Customer Reviews

American Justice: Sting [VHS]

5 star:		(155)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(40)

 

 

I just bought this DVD for my father because this movie IS a classic, no matter what anyone says. But, when it came in the mail, I was surprised to see "Full Screen" on the front of the box. So I did what many of you did NOT do (with the exception of reviewer cammonro dated Sept 2, 2003), I went to the Universal web site and emailed their Home Entertainment division.

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment:

'The Sting' is only available on DVD in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio, which in this case displays the same picture information side-to-side as was seen theatrically. Also, more information is shown top-to-bottom than in the theatrical version because of the way the film was originally shot.

One process used in creating movies for theatrical exhibition is to place 'mattes' over the top and bottom of the 35 mm film frame to alter the aspect ratio to 1.85:1 'Widescreen.' To avoid black letterboxing bars on the top and bottom of the picture when it is displayed on standard television, the original mattes are removed in a process known as 'Open Matte.' (This is not to be confused with 'Pan & Scan,' a completely different process of transferring film to Video and DVD.) 'Open Matte' was used with in the production of 'The Sting.'

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. For all of you complaining about how this DVD is PAN-AND-SCAN, you are WRONG. And for all of you still waiting for WIDESCREEN, you ALREADY HAVE IT with this DVD if you understand what Universal is saying above; you are actually seeing MORE than what you'd see in the theater version because of the "Open Matte" process Universal used, NOT pan-and-scan.

If anyone begs to differ with these facts, argue with the source, Universal.

Please stop whining about this DVD's aspect ratio. It's not "full-screen." It's widescreen with the original top and bottom sections restored.

According to film historian David P. Hayes, THE STING was filmed in 4:3 (equivalent to "full-screen") ratio because director George Roy Hill wanted it to look like an old movie. The studio (and/or the exhibitors) apparently had second thoughts about it, though, so theatrically-released prints had the top and bottom sections blocked ("matted") to fit the widescreen format.

What you see on this DVD is not "pan and scan" (with missing left and right content), but the original format with the top and bottom restored.

(...)

Honestly i've seen better HD DVD's but still this one is remastered like crazy,its a hell of alot clearer than the original dvd release and its amazing to see what they can do with movies such as old as this one. I mean 1973 this movie comes out and after watching the HD DVD you would think it was a new release. All in all to keep this short this is an amazing film and you should pick it up on HD DVD right now!

Well, Universal re-released this great Best Picture winner, but left it in the awful pan-and-scan they used for the first DVD release. What a shame. Don't buy this DVD...write to Universal Video and demand they release it in its original theatrical widescreen

I'll chip in with another 1 star review of a 5 star movie. There is no excuse for releasing a classic movie such as this on a horrible pan and scan full screen DVD. Don't buy this until Universal releases the whole movie on DVD.

I rated this DVD with only 3 stars because it's fullscreen. However, I JUST found a Region 1 Widescreen version of the DVD available at Amazon's Canadian website. As I just ordered it I can't rate the quality of the film or anything but I did want to let "everyone" know that it's out there. The website is: www.amazon.ca

Here are the specs on the DVD:
Edition Details:
* Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only)
* Language: English
* Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 1973
* Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
* Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
* Subtitles in Danish / French / Swedish / German / Norwegian / Dutch / Czech / Finnish / Polish / Portuguese / English
* Snap Case
* Import
* Catalog Number: UDR90052
* ASIN: B00004SC8N

I recently purchased and watched what is undoubtedly a film classic, The Sting. I purchased my DVD player and DVDs to engage in the "Cinema Experience" in my home.

When I purchased "The Sting" I noted the 1:33:1 format, but hey, maybe the original wasn't in Widescreen.

My first disappointment came with the "this screen has been modified from its original format......" message. Then as soon as the film started rolling I was extremely disappointed by the quality of the picture and sound. By this alone I could tell that that the DVD was not produced using a "clean" original print.

Then to top it all off I soon discovered that the soundtrack had been dubbed! All of the more flowery exchanges had very cumbersome voiceovers dubbed over them.

I can only assume that Universal, deciding to cut corners, took a made for TV version off the shelf and produced a DVD from it. This goes against the whole notion of DVD, quality cinema in your home.

The Execs. at Universal obviously are not on the same page as people like me who have been waiting for a consumer medium like DVD ever since we discovered the joys of film. I recommend that to anyone, who has a feel for what I am talking about , not by this DVD! If you still want to see the film, save your money and buy the VHS version instead. You'll get what you pay for.

This is a great film. Anyone looking for a review of the actual film may look in any number of places and find that everyone agrees that it is outstanding.

HOWEVER, I failed to read the complete description for the DVD, foolishly assuming that the film would be presented in the appropriate widescreen format. I was shocked and appalled to receive the DVD and find that it was the pan 'n' scan version. This is entirely unacceptable. I returned the DVD and will wait for a letterboxed version.

Do not make the same mistake I made. If you have any interest in seeing this film as it was originally intended, and not "modified to fit your screen," do not purchase this DVD.

The studios have done it again: ruined a terrific film by releasing it in "full" screen only, as though they're doing us some kind of favor. Make no mistake: "full" screen is not "full" at all -- it's another pan and scan hack job. If you want to see the whole movie, you have to get the widescreen VHS version. The studio has not released it in widescreen DVD. It's inexcusable and it's a....

The film is a classic, the restoration is beautiful, and the restored audio is excellent, with one inexplicable gaff. During a humorous dialog exchange, one of Redford's funniest lines is replaced with a sanitized-for-TV dub, which I had only ever heard on the broadcast version of the movie.

Original Dialog
Gondorf: Luther didn't tell me you had a big mouth.
Hooker: He didn't tell me you was a f**k-up, neither.

The perfect timing of the exchange is blown to bits by the dubbed in line, "He didn't tell me you was a screw-up, neither," which has neither the delivery nor the comic impact of Redford's original. Even if it meant getting the film re-rated, this movie deserved better treatment. Why a company would go the all the effort of restoring a classic, award-winning film, then leave in a clumsy, laugh-robbing dub like this, is a complete mystery to me.

Other than this one cringing moment, it's a true gem.