8mm Forum: Southbound Duckling

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on April 17, 2014, 02:52 AM:

I have two copies of the Tom & Jerry "Southbound Duckling" (1955). One of them is flat and the other is 'scope. The Internet Movie Database gives the aspect ratio as 1.37 : 1.

Did MGM actually produce two versions?

Posted by Ricky Daniels (Member # 95) on April 17, 2014, 04:47 AM:

What does IMDB know! [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 18, 2014, 12:58 PM:

Maurice, you are a most interesting fellow!

I was going to e-mail Jerry Beck about this issue, but from another perspective.

To your question ...

The answer is yes!

M.G.M. in the early days of cinemascope, produced both a flat and scope version of they're films, both cartoons and features. Why?

Because it was an expensive change to go from flat screens to scope requirements, and so, M.G.M. wisely made two versions of they're films, so as not to lose potential business.

My question for Jerry Beck will be, what was the first M.G.M. scope cartoon? I think it's "Pet Peeve", (Tom and Jerry), but I'm not sure.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on April 18, 2014, 01:55 PM:

Osi
Thanks for the information, Yes, you are correct. "Pet Peeve" was the first dual format release in November 1954.

Here's an interesting listing with full details which I found via Google after my original opening.

http://cartoonnetwork.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Tom_and_Jerry_episodes

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 22, 2014, 12:08 PM:

It is interesting to compare both versions of "Pet Peeve" alongside each other, for the benefits or distractions of scope.

I have it, flat, on laserdisc, scope on super 8. The scope version definitely works better and they were already thinking
along the lines of gags to play in a scope format which do not play quite as well in the flat versions of these cartoons. Personal opinion, of course.

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