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How did CinemaScope use anamorphic lenses to create widescreen images?
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motion-picture technology
Director Steven Spielberg holding the movie camera, assisted by camera operator Michael Chapman, during the filming of Jaws (1975).
CinemaScope utilized an anamorphic optical system to achieve a widescreen effect without requiring specialized film stock or cameras. The process worked through two primary stages:12
- Filming: A special anamorphic lens attached to the camera squeezed a wide-angle image horizontally onto standard 35-millimetre film. Because the horizontal magnification differed from the vertical magnification, the resulting images on the film appeared unnaturally tall and thin.13
- Projection: During exhibition, a corresponding anamorphic lens was placed on the projector. This lens reversed the initial squeeze, expanding the image back to its original width and restoring normal proportions on the wide screen.123
This technique allowed studios to create an aspect ratio of 2.55 to 1, providing a visually expansive experience that helped the film industry compete with the rising popularity of television in the 1950s.12