The June 4 Blu-ray debut of “Shane” will now be presented in the 1:37 aspect ratio instead of the originally announced 1:66 ratio, I’ve just been told by a rep for Warner Home Video, which is handling release of many catalogue titles owned by Paramount Pictures. TCM, which had planned to show a DCP of a new restoration in the 1:66 ratio at its annual Classic Film Festival in Hollywood next week, also indicated today that the Alan Ladd classic will now be shown in 1:37 instead of the planned 1:66 “because Paramount provided both versions.”
“Shane” was shot in the then-prevailing classic, squarish “Academy” ratio by director George Stevens and cinematographer Loyal Griggs in 1951. But by the time it was ready for release in early 1953, Hollywood was gearing up for widescreen presentations to compete with TV. “Shane” thus became the first Hollywood film of this era — there had been experiments with 70mm for early talkies — to be released in 1:66, shown that way at Radio City Music Hall and for other premiere engagements. But for most of the past 60 years, “Shane” has been exhibite — theatrically, on TV and on home video — the way Stevens shot it, in 1:37.
The film was shown in 1:66 in 1953 when the projectionist masked off a portion of the tops and/or bottoms of the picture. For the film’s recent restoration, Paramount reportedly decided to create video masters of both versions. The cropping of 1:66 version, TCM says, was personally supervised by George Stevens Jr. — the director’s son, a filmmaker himself who was on location when the film was shot — and he decided the framing on a shot by shot basis.
It’s unclear when, if ever, this 1:66 version will be seen. The WHV rep said the Blu-ray would contain only the 1:37 version.
TCM originally announced that George Stevens Jr. would present for the “Shane” screening as well as the premiere of new restoration of his father’s “Giant” a week from Saturday at its Film Festival. A spokeswoman now says he “had a conflict and won’t attend.”
Film blogger Jeffrey Wells, who first reported the 1:66 version was scheduled to be released on Blu-ray, recently quoted from an e-mail he said he received from the director’s son, who was the founder of the American Film Institute: “He was very satisfied with the look of the 1.66 version. and that ‘given the choice of having a 1:37 version placed in the center of a horizontal television screen with bars on each side, or a carefully configured 1:66 to 1 version that filled the screen, I am confident George Stevens would subscribe to the latter.’ I replied that this decision was probably causing his father to turn in his grave.”
Wells’ crusade was supported by Woody Allen, whose office faxed a letter indicating that he “wanted to add my strenuous objection to putting out an edition of Shane in any format other than the precise original.”
While I don’t agree with Jeffrey’s bullying tactics — and his dubious championing of 1:66 video releases for films shot in 1:78 as well as advocating scrubbing away film grain — I suppose congratulations are in order. But I would still like to see Stevens Jr.’s version at some point, and even Wells has indicate he would tolerate a release with both aspect ratios.
April 18 update: A Warner rep adds: “We may not be able to release the BD as planned in June. We are waiting word from mastering as to when we will have things ready on the new version and then will officially reschedule the release date.”
