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Topic: I was just wondering.......
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Hugh McCullough
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 156
From: Old Coulsdon. Surrey. UK
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted September 18, 2008 04:52 PM
I always understood that it was not the fps that dictated the speed of sound films, but the footage that was recorded/projected per minute. It was found that the slowest speed for adequate reproduction of sound, at the time, was 90 ft per min. Using the standard frame height this resulted in 24 fps. Actually this was the first time that film speed had been standardised. In the days of silent films hand cranked cameras were at the mercy of the cameraman, and the projectionist probably cranked at a faster speed so that he could get home early. Any speed slower than 90 ft resulted in poor sound reproduction. Faster speeds would result in better sound quality, but more film would be used and therefore film costs would be more.
This reared it's head again with the introduction of Todd-AO 70mm film. Originally films like Oklahoma, South Pacific etc. were filmed, and projected, at 30 fps to give better sound quality, but after a few years the accountants won the day, and normal 24 fps speed was used for all subsequent 70mm films. The original 70mm projectors, Philips DP70, and the Cinemeccanica Victoria 10 have duel speeds of 30, and 24 fps. This was to enable them to run 35mm copies.
35mm film itself is a compromise. It was the smallest size of film that would give an adequately focussed projected picture on the normal 8 to 12 feet wide screens used in the early days of silent films.
-------------------- EIKI Ex 6100 xenon machine.
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