Just watched this on TV and it was on 4:3 format until the opening credits when it became widescreen and then turned back again to 4:3 for the rest of the film until the closing credits when it turned back to widescreen again.
Don't know if they didn't have the 4:3 credits or if this was done on purpose for some reason, but it makes me wonder why the channel didn't bother getting the widescreen version insted.
Usually the credits have to be in widescreen because making them 4:3 would crop them, its pretty standard practive to do that, but i can see how it would be extra distracting on this film as the credits come in so late at the beginning. Get the DVD, the widescreen transfer looks really good.
shareYeah I also noticed that, and have seen it before. Yes I think it's just cheaper. I don't know where you saw it, but this was on my local TMC channel, and I can imagine only that type of channel showing this movie.
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Disclaimer: if I'm talking about a reality TV show: "As far as the edit showed us."
I saw it on Turner Classic Movies here in Sweden.
Neither here nor there but TCM was a favorite of mine, until I noticed they showed censored versions (Shaft in Africa was the one I noticed it on).
I know it's common in the US with censored TV-versions (especially on network TV, even though the Turner channels are cable) but it's unusual here in Sweden and rubbed me the wrong way.
Here in the US there's a very elaborate and convoluted process for assigning credits and billing for movies. It's a juggernaut that keeps on growing as ego-driven actors, directors, producers and others compete for the lion's share of the credit. IIRC it's so nit-picky that the size, proportions and typeface of the credits is a legal obligation. As a result, when the film gets licensed for television broadcast, disc sales, streaming etc., the licensee is bound by the threat of a storm of lawsuits to carry over this Baroque arrangement onto each and every new medium.
While movie film has come in more shapes and sizes than you can shake a stick at, television has been universally a 4:3 aspect ratio format since it went commercial, thanks in large part to World War II. US television audiences have been somewhat resistant to letterboxing, so in order to satisfy all of the legal requirements at a minimal cost, some televised films have been butchered horribly.
When you consider what a hack job that "Skyjacked" is as a film, it's sort of fitting that the telecine process was handled as brutally as Captain O'Hara handled his airplane.
Funny, but TCM recently showed Shaft in Africa in all its uncensored glory.
shareone of the things i like about this and what probably got me to stay hooked on it so much was that it airs in full screen with alot of great close ups, by the way, i've seen alot of italian movies where the credits have been cut off a bit because of full screen. what a change how heston went from four hour long epic movies in the 1950's, and in the 70's became kind of an action star and a lot of science fiction movies. this is one, along with other hestons movies, that tcm constantly airs, i think its really captivating throughout.
how am i gonna make it without you,
i'm half man since you said we were through,
as i continue my everyday life,
i bought some eggs at a farm near by,
but i cant bake and you left me alone with alote of dough now,
as my travels goes on,
crossing the finnish border, through the valleys sun shines, waves blow,
without you it seems dark and cold, as you left me to camp alone,
since we've been apart,
feels like my future has been placed in the junk yard,
away from your memory is where i wanna place my heart,
and begin a brand new start,
but i can't find a darlin half the woman you are.
a lot people don't like black bars on their TV. specially not on 4:3 TV's.
TV channel do it sometime also today when people have 16:9. They do pan/scan. People believe they see the full screen.