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Regular 35 mm four perforation VistaVision
In Australia, all VistaVision releases were in
the standard 35 mm format. The VistaVision
film image covered the full frame size, which
meant it could still be projected in the old
Academy Ratio of 1.37:1, or it could be
screened in one of the three wide screen ratios
that were recommended. I recall seeing a
number of VistaVision films at my local
suburban theatre, all projected in Academy
Ratio. There had been no changes made to the
screen size at that theatre.

Left: The 35 mm VistaVision format. Note at top To aid the projectionist in framing the image,
right of the frame, and enlarged above, the “F” each reel had a new form of cue mark, this time
framing mark to assist the projectionist in getting at the start of the reel. Resembling the letter
the image correctly framed on screen. “F”, the horizontal blades acted as a guide for
the projectionist in setting the framing control
negatives and their famous three colour matrix specially designed Mitchell camera, which, on the projector. The correct setting was when
printing process was applied in the usual way. because of its odd appearance,
This resulted in a very sharp, exceptional became known as the elephant
colour image. ear camera. Because of the need
to run the film in a horizontal
VistaVision films were filmed with no plane, it utilised a strange
important part of the image composition threading pattern, which became
occupying the top and bottom of the frame, so known as the “Lazy 8”.
that the image could be “cropped” when
screened. The beauty of the VistaVision Horizontal VistaVision
process was that it allowed a great deal of Screenings
flexibility in the way in which it was projected. After months of trade
Paramount recommended that the projection screenings, Paramount
print be screened in one of three aspect ratios: introduced VistaVision in its full
1.66:1, 1.85:1 or 2.00:1, although this did not double width horizontal frame
always occur. format to the public at Radio
City Music Hall on 14 October
The first film made in VistaVision was White 1954 with White Christmas.
Christmas, staring Bing Crosby and Rosemary
Clooney, filmed on a specially modified Although open to conjecture, it
camera from the silent era. Sound, of course, appears that the only features
was recorded on a separate system as was released in the eight perforation
always the case. Later films were filmed on a horizontal format were White
Christmas, Strategic Air Command Above: Diagram showing the various ratios in
which the VV print could be screened.
and To Catch a Thief, as well as a
small number of Rank productions.
Below: The Century projector designed for
horizontal VV projection.
Paramount had a very small number
of projection prints (two or three)
made in the eight perforation
horizontal format. Aside from these
prints, all other VistaVision films
were printed to regular 35 mm format
and screened that way.

Although the clarity of the eight
perforation prints was striking, they
were used only for premiere or
preview engagements between 1954
and 1956, and required special
projection equipment. The projectors
were made for Paramount by Century.

Apart from the cost of the projectors,
this exhibition process would have
been impractical for regular cinemas.
Not only was each feature twice the
length of a normal 35 mm print, but
with the film travelling through the
projector at the normal 24 frames per
second, the film had to roll at three
feet per second, double the usual
speed of 35 mm film. This, no doubt
would have caused technical and
mechanical problems.

26 CINEMARECORD # 88