A method is described for producing Cinemascope-type motion picture images that have a large aspect ratio (e.g. 2.35 to 1), which enables their high quality projection using moderately priced projection lenses, which produces a steadier projected image, and which increases the life of the release print while reducing its cost. A scene is photographed in the prior art manner, using an anamorphic lens to produce 50% horizontally compressed anamorphic camera film frame images (aspect ratio of about 1.175 to 1). During processing to produce a release print, another anamorphic lens is used to produce 36.5% vertically compressed anamorphic release print film frame images (aspect ratio of 1.85 to 1) of the camera film images. An anamorphic projection lens is used in a motion picture theater to horizontally expand the projected images by about 27% (to an aspect ratio of 2.35 to 1). The fact that the anamorphic projector lens horizontally expands the image by only 27%, instead of the 100% of the prior art, enables the projection of extremely sharp and undistorted images on a screen, using a moderately priced anamorphic lens. The fact that the release prim images have been vertically compressed, results in their convenient use in current projectors, in the use of less film for each release print, in a longer lifetime of use for each release print, and in a steadier image. Each release print film frame occupies 2.5 perforations instead of 4, which results in a steadier projected image.