Amazon has reversed photos two and three.PHOTO 1 = 1.33: 1 “open matte” - issued on DVD in 2003PHOTO 2 = 1.85: 1 “original aspect ratio” (Widescreen) on new Blu-rayPHOTO 3 = 2.00: 1 “alternate original aspect ratio” (Superscope) on new Blu-rayPHOTOS 4 + 5 = The Blu-ray cover is reversible1954 was a transition year for American cinema.For 35 years, the official aspect ratio for Hollywood films had been 1.33:1Pronounced “one-point-three-three to one” - also known as 4/3 - also known as the “Academy Ratio” (same ratio as analog television).In 1954 the “Wide Screen” aspect ratio of 1.85:1 was introduced.But 90% of American movie theaters were not equipped with wide screens.Universal Studios faced a quandary - they were in danger of at least temporarily losing 90% of their audience.The solution was to introduce the concept of “open matte” for 1.33:1 film stock.Anthony Mann’s ‘The Far Country’ starring James Stewart is an example.Cinematographer William Daniels shot it on standard 35mm technicolor film stock, but was careful to leave plenty of room at the top and the bottom.If it had been filmed five years earlier the blocking would have looked considerably different.Universal used the same negative to prepare two different prints of ‘The Far Country’.PHOTO 1: Most theaters were sent the 1.33:1 print.Audiences may or may not have noticed all that extra sky at the top of the film (it's actually kind of neat).Universal Home Video issued the 1.33:1 open matte print on DVD in 2003: The Far CountryPHOTO 2: Wide screen 1.85:1 prints were prepared by applying a matte to the top and bottom of the negative (the director and cinematographer supervised the process).Technically both 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 qualify as the “original aspect ratio”.The 2019 Arrow Academy Blu-ray is the first American release of the 1.85:1 Widescreen picture (photo two).PHOTO 3: A second Blu-ray is included. When I first heard this, I thought it might be the 1.33:1 open matte version, but it turns out to be an even wider 2.00:1 aspect ratio.Universal’s rival Twentieth Century Fox had introduced “Cinemascope”, with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 in an attempt to scoop the other studios and their puny “Widescreen” pictures. Hah!In a desperate counter-move, Universal adopted the “Superscope” 2.00:1 aspect ratio for a limited number of prints.A bridge too far?The picture looks cramped to me (photo three).--- English SDH subtitles.--- New audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin.--- Limited edition 24 page booklet.--- American Frontiers: Anthony Mann at Universal - documentary (contains spoilers)--- Mann of the West - appraisal of Far Country and the westerns of Anthony Mann by the critic Kim Newman.--- Image gallery.--- Original trailer.“The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution at NBC Universal’s Studio Post facility.The film was graded and restored at Silver Salt Restoration, London.The original mono mix was remastered from the optical negatives at Deluxe Audio Services, Hollywood.”For more about the five James Stewart / Anthony Mann Westerns, see Comment one (sort by "Oldest").