CinemaScope

The anamorphic process is a kind of record of ( cinema ) films with specially designed camera - lens systems, so-called anamorphic. The best known method in the CinemaScope version has become ( in the jargon short "CS" or "scope "); However, there are also methods using anamorphic lenses.

Operation

By the operation of the anamorphic lens system is achieved an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 in the cinemascope method with optical sound. At the former four- channel magnetic Cinemascope ( COMMAG ) the aspect ratio is 2.55:1.

The basic principle of an anamorphic lens design ensures that when you took the image, the image in the horizontal plane by a certain anamorphic factor with respect to the vertical is reduced. This is the effect that the image is " compressed" in width by the anamorphic factor arises. When projecting the film projector has a similar lens system, a so-called anamorphic lens, which in turn enlarges the image in width so strong and thus the image again " pulls apart ". This is the image in the projection - over the image on the film - twice as wide.

Basically, could only result by a factor of 2 has an aspect ratio of 2,66:1 from a normal image in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1 CinemaScope process. But this is not the case, as is used when shooting a film in CinemaScope process in the camera and later during playback in the viewer a slightly higher picture window, whereby the image formed on the film has an aspect ratio of 1,175:1. This in turn results in a factor of 2, the above-mentioned Aspect ratio. The process with the higher frame window uses it to increase the sharpness of the projected image. By this technique, the image area of the film strip is utilized to the maximum and it is not - as, for example, in widescreen process with lamination - a part of the footage unused. However, this is also the frame line narrow, thereby unclean negative splices are sometimes visible.

The advantage of the CinemaScope process is that with low-cost standard material (35 mm film ), a large image can be projected. Alternatives to CinemaScope, for example, 70 mm film ( aspect ratio 2.2:1 ) and the original Cinerama, in contrast, are much higher material costs and also require special projectors.

A further advantage is that the light from the projector lamp is better exploited. Projectors are equipped with a rotationally symmetrical ellipsoidal, which thus illuminate a circular area at the film gate. Optimum utilization of light would thus be obtained from a square image on the film strip. Square picture window demanded the method Superscope and IMAX today.

The advantage of the process is at the same time but also a disadvantage. Since the image is compressed, it is distorted and needs to be equalized again at the projection. In case of faulty adjustment of the recording or playback lenses as display errors may occur. Also new movie screens for the CS projection had to be erected.

History

The CinemaScope process is based on the Anamorphoskop by Professor Henri Chrétien, which was developed in 1927. 1952, the process of the 20th Century Fox Film Corporation was acquired. The Anamorphoskop turn is an evolution of the Hypergonars by Henri Chrétien.

The monumental Bible movie The Robe ( The Robe ) was premiered on 16 September 1953 in New York as first full-length, produced in CinemaScope process movie. It was advertised as a film, " the one plastically without glasses " can see. Because since the second half of the forties the 3D films have received a great popularity in the cinema, the process by wearing a pair of glasses but was very uncomfortable and also very expensive, they tried it first with a not three-dimensional projection, but a curved screen and a wider aspect ratio ( Cinerama ), the false slogan, if it were a new 3D method, first showed up, and when that was still too expensive, was remembered at Centfox on invented by Chrétien anamorphic process, it led, among CinemaScope brand and suggested the audience with this slogan as with Cinerama, that he would see in Cinemascope a 3D movie, which of course was not the case. Since a Cinemascope film consists of only one image (although it is quite wide), it is completely "flat". The first real 3D movie in Cinemascope was The Treasure of the Balearic Islands, directed by Byron Haskin.

The first rotated in the CinemaScope process Cartoons was the Walt Disney production of The Music Lesson ( Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom ), premiered on November 1, 1953.

The preparation and projection of films with high-fidelity multi-channel audio to wide screen presentation using CinemaScope was relatively low and so in 1955 more than 60 % of all movie theaters in the United States were already technically able to present CinemaScope films. In Europe, the corresponding the CinemaScope process and thus also compatible anamorphic process Ultrascope and total vision were common.

It is often said today that CinemaScope was lost ( eg due to high production costs) in early to mid -1960s. But this is not correct; Rather, it refrained at 20th Century Fox to renew in December 1952 at the moment of its expiry Chretien acquired patent in 1965, which was acquired in the wake of Panavision, so the anamorphic CinemaScope process with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 up to today in films with the addition Filmed in Panavision is employed.

Anamorphic method in cine

Also in the cine find anamorphic process - although quite rare - application, mostly in the production of cine - film copies of movies that were made ​​in CinemaScope process. Rarely, however, also narrow films in anamorphic process are made.

In the 8 mm range, especially lens systems are used here, which - contrary to Cinemascope - have an anamorphic factor of 1.5. This factor brings especially smaller dimensions and consequently, a lower weight to be used lens attachments with what is at 8 mm cine film of high importance. Thus, these films are, however, to other films produced in the anamorphic process not compatible and can not be re-copying without problems.

In the 16 mm range, however, are mainly upgraded lenses from the 35mm range application that just work with the factor 2.0. As used in small film for both normal sized as well for anamorphic shooting the same image window, the result here is actually an aspect ratio of 2,66:1 in the projection.

Other methods

Since the principle of the anamorphic image is not patentable - it is namely for centuries and is known from the anamorphic painting in the barrel vault - developed by 20th - Century Fox more companies own widescreen process which also used anamorphic lenses to some extent. These include:

The widescreen process Cinerama and Cinemiracle were superior in image quality, the anamorphic images recorded, as they recorded undistorted images, but complicated with three synchronized cameras rolling. When projecting thus also had three projectors synchronously play three positives. This was for a period too complicated, so that penetrated the anamorphic processes.

Movie camera Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs, Colorado The Robe (film) Deutsche Kinemathek
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