Does anyone know the original theatrical release aspect ratio of this film? I was going to buy this DVD from the bargain bin but changed my mind when I saw it was full screen. If it was wide screen in theatres was it matted? No info here at IMDB.
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I don't think that is true. No movie in the world shown in theaters will be uncroppped in 'full screen' DVD. It needs to be released as 'widescreen' regardless of being shot 16x9 or 1:85/1. To my knowledge, Joe Camp for whatever reason, hasn't released it as such. Kind of drive me crazy. Perhaps you are thinking of TV movies, such as Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer which of course was made for TV and therefore loses nothing on DVD fullscreen.
shareAll movies shown theatrically in the 1.85:1 ratio were natively shot on 1.33:1 (full frame) film and framed on-set in a 1.85:1 matte. When shown at 1.33:1 on TV or video, the studio merely takes the matte (or 1.85:1 black bars) away, so you're actually seeing more at the top and bottom than you would in the theater and don't lose anything on the sides. Sometimes 1.85:1 movies are pan & scanned for video, but it's rare and it's usually because the filmmakers let microphones dangle in the upper matte line. In the case of BENJI, you're getting the entire unmatted frame on video, so you can crop it with your 16:9 TV and basically see it as it was exhibited theatrically. Believe me, I work with such issues for a living.
shareYes.
The Back To The Future trilogy was filmed this same way. I have both Fullscreen & Widescreen copies of the films. You see more at the top and bottom with Fullscreen versions.
This partly led to the famous DVD Framing Fiasco with the first Widescreen release. Someone did something wrong, and the Mattes were not placed in the correct place.
I am not sure why ANY films are shot in 1.33:1, when the intended theatrical releases are going to be 1.85:1... Especially back in 1985.
At least all of the special effects for the BTTF films were done on 1.33:1, before they added the mattes.
What gets me even more confused, I have a DVD movie where it has both versions on the disc, and they don't match up to the negative at all. The Widescreen version has more image on the sides, than the fullscreen, and the Fullscreen version, has more image on the top and bottom that the widescreen. I took two screen captures on my computer and overlaid them, and it is clear that the negative has more to see than my overlay. It looks like four corners are missing from the overlay!
I wish all movies had one standard. It would make things easier for everyone. I get tired of hearing people complain about "Black Bars", because all of the confusing "Tech" variations.