Rudolph the red nosed reindeer In High Definition???

[TheMightyFavog]

What point is there to airing a television program first aired in 1964 in high-definition?

[madinmaryland]

1. If you have to ask....

[guitar man]

2. Lol

It's so you can get a real good look at all the flaws in the old film :silly:

[nolabear]

3. My EYES! Oh God, MY EEEEEYYYEEESSSSS!!!!

[EOTE]

4. I couldn't tell you.

I assume it's also going to be broadcast in its original aspect ratio of 4:3 (1.33)? So I guess this will be pillar-boxed HD as well.

That's not to say that films made before 1964 can't be transferred well into HD. Properly maintained 35MM film still looks amazing to this day. I'm guessing when they finally get around to transferring films like Ben Hur, they will look very good.

[kentauros]

6. You should never assume proper ratios on broadcast HD

because unless you're watching TCM, or MGM or one of the old-movie movie channels, you can bet good money that it will be stretched and/or cropped.

I keep the non-HD channels in my on-screen guide for this very reason. I can't stand watching a formerly 4 : 3 show stretched to 16 : 9. I want people to have normal-width shoulders and round eyes! I could not care less about having black bars on the sides, any more than I care about seeing black bars on the top and bottom. I want original ratios dammit! :D

[EOTE]

8. At least in the commercials, it's displayed in 4:3.

With a wintery screenscape displayed on the sides. My daughter watches a VHS copy of Rudolph often when she visits my folks. Somehow I'm guessing this HD version isn't going to look that much better.

[Connie_Corleone]

11. I saw it last year in so-called HD. Not much of a difference to me.

[kentauros]

12. You can let us know if they stick to that format then

;)

Maybe it's a new tactic in trying to get around the rabid viewers that "must have the screen filled!!!"

I'm just remembering how you'll see a movie where the opening credits are letterboxed, and the moment they're over, it's back to pan & scan, crop & stretch.

[Supply Side Jesus]

5. wait for the 3D version

:eyes:

some things should just be

[Beer Snob-50]

7. when is this classic on??? nt

[Connie_Corleone]

9. Tonight on ABC at 8pm ET.

[CBGLuthier]

10. because it was originally on FILM, it can be improved

Anything done on film, like most of The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and so on can be improved with a high resolution scan from a quality print.

Yes, it won't be in widescreen aspect but that has absolutely nothing to do with whether it is high def or not.