/S,('Optimum' is obviosly ironic) but it is a very clean print : The Jags look great.
This has got to be the basis of 'The Sweeney' a few years later, something I had never thought before, thpough i'm sure others have.More than a few of the actors were in both:- James Booth,Barry Foster, Michael McStay, George Sewell,Martin Wyldeck,Barry Stanton,Robert Russell,Glyn Edwards(OK ,he was Minder!), you get the idea...
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Wrong ratio, yes, but not an open matte transfer - it's been zoomed in, which is why the headroom isn't terrible, but the zooming has totally cut the sides off the film, resulting in credits being lopped off, and people on the sides being cut in half. It's what Studio Canal gave them, but I know that when people get mad enough, Optimum goes back to Studio Canal and demands a proper master. It happened with Far From the Madding Crowd - totally screwed up TWICE, the original release and then a new release. I wrote them a scathing letter, and two weeks later they sent me some free DVDs along with a check disc of a properly transferred Far From The Madding Crowd.
sharehehe i just watched this the other night on ITV1 in the uk, there version was zoomed in as well as the titles/credits were cut off missing some of the names, really obvious that somone messed with the aspect ratio but it didnt really affect the film for me at all.
shareDamn maybe a print in the original ratio doesn't exist then?
This movie is certainly worth preserving for it's influence on Bullitt & The Sweeney etc etc etc. They saw fit to release he soundtrack on CD, which was excellent, but they need to sort it out on DVD.
If you keep praying, the BBC may possibly air this late at night some time in the future, and I've got a good feeling their copy is w/s !!!!
I'll definitely be ready if they do !
I seem to remember having this taped and it had the slight black bars top and bottom.
On a slightly different tangent, when BBC2 aired Ooh you are awful 1972 (Dick Emery) very late one night in 2008, they aired the w/s print and very clear it is too.The dvd release is 4:3 and shocking/dark quality.
Just arrived on dvd hire, not ws but nice quality picture.
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.