VistaVision

E122441

VistaVision is a high-resolution widescreen motion picture format developed by Paramount Pictures in the 1950s that runs 35mm film horizontally to achieve finer image quality.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
VistaVision canonical 10

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (58)

Predicate Object
instanceOf high-resolution film format
motion picture film format
widescreen format
advantageOverStandard35mm better image quality on large screens
higher negative resolution for reduction printing
improved image steadiness
alsoKnownAs VV
competitiveWith CinemaScope
other anamorphic widescreen systems
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
designedFor improved theatrical presentation quality
developer Paramount Pictures
eraOfPrimaryUse late 1950s
mid-1950s
filmGauge 35 mm film
filmTransportOrientation horizontal
firstUsedInFeatureFilm White Christmas
frameOrientation horizontal 35 mm
frameWidth 8 perforations
imageArea larger than standard 35 mm vertical frame
imageQualityCharacteristic greater sharpness
high resolution
reduced grain
inception 1954
influenced later high-resolution 35 mm formats
intendedProjectionAspectRatios 1.66:1
1.85:1
introducedAs Paramount’s answer to CinemaScope
introducedBy Paramount Pictures
laterUse optical compositing work
visual effects photography
negativeAspectRatio 1.5:1
negativePerforationPitch 8-perf 35 mm horizontal
negativeType spherical lenses
notableDirectorUser Alfred Hitchcock
Cecil B. DeMille
projectionMethod non-anamorphic
projectionPrintFormat optical reduction from horizontal negative
standard vertical 35 mm prints
projectionPrintPerforationPitch standard 4-perf 35 mm
releaseYear 1954
soundFormat optical mono
optical stereo (on some releases)
standardFrameHeight 8 perforations
status largely obsolete as a primary acquisition format
usedByCompany Industrial Light & Magic
usedForFilm Funny Face
North by Northwest
Strategic Air Command
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 film)
surface form: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 film)

The Searchers
The Ten Commandments (1956 film)
The Trouble with Harry
To Catch a Thief
film Vertigo
surface form: Vertigo (1958 film)
usedInProductionOfFilm Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
surface form: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
surface form: Star Wars (1977 film)

The Empire Strikes Back

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (10)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Vertigo filmFormat VistaVision
To Catch a Thief filmFormat VistaVision
The Court Jester filmingProcess VistaVision
White Christmas (1954 film) format VistaVision
White Christmas filmFormat VistaVision
The Carpetbaggers filmingProcess VistaVision
Marnie filmingProcess VistaVision