MovieChat Forums > All of Me (1984) Discussion > What's up with the aspect ratio???

What's up with the aspect ratio???

posted 15 years ago by Stuart Gardner
14 replies | jump to latest

For years I avoided buying any of the video formats because all I could find were cropped "full frame" versions and I wanted to wait until I could see the film properly. I was glad when the movie turned up on the TCM schedule recently because they always show their titles in the correct formats, but wouldn't you know it? This one time -- the only time I've ever seen TCM do this -- they showed the pan and scan version. Not only that, but the print was dull and had a lot of grain.
What happened to All of Me?
Were the original elements lost in a fire, or what?
Thanks.

[–] acdcfanbill 15 years ago

Well, a remake is in the works, so perhaps that will cause the original to get a proper DVD release. We can hope, anyway.

[–] mbs 15 years ago

i'm finding out that some films just never got a proper widescreen DVD release--they were rushed out on dvd back when the format was first taking off---and instead of putting the care into restoring the negatives the studios just rushed off a number of their back titles. You can't find a widescreen version of some of Burt Reynolds's movies for example---not such a big deal for Stroker Ace---but for Sharkey's Machine---I'd LOVE to see Sharkey's Machine in widescreen---that's a great movie--it deserves a great release.

For whatever reason--the studios don't particularly want to re-issue these titles unless there may be a new opportunity in the marketplace for them to do so--for All Of Me---that future looks bright with a remake on the horizon---unfortunately for us Burt fans---the future holds nothing but pan and scan copies of SHarkey's Machine

the white zone is for unloading passengers...

who shot who in the what now?

[–] jimmyh94 14 years ago

im watching it on tcm now and its the pan-and-scan verson also its so blurry and yeah theres alot of grain

[–] psdhart 14 years ago

Watched it on tv in the UK and it is full screen

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 13 years ago

Watched it on tv in the UK and it is full screen.

Did you record it? If you did, would you be willing to sell a copy? If you didn't, do you know when it might be on next, in the UK? If you would record it the next rime it's on, message me here, and let me know.

I look forward to your reply.

Thanks so much!

"Moment by Moment" (1978), may be the most underrated movie ever! May be my fav! <3

[–] tom245-32-153383 11 years ago

Saw it on Lovefilm Instant, also full screen. I guess it is only a problem in the USA and not UK, like Mexicans, Crystal Meth and Onezies

[–] mcdl1450 10 years ago

In germany there is a new anamorphic widescreen release available. Looks quite good.
http://www.amazon.de/Solo-für-2-Steve-Martin/dp/B00HF0ZRHY/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1403450539&sr=1-1&keywords=solo+für+zwei

[–] J. Spurlin 14 years ago

I was unhappy to watch the DVD and discover it wasn't letterboxed. However, this movie doesn't seem to suffer too much from the incorrect aspect ratio. After my initial disappointment, I completely forgot about it. Other panned-and-scanned movies I've watched recently come off much worse. Hard Times with Charles Bronson is a good example. During that movie I was constantly reminded that I wasn't seeing the full image.

...Justin

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 13 years ago

I'd like to add that strangely enough, I actually like that it's a little grainy---it adds to the nostalgic feeling I get whenever I watch the film. It's like old people and wrinkles---they can have face-lifts to try to change, but they earned those wrinkles. Well, this movie earned its aged appearance, in a way. But, don't get the wrong idea---I'm a big believer in film-restoration.

Anyway, I do agree with you that seeing the film in it's original format would be a plus.

"Moment by Moment" (1978), may be the most underrated movie ever! May be my fav! <3

[–] heaver2000 12 years ago

The BBC showed this yesterday, in 4:3.
However, it was open-matte, not pan & scan. Are you sure the dvds are not the same?

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/4677/aomfullscreen.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3144/aomwide.jpg

[–] davevid-34-970491 12 years ago

Strange it was in 4:3 but it was in HD

[–] j-taylor-goddard 10 years ago

A lot of Open Matte films have been put out on DVD as 4:3.

They have simply just used the full frame instead of cropping the top and bottom as would have been done in cinemas. Probably ignorance of the correct ratio.

No Blu Rays I have come across yet though have used Open Matte.

[–] Linda1973 9 years ago

Watching it on on Hulu Plus, it's 1:85.

[–] j-taylor-goddard 9 years ago

Yep, so it was cropped - that's how widescreen is achieved with an Open Matte frame.