Originally Posted by Libretio:
“I agree that Storaro is a bit of a twit (to put it mildly!) for his current insistence on 2:1 as a ratio, but to be fair, the Super 35 gauge wasn't available to him at the time of APOCALYPSE NOW, and he hadn't become obsessed with the 2:1 ratio at the time of shooting. It's the fact that he tried to impose the 2:1 ratio on most subsequent widescreen video prints that has caused so much anxiety and outrage...”
There are times when I wish Super 35 hadn't been invented at all. Anamorphic Panavision looks great, even if it's hardly used now, due to the cost.
Quote:
“On another topic: Nice to see THE TOWERING INFERNO finally getting an OAR outing on TV, but Film 4 insists on screening this 15-cert film ONLY in pre-watershed slots. To be honest, the BBFC should have been kicked in the cobblers for giving this anything more than a PG on video, since the cinema version was released in 1974 uncut with an A certificate, the same as today's PG, and there's nothing in the film which warrants anything higher. And, by that reasoning, the film should be allowed to pass uncut on TV at any time of the day or night, except perhaps for a couple uses of the word 'shit' by some of the characters.”
I was going to say about one scene...
Quote:
“But even if you disagree with all of that and say the film should be a 12, or what have you, one cut (on ITV and now C4) has always, always baffled me (spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen the film): The shot of Jennifer Jones - or her dummy substitute - as it falls down the side of the building after she topples out of the scenic elevator. In the direct aftermath of 9/11, I could understand why this might be deemed insensitive, but by anyone's standards - moral or otherwise - I can't even begin to fathom why a shot of a dummy hurtling from a great height should be considered unsuitable for a pre-watershed slot, in any context whatsoever.”
And it's that one. It's the kind of film which will only get daytime slots because it's not a ratings draw for an evening, and then it's even more stupid that it gets cut for that scene because everyone's expecting it!
I wonder if there's an unofficial watershed for 'shit', since it gets cut aplenty from Back to the Future 1-3 on ITV, but BBC1 showed Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in an early evening slot (as they always do) and it was around 8.30pm where Indy was on the bridge and as he realises he's surrounded, he pauses and sighs, "Oh, shit..."