Hollywood’s Love Affair with VistaVision

The resurgence of VistaVision, a widescreen film format from the 1950s, is explored as a strategy to attract audiences back to movie theaters. NPR culture correspondent Mandalit Del Barco discusses how filmmakers are utilizing this vintage technology, which involves shooting on 35mm film horizontally to create larger, clearer images without distortion. The format was initially developed to combat the rise of television, and saw use in classic films like "White Christmas," "The Ten Commandments," and Hitchcock's "Vertigo." VistaVision's comeback involves overcoming challenges such as noisy cameras and high film costs, with modern directors employing it in films like "One Battle After Another" and "Begonia" for its unique aesthetic and immersive quality.