The Changing Shape of Cinema: The History of Aspect Ratio

Summary

This video explores the history of aspect ratios in film, starting with the 4:3 ratio by William Dickson in Edison's lab. It discusses the shift to widescreen with Cinerama's 2.59 aspect ratio and the Academy Ratio of 1.37. The script covers various widescreen formats like Cinemascope (2.35), VistaVision (1.85), and Todd AO (2.20), leading to the 16x9 aspect ratio, now standard for digital video formats.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The aspect ratio refers to the width-to-height ratio of an image, such as 4:3 or 16:9, with a deep history in filmmaking.
• 👨‍🔬 William Kennedy Dickson, working for Thomas Edison, established the first 4:3 aspect ratio for 35mm film, a standard that shaped early motion pictures.
• 📽️ In 1909, the 4:3 aspect ratio became the official standard for films in the US, and remained dominant for a generation.
• 🎞️ The introduction of synchronized sound in 1929 led to the slight adjustment of the aspect ratio to 1.37:1, known as the 'Academy Ratio.'
• 📺 Television in the 1950s adopted the same 4:3 ratio, but Hollywood introduced widescreen formats like Cinerama (2.59) to compete with TV.
• 📹 Cinerama used three projectors to display a wide image on a curved screen but faced challenges with focal length and projection.
• 🎥 Widescreen formats evolved, with Cinemascope (2.35) and VistaVision (1.85), offering new cinematic experiences, such as Paramount's 'Shane' and Fox's 'The Robe.'
• 🎞️ Todd-AO, a 70mm film format with a 2.20 ratio, was introduced in 1955 and used for films like 'Oklahoma' and 'Around the World in 80 Days.'
• 🎦 Panavision became a leader in camera and lens systems, introducing formats like MGM 65 and Super Panavision 70 for large-scale films like 'Ben Hur' and 'Lawrence of Arabia.'
• 📺 The 16:9 aspect ratio was introduced in the 1980s as a compromise for HDTV, balancing the needs of both 4:3 and widescreen formats like 2.39, and has become the standard for modern video formats.

Q & A

What is aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width of an image to its height. It can be expressed in forms such as 4:3 or 16:9, or as a decimal like 1.85 or 2.39:1.

Who is credited with establishing the first aspect ratio for motion pictures?

William Kennedy Dickson, a staff photographer at Thomas Edison’s lab, is credited with establishing the first aspect ratio using 35mm film with a 4:3 ratio (1.33).

Why did the 4:3 aspect ratio become the standard in early filmmaking?

The 4:3 aspect ratio became the standard after the Motion Picture Patent Company, influenced by Thomas Edison, declared it the official format for all films in the United States in 1909.

How did synchronized sound influence aspect ratios in the film industry?

When synchronized sound came in 1929, the optical strip for sound took up part of the image space, slightly shifting the aspect ratio. In 1932, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science standardized the 'Academy Ratio' of 1.37.

What impact did television have on the film industry's aspect ratios?

Television, which adopted the 4:3 aspect ratio, led to declining theater audiences. To attract viewers, the film industry introduced widescreen formats like Cinerama, which offered larger, more immersive visuals.

What was Cinerama, and how did it differ from standard film formats?

Cinerama was a widescreen film format using three synchronized 35mm cameras with 27mm lenses to capture a 147-degree view, resulting in an aspect ratio of 2.59. It was projected on a curved screen, creating a more immersive experience.

How did 20th Century Fox respond to the widescreen trend started by Cinerama?

20th Century Fox adopted the Anamorphoscope process, using anamorphic lenses to squeeze images in one direction. This led to Cinemascope, a widescreen format with a 2.35 aspect ratio that became widely adopted in the 1950s.

What was VistaVision, and how did it differ from other widescreen formats?

VistaVision, developed by Paramount, used traditional 35mm film turned on its side, recording images 8 perforations wide with an aspect ratio of 1.85. It provided higher image quality by avoiding anamorphic distortion.

How did the 16:9 aspect ratio become the standard for modern television and video formats?

The 16:9 aspect ratio was proposed in the 1980s by Kerns H. Powers as a geometric mean between 4:3 and 2.39. It allowed for a compromise where both aspect ratios could be displayed with minimal letterboxing or cropping.

What role did Panavision play in the widescreen format evolution?

Panavision started as a company producing anamorphic lenses but grew into a dominant camera supplier for Hollywood, developing systems like the Super Panavision 70, used for films like 'Lawrence of Arabia,' with an aspect ratio of 2.20.