Here you can see some flaws in the image that will remain untouched. The ‘hairs’ visible on the top and bottom of the second image are actually instances of dirt and dust in the gate of the camera itself, and were permanently printed onto the image while shooting. A lack of cropping here allows us to see a great deal of new detail on each side, dirt included.

The often awkward framing in theatrical prints seems to be the result of lab work that cropped for the academy aspect ratio, although the film itself is clearly composed for the full- frame ‘silent’ ratio. This was likely due to a lack of academy frame guides in the viewfinder of the (silent) cameras used. We will be presenting Manos for the first time with the entire image area visible, as the director of photography saw it in 1966.

This shot, like many others in the film, is out of focus. There is no technology in existence, then or now, that can bring a soft shot back into focus, nor is it within the goals of the restoration to do so. As usual, color correction is not final.

Before:

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After: