Klarinet Archive - Posting 000917.txt from 2003/04

From: "Lelia Loban" <lelialoban@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] "The Benny Goodman Story" redux
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:44:13 -0400

I considered buying the DVD of "The Benny Goodman Story" (1955) that was
released last month, until I found out that so far, Universal has only
released this movie in a full screen (TV format) version, with an aspect
ratio of 1.33 : 1. It's in the Pan & Scan format. As a rule, anything
released as Pan & Scan needs to be widescreen. Aspect ratios varied in
the 1950s, but IMHO, 1.33 : 1 is only acceptable for movies that were
originally released in 1.37 : 1. However, I wasn't able to find out the
original aspect ratio of this movie from the usual sources, Amazon.com, the
Internet Movie Database or the All Movie Guide. That means that Universal
didn't give out the information--and that means there's a reason. (The
Library of Congress online listing doesn't include the aspect ratio, BTW--I
was curious enough to check.) The sound is still Dolby Digital 2.0 mono,
apparently not remastered. In other words, this is the same old print
that's been around for years on VHS. Universal has a history of releasing
DVDs only in Pan & Scan with few or no extras (this one has a little
biography featurette), then coming out with an improved, digitally
remastered, widescreen edition a few months later, to the tune of much
publicity. I think it's a tactic to get people to pay twice. Won't. I'm
waiting for the higher quality DVD--and if there isn't one, then I'll just
keep my VHS tape.

Lelia Loban
lelialoban@-----.net

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