Aspect ratios of the films of Stanley Kubrick
David Mullen
Alexander Greenhough's News wrote in message
<92353685...@totara.its.vuw.ac.nz>...
>Would it be possible for someone, somewhere, to state categorically what
the
>aspect ratios are for all the films of Stanley Kubrick? Some are known
>pretty well; 2001: A Space Odyssey and Spartacus (both 2.35). But what
about
>Barry Lyndon (1.66?), The Shining (1.66, 1.85?) or Full Metal Jacket (1.66,
>1.85?). This, in my mind, would answer the age-old "helicopter shadow"
>question or the odd matting in the "newspaper montage" in video copies of A
>Clockwork Orange (1.66?).
There is no definitive answer because Kubrick liked to question certain
conventions -- aspect ratios being one of them. What he shot in, what was
used theatrically, and what was released on home video all varied according
to his tastes (and experiments) regarding each.
An easier question to answer would be what aspect ratio the films were shown
theatrically in, since there are fewer variations possible. "2001" was
Super Panavision and should be shown in 2.20 : 1 in a 70mm print.
"Spartacus" was Super Technirama, which was 2.35 : 1 in the 35mm prints, but
might have been cropped to 2.20 : 1 in the 70mm prints.
"Barry Lyndon" was released theatrically in 1.66 : 1, even in the U.S. since
Kubrick insisted on 1.66 hard mattes being sent to the various theaters
showing the film (1.85 is the common "flat" widescreen ratio in the U.S.)
"Dr. Strangelove" was released in home video in Kubrick's preferred
"multiple aspect ratio" but there is no way it could have been shown that
way theatrically since you cannot change projector mattes in mid-screening
(although it could be shown in Academy 1.37 and various hard mattes could
appear in the image, cropping it to 1.66 at times -- however, Academy 1.37
had pretty much become obsolete as a projection format in most theaters by
the 1960's.) I saw it projected to 1.85 at the Cinerama Dome and the
framing looked fine; it was a little "tight" so I suspect that 1.66 would
look perfect.
"Clockwork Orange" probably should only be shown in 1.66.
Steadicam operator Garret Brown has claimed that he was asked to frame for
1.85 on "The Shining", but Kubrick since then has preferred that the home
video versions be full-frame TV (basically Academy 1.37) -- whether or not
this was an afterthought or something Kubrick always intended during
production is something he took to the grave with him.
I think that "The Shining" and "Full Metal Jacket" would all look fine if
projected at 1.66, even though I suspect that the original U.S. releases of
both shown in the 1.85 format.
My theory is that Kubrick never took anyone's word for anything and came up
with his own ideas for everything from how he shot a film to the various
ways it was released. He KNEW that his fims would not be shown theatrically
in general release in Academy 1.37, so he would have had to take the 1.66 or
1.85 cropping in account when making his films or else risk having them
ruined in their theatrical showings. However, he also probably thought that
TV was a chance to experiment with the 1.33 frame and took advantage of the
opportunity rather than see it as a liability.
However, no one will ever know what would have happened if 16:9 widescreen
TV sets became commonplace before he died -- Kubrick could have easily
rethought his films one more time and chosen to transfer them to that
widescreen ratio. Who knows? I don't think he ever stopped re-thinking and
re-evaluating technology and his own art. He never took anything for
granted -- not even the standard screenplay format -- he always had to see
if there was a better way to approach something. So don't expect some sort
of consistent and standard approach to aspect ratios from him.
David Mullen
Alexander Greenhough's News
aspect ratios are for all the films of Stanley Kubrick? Some are known
pretty well; 2001: A Space Odyssey and Spartacus (both 2.35). But what about
Barry Lyndon (1.66?), The Shining (1.66, 1.85?) or Full Metal Jacket (1.66,
1.85?). This, in my mind, would answer the age-old "helicopter shadow"
question or the odd matting in the "newspaper montage" in video copies of A
Clockwork Orange (1.66?).
In hope, as always,
Alex
SP70mm
btw 2001 is NOT 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Panavision) it's 2.20:1 (Super Panavision
70) all of the Kubrick films after are 1.66:1 and Dr.Strangelove is shot in
both 1.37:1 (Acadamy) and 1.66:1
Kilgore45
____
"forget the dead you left they will not follow you"-bob dylan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
my Harmony Korine home page at:
http://members.tripod.com/gummo_guys/index.htm