Page 27 -

of shooting twice as much 35 mm negative
stock, VistaVision became obsolete.

The last American feature film to utilise the
VistaVision process was One-Eyed Jacks in
1961. Paramount dropped the format after only
seven years, although for another forty years
the format was used by American film studios
for high resolution special effects sequences.

Other companies use of VistaVision
The format was widely used by the Rank
Organisation in the UK. In the United States,
MGM, United Artists, and Universal from time
to time produced VistaVision films. Rank also
“played” with anamorphic VistaVision, using
a “Variamorph” variable anamorphic lens set
at 50% squeeze for both filming and projection.
The idea was eventually abandoned.

A Variation on the horizontal system
In the United Kingdom, Kalee, now under the
control of the Rank Organisation, produced a
special variation of their Model 21 for
projection of VistaVision horizontal format
films. In this machine, the film ran in the
conventional manner, top to bottom, with an
eight perforation pull-down. A prism
incorporated into the lens system rotated the The Kalee Model 21 incorporating the prism for
image by 90 degrees for correct orientation on screening 8 perforation VistaVision.
the screen. The projector was set at 90 degrees
to the screen.
Triviality:
VistaVision in Australia The first VistaVision film was White Christmas -
The first screening of VistaVision in Australia The slogan “Motion Picture Hi-Fidelity” did not
was on 17 December 1954 when White appear on the opening logo.
Christmas opened simultaneously at the
Notes and acknowledgements:
Prince Edward and Capitol theatres in * 2.35:1 was the eventual aspect ratio for
Sydney. It opened six days later at CinemaScope - early versions were 2.66:1
Melbourne’s State and King’s theatres.
References and Resources:
For months before the release of the first film Wikipedia
in VistaVision, the newspapers printed a American WideScreen Museum
Projected Picture Trust magazine Rewind
number of articles on this new “miracle Trove Website
process”. The article (top left) from the
Melbourne Argus of Saturday 20 March 1954
is typical. Despite its numerous
errors of fact, it would have raised
the public’s expectations that this
the appropriate section of the “F” touched the new process had something special
top of the screen (according to which ratio was to offer moviegoers. Alas,
being used). Once set, the framing was right Paramount’s promotion of their
for the rest of the reel. first release didn’t match the pre-
release hype. At the time, much
While most CinemaScope releases of this time was made of “wide-screen” as a
used magnetic sound tracks, giving true new cinema presentation medium,
stereophonic sound, most, but not all and little was said of VistaVision’s
VistaVision films were released with Perspecta improved clarity.
Stereo encoded in the optical track. This
effective left - centre - right, three track pseudo The advertisement (at right) from
stereo system was quite effective, and offered the Sydney Morning Herald of
the advantage that cinemas not equipped for it 17 December 1954 doesn’t go out
could still screen the film on regular sound of its way to promote the new
systems. (See article in CinemaRecord # 31). wondrous VistaVision system,
which Paramount claimed would
Alfred Hitchcock was impressed with revolutionise film presentation.
VistaVision, and used the process for a number The other three programs in the
of his films in the 1950s. These included To same ad are to be shown on “The
Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Giant Lustrous Wydascope
Vertigo and North by Northwest. Screen”. Even poor old Ma and Pa
Kettle was presented in that
By the late 1950s, with the introduction of format, probably with
finer-grained colour film stocks and the cost considerable slices of the top and
bottom of the frame missing. ¬

CINEMARECORD # 88 27