Little-known Clint movie [The Witches]

[KC]

Aspect ratio. It should be 1.66:1. Instead, it's 2.25:1.

As posted:


As meant to be seen:

[Francesca Kincaid]

Oh okay.  Yeah, I see what you mean.

[philo]

Aspect ratio. It should be 1.66:1. Instead, it's 2.25:1.

As posted:


As meant to be seen:

It is a shame because the film is shot 2.35:1 Techniscope.
I have a letterbox recording from the one UK channel 4 screening.
All other copies that seem to floating around are 1.37:1 (pan and scan) and NTSC.


Philo .

[Glenny]

Yeah...even setting it to fullscreen dosen't help.
I'm just greatful that I could see it.

My Dad got me this book a few years ago called "Eastwood" about his whole career in words and pictures.  I thought this seq. of The Witches was worth a watch.

[KC]

It is a shame because the film is shot 2.35:1 Techniscope.
I have a letterbox recording from the one UK channel 4 screening.
All other copies that seem to floating around are 1.37:1 (pan and scan) and NTSC.


Philo .

That, I didn't realize, Philo. I was foolishly going by the info on the IMDb (which I KNOW is highly unreliable). Here's the same shot of Clint corrected to 1:37:1.


I can't recall what the print looked like that I saw in February, unfortunately, but I'd assume it was widescreen.

Has anyone ever caught that other great cinematic classic, Ambush at Cimmaron Pass, in its original widescreen glory?

[Americanbeauty]

Well, if you want to watch it...

Part one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5pFvW4EIA

Part two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH1v0o6s0sU

I thought I'd never see The Witches -at least the parts with Eastwood. Thanks, Glenny. Interesting. But weird.

[philo]

That, I didn't realize, Philo. I was foolishly going by the info on the IMDb (which I KNOW is highly unreliable). Here's the same shot of Clint corrected to 1:37:1.


I can't recall what the print looked like that I saw in February, unfortunately, but I'd assume it was widescreen.

Has anyone ever caught that other great cinematic classic, Ambush at Cimmaron Pass, in its original widescreen glory?

I will write to IMDB as I have been adding technical specs for other films and they now seem to be listening. I tried for years to correct on the aspect ratio for Tightrope and they would not take my word that they had it wrong until the widescreen DVD was finally released. 

When I get enough time I will try and get a 16:9 frame grab of The Witches just to show the more correct composition.

KC,
I can't imagine a film print being struck in pan and scan, they did years ago when films were pre panned and scanned for television but that was a long time ago. So it appears you are one of the lucky few to have seen it on the big screen. 


Philo .

[philo]

Has anyone ever caught that other great cinematic classic, Ambush at Cimmaron Pass, in its original widescreen glory?

A friend has a 16mm print that he has asked me to repair and transfer.

Not got around to it yet and I am not sure if it is scope or pan and scan.


Philo.

[KC]

Bumping this old thread to point out that the ENTIRE FILM is now available on YouTube, in Italian with English subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH2ISk92Iyw

Aspect ratio is 1.80:1, but otherwise it looks very good.

[Christopher]

The Witches is currently available to stream on Paramount Plus. I was looking for a thread where I could mention it, and this seems to be one of the main discussion we've had about it. I had to laugh at my post here. I don't know if I ever did watch Eastwood's segment. Guess I can do that now (and I didn't remember trying to watch the movie before)

I started watching The Witches one day last week. I saw pretty much the whole first segment and then stopped. I'm thinking I might just find the one Clint's in, watch it, and then be done with it.