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 Are MGM DVDs Screwing Film Geeks? BASTARDS!
By Wind(up)bird on January 27, 2005 5:51 AM
A lawsuit has surfaced suggesting that a certain number of MGM DVDs advertised as being presented in widescreen actually weren't. The suit suggests MGM took pan-and-scan versions of the flicks and placed bars over the top and bottom of the screen. Bastards! Click over for the GIANT list of DVDs possibly affected.10 TO MIDNIGHT
1969
1984
24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE
3 STRIKES
8 HEADS IN A DUFFEL BAG
ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, THE
ACROSS 110th STREET
ALICE
ALICE'S RESTAURANT
ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN
ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN 2
ALL OR NOTHING
ALPHABET CITY
AMAZING GRACE
AMERICAN BUFFALO
AMERICAN NINJA
AMERICAN NINJA 2 & 3
AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE
AMOS & ANDREW
ANGEL LEVINE, THE
ANGEL UNCHAINED/CYCLE SAVAGES
ANGELS AND INSECTS
ANNIE HALL
ANOTHER WOMAN
ASSASSINATION
AT FIRST SIGHT
AT FIRST SIGHT/KILL ME AGAIN
AT THE EARTH'S CORE
ATTIC, THE/CRAWL SPACE
AUDREY ROSE
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK
AVANTI!
AVIATOR, THE
BABETTE'S FEAST
BABY BOOM
BACK TO SCHOOL
BAD INFLUENCE
BAGDAD CAFÉ
BANANAS
BAR GIRLS
BARBERSHOP
BASIC TRAINING
BASKET, THE
BEAT STREET
BELIEVERS, THE
BENNY AND JOON
BENT
BEST SELLER
BILL AND TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY
BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE
BILLION DOLLAR HOBO, THE
BIODOME
BIRDCAGE, THE
BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ
BLACK CAESAR
BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA
BLACK ROBE
BLACK STALLION 1 & 2, THE
BLACK STALLION RETURNS, THE
BLACK STALLION, THE
BLUE SKY
BLUE STEEL
BODY OF EVIDENCE
BORN ROMANTIC
BOUND FOR GLORY
BOXCAR BERTHA
BOXING HELENA
BREAKER! BREAKER!
BREAKHEART PASS
BREAKIN'
BREAKIN' 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
BREAKING IN
BREATHLESS
BREATHLESS/RED CORNER
BREEDERS
BRIDE WORE BLACK, THE
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY
BROADWAY DANNY ROSE
BUCKTOWN
BULL DURHAM
BUSINESS OF STRANGERS
CADILLAC MAN
CAMILLE CLAUDEL
CANDYMAN 2: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH
CARRIE - 25TH ANNIVERSARY
CARRINGTON
CATCH THE HEAT
CAVEMAN
CHARLES BRONSON
CHATO'S LAND
CHEECH AND CHONG CORSICAN BROS
CHERRY 2000
CHILDREN'S HOUR
CHILD'S PLAY
CHOCOLATE
CHOOSE ME
CHRISTINA'S HOUSE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CITY SLICKERS
CLASS
CLASS/YOUNGBLOOD
CLEAN SLATE
COCA COLA KID, THE
CODE OF SILENCE
COFFY
COLORS
COMING HOME
COMPANY BUSINESS
COOLEY HIGH
CORNBREAD, EARL, AND ME
COTTON CLUB
COTTON COMES TO HARLEM
COUCH TRIP
COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE
COURAGE MOUNTAIN
CQ
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN SUBURBIA
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
CRYBANSHEE/MURDERSRUEMORGUE
CUBA
CUTTERS WAY
CUTTING EDGE, THE
CYBORG
DARK HALF, THE
DE SADE
DEAD MAN WALKING
DEAD OF WINTER
DEATH WARRANT
DECAMERON, THE
DEFIANT ONES
DELIRIOUS
DELTA FORCE
DELTA FORCE II
DERANGED/MOTEL HELL
DESERT HEARTS
DESPERATE HOURS
DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN
DIGGSTOWN
DILLINGER
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
DIRTY WORK
DISTURBING BEHAVIOR
DOGS OF WAR, THE
DOLL'S HOUSE
DOMINICK AND EUGENE
DONOVAN'S BRAIN
DOUBLE IMPACT
DR. NO
DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN
DUEL AT DIABLO
DUNWICH HORROR, THE
EASY MONEY
EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN
ECHO PARK
EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS
EDGE OF SANITY
EIGHT MEN OUT
ELECTRA
ELMER GANTRY
EMPIRE OF THE ANTS
END, THE
ENTERTAINER, THE
EQUUS
EUROPA EUROPA
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED
EXTREME ADVENTURES OF SUPER DAVE
EXTREMITIES
EYE FOR AN EYE
EYE OF THE NEEDLE
FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN, THE
FATAL BEAUTY
FATAL INSTINCT
FAVOR, THE
FELLINI'S ROMA
FIRES WITHIN
FIRST POWER, THE
FISH CALLED WANDA, A
FIVE ON THE BLACK HAND SIDE
FLAMINGO KID
FLAWLESS
FLED
FLIGHT OF THE INNOCENT
FLIRTING
FLUKE
FLUKE/NAPOLEON
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL
FOXES
FOXY BROWN
FRANKIE & JOHNNY
FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, THE
FRIDAY FOSTER
FRITZ THE CAT
FROGS
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
FULL MOON IN BLUE WATER
FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY, A
FUZZ
FX
FX2
GANGSTER NO. 1
GET SHORTY
GETTING EVEN WITH DAD
GHOST WORLD
GIRL WITH GREEN EYES
GOLDFINGER
GOOD WIFE, THE
GORKY PARK
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, THE
GREAT WALL, A
GREGORY'S GIRL
GUY THING, A
HAIR
HANDMAID'S TALE, THE
HANG 'EM HIGH
HANGING GARDEN
HANNAH AND HER SISTERS
HANNIBAL/SOL
HAPPY ACCIDENTS
HARLEY DAVIDSON & THE MARLBORO MAN
HAUNTED HONEYMOON
HEART OF DIXIE
HEAVY TRAFFIC
HELL UP IN HARLEM
HENRY V (K. BRANAUGH)
HERO AND THE TERROR, THE
HIDDEN AGENDA
HIGH SEASON
HIGH SPIRITS
HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
HOME OF OUR OWN
HONEYMOON IN VEGAS
HONEYMOONVEGAS/AMOSANDREW
HOODLUM
HOODLUM PRIEST, THE
HOOSIERS
HOPE AND GLORY
HORSE SOLDIERS, THE
HOT DOG THE MOVIE
HOT SPOT
HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE
HOUND OF BASKERVILLES, THE
HOUSE OF GAMES
HOW TO BEAT... HIGH COSTS OF LIVING
HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE
HOWLING, THE
I SHOT ANDY WARHOL
I WANT TO LIVE
IDOLMAKER, THE
I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA
IMPROMPTU
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
INDIAN RUNNER, THE
INHERIT THE WIND ('60)
INTERIORS
INVASION OF BODY SNATCHERS
INVASION USA
ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, THE
JACK AND BARAH
JANUARY MAN
JASON'S LYRIC
JD'S REVENGE
JEEPERS CREEPERS
JEFFREY
JOE
JOEY
JOHNNY BE GOOD
JUST THE TICKET
JUST THE TICKET/HOODLUM
KILL ME AGAIN
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE
KILLING ME SOFTLY
KING SOLOMON'S MINES
KINJITE: FORBIDDEN SUBJECTS
KISS ME DEADLY
KNACK AND HOW TO GET IT, THE
KOYAANISQATSI
KOYAANISQATSI/ POWAQQATSI
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES 2
LAMBADA
LARGER THAN LIFE
LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN
LAST WALTZ, THE
LAWMAN
LEARNING CURVE, THE
LENNY
LIEBERSTRAUM
LIFE STINKS
LILIES OF THE FIELD
LITTLE MAN TATE
LIVE AND LET DIE
LONE WOLF MCQUADE
LONELY HEARTS ('83)
