'The Robe' -- pre-release thread

[PeterB]

Fox has announced the classic 'The Robe' for Blu-ray:

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/robe.html

The 1953 epic gets 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and DTS-MA audio.

No extras yet, but expect a comparable package to the previous special edition DVD.

Street date is March 31, and MSRP $34.98.

[davcole]

Great news but...

... that aspect ratio has to be wrong. This was the first Cinemascope presentation. I think the proper ratio is around 2.55?

[Super-VHS]

Originally Posted by davcole

Great news but...

... that aspect ration has to be wrong. This was the first Cinemascope presentation. I think the proper ratio is around 2.55?

According to IMDb you'd be correct.... the anamorphic version (Cinemascope) had a ratio of 2.55:1

It was the 70mm re-release (blow up) that had the 2.20:1 ratio.

[johnhora]

"The Robe" was shot both in 1.33:1 and in 2.66:1 CinemaScope. There wasn't a theater in the world equipped to show the CinemaScope process at the time when "The Robe" was in production so the standard version was both for protection and for use in those situations where CinemaScope might not be available.

Sound was to be double system with the stereophonic tracks carried on a separate 35mm mag film. However it was released with 4 channel magnetic tracks applied onto the picture release print. As a result, the aspect ratio was narrowed to 2.55:1 slightly cutting into the left side of the picture.

[dachst8087]

Good movie with a childhood friend (Victor Mature) of my mothers. they grew up together in Louisville Kentucky! Hope the Blu PQ is 5 Stars!

[Harlock]

Wow, this is really great news!!!
And according to Foxclassics.com (-> click me <-) Fox has a nice
package in the works that will feature both the CinemaScope
version of the film as well as the "flat" version of it!

The above mentioned site only covers DVD releases (afaik) but even
the slightest possibility that the "flat" version might be included in the
Blu-ray version too, this would indeed be mighty news (from a film-
historical point of view)!

I've seen the flat version (and mind you, it was not a pan&scanned one)
ages ago on a Dutch TV-channel and the differences were quite interesting!

I'm looking forward to a hopefully comprehensive release of this classic
a lot!!!! Great news!!!

Have a good one everybody!

B/R

Petros

[johnhora]

Yes, the 1.33:1 "flat" version of "The Robe" is not the "Pan and Scan" extraction available on home video some time ago. The actual "Flat" version was originally available on the first ever VHS release of the film from Magnetic Video. It is a different film with a different opening shot! The flat version fades up on a matte shot of Rome (used again later in the film), while the CinemaScope version begins with red curtains opening to reveal the Circus Maximus, a shot borrowed from "Demetrius and the Gladiators" which followed the Robe into production after a short hiatus.

[bluskiessmingatme]

classicflix.com has announced some exclusive stuff about The Robe:

The items marked with an * are exclusive to Blu:

BONUS FEATURES

Introduction by Martin Scorsese

Commentary with Film Composer David Newman and Film Historians Jon Burlingame, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman

The Making of the Robe

Gallery

Interactive Pressbook

*Vintage Celebrity Introductions by Richard Widmark, Susan Hayworth, Robert Wagner, Clifton Webb and Dan Dailey*

*The CinemaScope Story featurette*

*From Scripture to Script: The Bible and Hollywood featurette*

*BONUSVIEW picture-in-picture mode:*

*The Robe Times Two: A Comparison of Widescreen and Standard Versions*

*A Seamless Faith: The Real-Life Search for The Robe featurettes*

*Inspiration*

*The Clothes of Christ*

*Clothes in Biblical Times*

*Clothes of a King*

*A Seamless Garment*

*The Robe on Page & Screen*

*The Robe and Politics*

*The Robe in Our World*

*The Robe in France & Russia*

*History vs. Drama*

*Audio Interview with Screenwriter Philip Dunne (1969)*

*Movietone News*

*CinemaScope Hailed by Public and Press*

*Broadway Hails The Robe in CinemaScope*

*The Robe (Christian Herald Award)*

*Millionth Patron Sees The Robe*

*CinemaScope and The Robe Win Oscars*

*Trailers / TV Spots*

*Poster Gallery / Lobby Cards*

http://www.classicflix.com/details-a...daac1540c6fe09

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by johnhora

Yes, the 1.33:1 "flat" version of "The Robe" is not the "Pan and Scan" extraction available on home video some time ago. The actual "Flat" version was originally available on the first ever VHS release of the film from Magnetic Video. It is a different film with a different opening shot! The flat version fades up on a matte shot of Rome (used again later in the film), while the CinemaScope version begins with red curtains opening to reveal the Circus Maximus, a shot borrowed from "Demetrius and the Gladiators" which followed the Robe into production after a short hiatus.

Which version is better?