Horatio Hornblower A&E Series DVD Question [Archive]

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Cool Breeze

01-24-2014, 14:03

Im pretty sure some of you here have the Collecters set of A&E's Horatio Hornblower series. Could you please tell me the aspect ratio of the show? The listing for the collectors set on Amazon shows 1.33/1 but the individual disks show 1.78/1.

I'm a videophile with a 60" HDTV who vastly prefers letterbox to pan & scan. I'm not sure I'd like it if it isn't letterbox.

DeRuyter

01-24-2014, 14:16

csadn

01-24-2014, 16:00

I can't help you here I taped it on a VCR :shock:

<- watches as DeRuyter is hauled away by the Waffen-FCC... :)

taipan

01-24-2014, 19:30

first question...vcr?
also the dvds i've gotten from netflix are pan and scan...normal not blueray

Cool Breeze

01-24-2014, 23:48

Yeah, got a chance to research it after work slowed down. It's Pan and Scan for Region 1 (USA & Canada). Probably still buy it though.

Diamondback

01-25-2014, 03:25

Curtis, I think it was originally shot in Pan & Scan, back when most TV's and computer monitors were still 4:3 rather than the 16:9 or 16:10 ratios most common today.

DeRuyter

01-25-2014, 08:55

first question...vcr?
also the dvds i've gotten from netflix are pan and scan...normal not blueray

LOL! Yes I know old tech, but if I recall correctly the series premiered in what 1999? I was sailing on the Kalmar Nyckel at the time and we were hired by A&E to do a promo "battle" with other tall ships in Baltimore's inner harbor. I just taped the series as it aired. I actually still have a combo DVD/VCR player so I can still watch it.

Cool Breeze

01-26-2014, 00:53

Curtis, I think it was originally shot in Pan & Scan, back when most TV's and computer monitors were still 4:3 rather than the 16:9 or 16:10 ratios most common today.

This was my thought originally as well, first one aired in 98 I believe. What's confusing is the last disk sells seperately at 1.78/1 Aspect, and I read somewhere that it's 1.33/1 for the set in Region 1 (claiming it is original aspect ratio as aired) but retains its widescreen format in Europe. It'd be cool if the original films were letterbox and A&E would realize bluray exists as a preferred format now, and make the digital HD transfer of the originals available.

Diamondback

01-26-2014, 01:35

Sadly, A&E now cares nothing about the "ARTS & Entertainment" of their origins and have rebranded pushing schlock like Storage Wars 24/7.

Coog

01-26-2014, 05:53

Sadly, A&E now cares nothing about the "ARTS & Entertainment" of their origins and have rebranded pushing schlock like Storage Wars 24/7.

At one time A&E, TLC (The Learning Channel), and The Discovery Channel had some really good shows. Even MTV back in those days was literally Music Television. Now its all "reality" TV.

DeRuyter

01-26-2014, 09:41

Sadly, A&E now cares nothing about the "ARTS & Entertainment" of their origins and have rebranded pushing schlock like Storage Wars 24/7.

Just as The History Channel is now more about searching through junk in old barns, with the one bright spot being The Vikings series.

Cmmdre

01-26-2014, 10:02

Just as The History Channel is now more about searching through junk in old barns, with the one bright spot being The Vikings series.

I agree DB and Eric. I like Ragnar as well.

csadn

01-26-2014, 13:46

At one time A&E, TLC (The Learning Channel), and The Discovery Channel had some really good shows. Even MTV back in those days was literally Music Television. Now its all "reality" TV.

...and now I have this running through my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfhCg2qPkXM .... :)

Diamondback

01-26-2014, 15:41

Just as The History Channel is now more about searching through junk in old barns, with the one bright spot being The Vikings series.
How The States Got Their Shapes is kinda cool, and Hatfields & McCoys wasn't too bad. Most of the stuff worth watching got moved to H2/History Int'l... and the ONLY things I ever watch Discovery for anymore is Shark Week and MythBusters. (Sons of Guns was OK before fame went to Will's head... he and I used to be boardmates on a gun forum. Don't wind me up about that BS'ing ripoff-artist Wyatt, either...)