LONG RIDERS, THE
LONG SHOT/THEY WENT THAT-A-WAY
LONGTIME COMPANION
LOOK BACK IN ANGER
LORD OF ILLUSIONS
LORD OF THE FLIES
LOSIN' IT
LOVE AND DEATH
LOVE FIELD
LOVER, THE
MADAME BOVARY
MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, THE
MAKING MR. RIGHT
MAKING THE GRADE
MALICE
MAN IN THE IRON MASK
MAN IN THE MOON
MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN, THE
MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
MANHATTAN PROJECT, THE
MANNEQUIN
MARAT SADE
MARIA'S LOVERS
MARLENE DIETRICH: HER OWN SONG
MARRIED TO IT
MARRIED TO THE MOB
MAXIE
MCKENZIE BREAK, THE
MEAN SEASON, THE
MECHANIC, THE
MEMORIES OF ME
MEN AT WORK
MERMAIDS
MESSENGER OF DEATH
METEOR MAN
MIAMI BLUES
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SEX COMEDY
MIGHTY QUINN, THE
MIRACLE WORKER, THE
MISERY
MISFITS, THE
MISS JULIE
MISSING IN ACTION
MISSING IN ACTION 2&3
MISSISSIPPI BURNING
MOD SQUAD
MODERNS, THE
MOLLY
MONKEY SHINES
MOONSTRUCK
MORONS FROM OUTERSPACE
MOSQUITO SQUADRON
MOUSE ON THE MOON
MR. ACCIDENT
MR. MAJESTYK
MR. MOM
MR. NORTH
MR. SATURDAY NIGHT
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
MURPHY'S LAW
MUSIC FROM ANOTHER ROOM
MY FATHER'S GLORY
MY MOTHER'S CASTLE
MYSTERY DATE
MYSTERY TRAIN
MYSTIC PIZZA
NAPOLEON
NAVY SEALS
NEEDFUL THINGS
NEVER ON SUNDAY
NIGHT OF THE HUNTER ('55)
NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING STARS
NINE LIVES OF FRITZ THE CAT, THE
NO MAN'S LAND
NO SUCH THING
NO WAY OUT
NOMADS
NOT WITH OUT MY DAUGHTER
OBLONGBOX/SCREAM&SCREAM; AGAIN
OF MICE AND MEN
ON THE BEACH
ONION FIELD, THE
OPERATION AMSTERDAM
ORGANIZATION, THE
ORIGINAL GANGSTAS
OTELLO
OUR SONG
OVERBOARD
PACKAGE, THE
PALOOKAVILLE
PAULINE AT THE BEACH
PEBBLE AND THE PENGUIN
PERSONAL VELOCITY
PHANTASM
PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES
PLATOON
POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
POPI
PORK CHOP HILL
POWAQQATSI
PRANCER
PRAYER FOR THE DYING
PRIDE AND PASSION, THE
PRINCESS BRIDE
PRISONER OF THE MOUNTAIN
PRIVATE FUNCTION, A
PRIVATES ON PARADE
PRODUCERS, THE
PSYCH OUT/ TRIP, THE
PUMPKIN
PUMPKINHEAD
PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO, THE
RACHEL PAPERS, THE
RADIO DAYS
RAGE OF HONOR
RAGE, THE: CARRIE 2
RAGING BULL
RAIN MAN
RANCHO DELUXE
RAPPIN'
RED CORNER
RED DAWN
REMO WILLIAMS
RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE
RETURN TO ME
REVENGE OF THE NINJA
RHAPSODY IN AUGUST
RIVER'S EDGE
ROAD TO HONG KONG, THE
ROADIE
ROBOCOP
ROCKY
ROCKY I
ROCKY II
ROCKY III
ROCKY IV
ROCKY V
ROLLERBALL
ROMANTIC COMEDY
ROMEO IS BLEEDING
RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP
RUNAWAY TRAIN
RUSH
SALAAM BOMBAY
SALSA
SALVADOR
SATURDAY NIGHT & SUNDAY MORNING
SCANNERS
SECRET ADMIRER
SECRET OF NIMH, THE
SEMI-TOUGH
SEPARATE TABLES
SEPTEMBER ('87)
SFW
SHADOWS AND FOG ('92)
SHAG
SHALLOW GRAVE
SHEBA BABY
SHE-DEVIL
SIBLING RIVALRY
SID & NANCY
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
SLAUGHTER
SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP OFF
SLEEPER
SOME LIKE IT HOT
SOMETHING WILD
SOUTHERN COMFORT
SPACEBALLS
SPECIES 2
SPEECHLESS
SPETTERS
SPRING FORWARD
STARDUST MEMORIES
STATE OF GRACE
STONEBROOK
STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK
STORMY MONDAY
STORY OF ADELE H.
