MovieChat Forums > Hard Times (1975) Discussion > Hard Times in WideScreen???

Hard Times in WideScreen???

posted 19 years ago by RAS-1
30 replies | jump to latest

This is a "perfect" movie in every sense of the word and could never be remade as well as this one. And I don't believe it could have been cast any better. HOWEVER, I am very disappointed in the DVD being full screen, especially in these days and times of WideScreen DVDs preferred over the full screen 1.33:1 ratio. Amazon had Hard Times advertised as WideScreen and so I ordered it. The only thing WideScreen about it was the main titles and right after the director's credit, WHAM!, full screen. I sent it back and Amazon appoligized and sent me another copy. It too was just like the first one. I sent it back also. Yes, you guessed right, number three, full screen with a comment that they corrected their details for this movie.

Hard Times was released on DVD early 1999 and I would think Columbia Studio would at least offer it in WideScreen version if not both, wide one side and full on the other like they did in the UK in 2000.

[–] BLUTO47 19 years ago

ya thats happened to me to. but wat happened to me was that i rented it for dvd and it was dual sided like u mentioned and wen i wanted to buy it amazon sent me the full screen i dunno wat thats about either.

[–] FangsFirst 19 years ago

It was ORIGINALLY released as a WS/P&S flipdisc, but production scaled it back to P&S only at some point.
Other movies have suffered this indecency as well.

I managed to snag a copy of the elusive flipdisc whilst working at Wal-Mart. (2 other copies surfaced, but one went to a co-worker and the other to a local Bronson fan to loan to others)...but, the point is, they're around.

That said, up to that point, I'd seen nothing BUT P&S copies. 20-30 of them, and we'd get restock of the same thing. Those three copies showed up, and I haven't seen another since, even after transferring stores.

But, if you get it from a retail store, simply take a look at the back. It'll tell you if it's the flip disc or not, with a "Side A is Widescreen...etc" message instead of just the chart that says it's in 1.33:1.

Ordering online, of course, is more complex...especially because I checked the UPCs and they're bloody well exactly the same...

[–] BLUTO47 19 years ago

ya ur exactly right

[–] RAS-1 19 years ago

Thanks, FangsFirst. That's very interesting. I do shop at Wal-mart occasionally, but now I suspect I'll be going more often, just by chance I may find it in W/S. Thanks again for the reply.
RAS

[–] RAS-1 19 years ago

P.S. FangsFirst, as an afterthought, was the cover art the same on both versions? (WS vs P&S)

[–] FangsFirst 19 years ago

There is an almost indetectable difference in the colouring, but the actual image is exactly the same, one is just SLIGHTLY darker than the other.
You wouldn't notice unless you had them side by side tho.

Also: I was in Borders and found another W/S flipdisc copy..albeit for 12.99

[–] RAS-1 19 years ago

Thanks again FangsFirst. Wal-Mart was a bust. So, off to Borders come Sunday.
(or Monday) (or.......)
RAS

[–] RAS-1 19 years ago

Well, Borders was a bust also. Anyone out there like to sell me a W/S version of "Hard Times?" Hmmmmmmm? :o)
(Store bought region-1 DVD only please, no copy)
RAS

[–] RAS-1 18 years ago

Well, it's been nearly four months now and I finally got the rare double-sided region 1 flipdisc wide screen/full screen
version of "Hard Times!" I found it on eBay from the UK, believe it or not. So thanks to eBay seller "Vasilias007" from
RAS. Also thanks to the others who added their comments on this message board!

[–] FangsFirst 19 years ago

Starman got busted down, too?
Sheesh, good thing I snagged IT for 5.50 too...

[–] Matti-Man 18 years ago

Guys,

For what it's worth, the region 2 version of this (available from Amazon.co.uk) *is* a widescreen version.

Have a look for yourselves:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004TLB1/qid=1132740025/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_11_1/202-2197588-9317409

Best,

peck2000

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RAS-1 18 years ago

Thanks for your addition to the message board.
However, I think we could have done without your classless remark at the bottom of your post.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Oblomov-2 18 years ago

I must be lucky. This was one of my first 10 DVDs, bought nearly 7 years ago vis DVD Express of the USA. It was the WS/P&S flipper and the picture & sound quality is quite good. I did not even know that the WS version is so hard to get!

[–] RAS-1 18 years ago

Lucky you are friend, hang on to it! Chances are we'll never see the W/S version
DVD re-released in the USA. Yours is a good example of what we all occasionally
find among the cobwebs of our DVD collections. Glad for you and thanks for taking
part in letting us know, very interesting.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] tween_us 17 years ago

I recently purchased a used copy from eBay that has both widescreen and full-screen versions, and I noticed there were several other copies for sale, both used and new.

In the eBay search box, just type "hard times" bronson widesceen and then make sure to click the little box that allows you to search both the title and description.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] donottry30 17 years ago

I rented this the other day and was disappointed to see it in pan and scan. That's really a shame considering that Walter Hill is an incredible visual stylist known for what he can do with a widescreen ratio. Watching a Walter Hill film on pan and scan is a lot like watching a John Carpenter film on pan and scan...why bother?

[–] thenickatoms 17 years ago

FLIP THE DISC OVER.

[–] donottry30 17 years ago

I got it from Netflix and they evidently only offer it in pan and scan...it wasn't a double sided disc.

[–] thenickatoms 17 years ago

Sorry. I own a copy and it's a double sider.

[–] carpener 17 years ago

I´m from Europe and I ordered a copy from the U.S.on the internet and has only one side.

[–] donottry30 17 years ago

I guess I'll just have to stop being a cheapskate and buy that one if it's available...because Netflix only offers it in pan and scan and I hate watching Walter Hill movies that aren't widescreen.

[–] at_the_v 17 years ago

There are dvd's available on Ebay which are the "flip disc" edition offering both Full & Widescreen versions. (as of 7-22-7)

[–] EbertFearsJaySherman 17 years ago

On the Netflix page for the movie, it says it's in both fullscreen and widescreen, indicating it is the flip disc. Is that information just wrong/out-of-date, or has it changed since you rented it, do you think? I'd like to know whether or not to leave it in my queue....