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Open-Matte / Pan and Scan

 

4:3 DVD release.

  

Widescreen DVD version (region 2)

This is a side-by-side comparison of some of the different
versions of Manhunter available. Director Michael Mann
shot the movie on 35mm film stock.

By matting of the areas top and bottom of the film, he was
able to create a widescreen image appropriate to the
Director's requirements.

For TV and video releases, and was common practice
during that era, these matts were removed opening the
picture up to fill a 4:3 television screen.

This allows for more picture to be viewed but can also
expose a multitude of sins. 

In some scenes in the movie, the boom mike can clearly
be seen. This would have been hidden by the mattes in
the cinema version.

As you can see here, the 1999 VHS widescreen version
has more image available than the MGM 4:3 DVD.
 
 

 

This shot has the matts removed and shows virtually the whole image.   Other full-screen versions are zoomed in more, like this one
from the MGM 4:3 DVD.		   The 16:9 version has matts in place delivering the image
as the director intended.