STRANGER OF PARADISE
SUM OF US, THE
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUNFIGHTER
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF
SUPPORT...LOCAL GUNFIGHT/SHERIFF
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
TAFFIN
TALE OF SPRINGTIME, A
TEA WITH MUSSOLINI
TEEN WOLF/TEEN WOLF TOO
TERMINATOR, THE
TERROR IN A TEXAS TOWN
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE II
TEXASVILLE
THEATRE OF BLOOD
THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS
THIEF
THIEF OF BAGDAD, THE ('40)
THING WITH TWO HEADS, THE
THINGS YOU CAN TELL LOOKING AT HER
THIS IS SPINAL TAP
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR ('68)
THRASHIN'
THROW MAMA FROM THE TRAIN
TO LIVE
TOM JONES
TRAIN, THE
TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT
TRUCK TURNER
TRUE HEART/COURAGE MOUNTAIN
TRUE LOVE
TUNE IN TOMORROW
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
TWICE TOLD TALES
UHF
UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
UNDER FIRE
UNDERCOVER BLUES
UNFORGETTABLE
UNTAMED HEART
VALDEZ IS COMING
VALLEY GIRL
VAMPIRE'S KISS
WAITING FOR THE LIGHT
WAR HUNT
WARGAMES
WATER BABIES
WHAT MATTER HELEN/SLEW AUNTIE
WHAT'S THE WORST... COULD HAPPEN
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
WHERE'S POPPA
WHISTLE BLOWER
WHITE LIGHTENING
WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN
WILD BILL
WILD ORCHID
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
WOMAN IN RED, THE
WOMEN IN LOVE
WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
WOODY ALLEN
WUTHERING HEIGHTS ('70)
X, THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES
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Reader Discussions:
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MGM is correct, the lawsuits in error..
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Posted by hellblazer (No Email) on January 31, 2005 4:27 AM
some films are shot "open frame" at a ratio of 1.33 to 1 (same as a tv set) and are matted in the movie theatre by the projectors apature gate to 1.85 to 1 ratio. this is to preserve the directors original intent. on "open frame" films the video release can show the extra material at the top and bottom of the screen without resorting to "pan and scan" (this additonal picture often includes sound booms and unfinished bits of sets) so this lawsuit settlement is SERIOUSLY IN ERROR as MGM CORRECTLY state on the discs that the widescreen bars preserve the original theatrical format (of films shot "open frame" that is. )
Im a theatre projectionist so trust me, theres nothing wrong with any of the DVDs on this list.all thats been cut out is empty space above peoples heads and unimportant stuff at the bottom
Whats staggering is some of the films on this list were shot "hard matted" (ie the black borders are exposed onto the negative) at 1.85 ratio and ARE CORRECTLY presented as such by MGM
and its sheer stupidity that theyre even on the list in the first place.
I cannot believe that the judges in this instance have a very inept understanding of the difference between "open " and "hard Mattes" or correct theatrical ratios.
im sure the lawsuit could easilly be overturned by any testimony from a film director,cameraman, projectionist etc etc
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RE: MGM is correct, the lawsuits in error..
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Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 2, 2005 2:36 AM
Are u 100% sure?
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RE: MGM is correct, the lawsuits in error..
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Posted by chappai (biodredd@yahoo.com) on February 3, 2005 6:47 AM
I own a few of the titles on this list. The fact that some thought they had to waste public money by bringing this to court is insane. There are a couple of things that occur in pan and scan copies of films that just don't appear on the films I own that are on this list. First, two characters can never have a face to face conversation unless their noses are almost touching, and then most of the back of each head will be cut off. This results in clever editing to avaoid scanning where you will see shots of each character talking which can destroy the director's intent. That doesn't occur in these films. Another thing, even on DVDs. film grain can be quite apparent and images fuzzy as the image is now blown up to a degree to fill the screen from top to bottom. The films on this list that I own don't even seem to have this issue and finally, the credits are obviously squeezed at the beginning and end to look long and tall instead of spread across the screen. Its a crappy excuse for a lawsuit. Next you know, someone will be suing WB for using cheap DVD cases made of cardboard.
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