Ultra Panavision 70

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A frame from Ben-Hur, showing the extremely wide aspect ratio.

Ultra Panavision 70 was the marketing brand used to identify 65/70 mm movies photographed with Panavision anamorphic optics between 1962 and 1966.

The frame dimensions and six-track stereo soundtrack configuration of Ultra Panavision 70 were virtually identical to those established for the Todd-AO 65/70 mm process in 1955. However, the optics incorporated a 1.25X anamorphic "squeeze," yielding a projected aspect ratio of approximately 2.76:1.

The special optics were initially developed in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who used it to photograph two movies, Raintree County (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959). These were advertised as being produced in MGM Camera 65. The process was subsequently refined, re-named Ultra Panavision 70 and used to photograph seven additional features.

Many of the films advertised in Ultra Panavision 70 were presented in 70 mm Cinerama in selected theaters. Special lenses were used to project a "rectified" (optically pre-distorted) 70 mm print onto a deeply-curved screen to mimic the effect of the original 3-strip Cinerama process.

Portions of the 1962 Cinerama feature How the West Was Won were reportedly photographed using Ultra Panavision 70, and then optically converted to the 3-strip format.

The following features were entirely produced in Ultra Panavision 70:

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