MOVIE FAN SUES MGM OVER AMOUNT OF PICTURE ON DVDs
A movie buff is suing Hollywood giant MGM and several retailers saying many “wide-screen” DVDs, advertised as showing the film as seen in cinemas, actually show less than already cropped standard versions.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Studios increasingly offer two versions of films on DVDs – a standard format cropped to fit a typical TV screen and a wide-screen, or “letterbox” version, showing the full image as seen on a large movie screen.
The letterbox version is wider left to right and has black bars above and below the image.
But Warren Eallonardo, 28, of Los Angeles, claims that several MGM movies he recently bought, including Rain Man and Hoosiers, falsely advertise wide-screen versions of the films.
“In actuality, the DVDs provide a standard format with the top and bottom of the picture cut off,” said his lawyer, Clifford Pearson. “He felt like he is being ripped off.”
Story filed: 15:56 Tuesday 17th December 2002