wide-screen projection

Wide-screen projection in cinematography refers to an image whose width is significantly greater than its height, typically with an aspect ratio substantially larger than 1.33:1. This technique was developed to attract audiences back to theaters amidst the rise of television.12

One prominent wide-screen process is CinemaScope, invented by Henri Chrétien. It uses special lenses to "squeeze" a wide image onto standard 35mm film, which is then expanded by a projection lens to fill a wide screen without distortion. Other similar processes include SuperScope and WarnerScope. While some wide-screen formats use 70mm film, others, like "wide screen," achieved a similar effect by masking parts of a standard 35mm film frame, resulting in aspect ratios like 1.75:1. The aspect ratio of films has evolved, with common ratios in the US being around 1.85:1 and in Europe 1.66:1.23