Figure 5 –
Nature in a Box:
A Cure for Wellness, and 1.66:1
This brings us back to Bozelli’s comments with which this article began. The digital reconstruction of an aspect ratio that emerged in the 1950s, but has been used sparingly since, demands consideration of its particular qualities and features. In the 1950s, the coming of Cinerama and CinemaScope led Paramount to develop VistaVision and the 1.66:1 ratio, which was initially marketed as a taller and “more comfortable viewing experience.”
[21] Supposedly, it allowed filmmakers to compose images with a greater deal of control and resulted in fewer distractions for the audience than did the comparatively extreme width of CinemaScope. Bazin, for instance, although describing the 1.85:1 version of VistaVision, considered it “spectacular enough to satisfy the eye, yet still rational enough to satisfy the mind.”