Randall & Hopkirk (2000) series 1 16x9 or not?

[WeaselFierce]

Does anyone know for sure if the new Randall & Hopkirk series 1 DVD is in widescreen or not?

I've only found one place that lists the specs and it says it's 4:3.

The current series is been broadcast in widescreen but I can't remember if the first series was fullframe or not.

Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Weasel.:confused:

[RDJ]

Don't know about the DVD, but I'm pretty sure the first series was broadcast in widescreen.

[2099net]

The first season was shown in widescreen on BBC digital services, so it was clearly shot as such.

I have yet to see the DVD - Blackstar have not posted it out yet either - but being as it's a Universal UK disc* (the show is actually made by Universal TV <I>not</I> the BBC) I wouldn't be surprised if it is 4:3 only.

The obvious method of transfer would be to use the Pan and Scan on the fly feature, being as there would be no panning involved. I understand this is done on the MGM Stargate discs?


* Yes folks - I've still not forgiven Universal UK for the shoddy Xena season 1 DVD release. In fact, I haven't forgotten them for virually <I>all</I> their previous releases.

[WeaselFierce]

Damn... And it was looking like suck a good buy too... :(

[RDJ]

Picked up the DVD today. It is 4:3 unfortunately. However, the picture is pretty good and, surprisingly, it's in 5.1.

So strange that they would release with 5.1 but neglect to use the widesreen transfer that exists.

[jonathan.e]

...weirder still is that the deleted scenes are in widescreen. I’d like to find out who makes these dumb decisions and give them a right good kicking.

[Confucius]

Does anyone have an e-mail address for VVL?

[jonathan.e]

I just phoned them up (it’s Working Title who put it together) and the reason is that they feel 4:3 is still the predominant viewing choice for the majority of people and they did not have enough space to put both versions on. I let them know that the Angel fiasco with Fox, for the same reasons, had led to many cancellations and they said that they’d take on board my comments but that at this stage even the second series will also be 4:3 when released on DVD.

Nice people who took the time to deal with my query but it’s the wrong decision as we all know. Sales of 16x9 sets outweigh 4:3 so it seems ridiculous to not cater for these customers. Maybe it’s just a far-reaching plan to re-sell us the same product in five years time in WS.

[jon smith]

shame about the 4:3. Is a cool cover though, works really well with Marty (now you the see him, now you don't).

[LV426]

"Not enough space for both versions...."

Clearly these people are a bunch of total gimboids. Someone should tell them about the Pan&Scan flag that is part of the DVD standard. Or simply point them in the direction of the MGM Stargate SG1 series - which (AFAIK) uses this feature.

[WeaselFierce]

If 4:3 is still the prefered viewing choice why record and transmit on TV in 16x9 format? (or the halfway 14x9 if you're on terrestrial broadcast).

Very dissapointing news...

[Chris]

The UK Randal & Hopkirk (2000) is also cut.

Universal UK decided to cut the episode "Paranoia" so they could get a 12. BBFC say that an uncut 15 rating was available but Universal UK chose to cut it.

[MK20]

Well I was going to buy it but I'm not shelling out my cash for a Pan & Scan peice of crap.
Distributors should realize, people who prefer P&S (the idiots that they are) will still buy a widescreen (or OAR) version but people like me who insist on OAR (yes even if that is 4:3) will not buy P&S so either way theyre better off releasing the OAR version.

[jayl6]

Confucius was asking about an email address for VVL. I have been doing some searching on the Internet and failed to find a email address for them, but I have got their postal address from companies house

VISION VIDEO LIMITED
1 SUSSEX PLACE
LONDON.
W6 9XS

Can I suggest that everyone who was going to buy this DVD but won’t now due to it being released in 4:3, write them a letter telling them so and asking for a widescreen release. If enough people write surely they will have to take notice?

I was so looking forward to getting this on DVD, guess that I will just have to wait for the possibility of a DVD release in widescreen showing up sometime in the future.