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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jun 23, 2006 21:55:03 GMT -6
How do you watch most of the movies you see? Do you rent them or buy them for your own personal collection and watch them? Or do you just watch them on television or at the theater?
Larry
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Post by tclion on Jun 23, 2006 22:23:22 GMT -6
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Post by maliejandra on Jun 24, 2006 22:21:16 GMT -6
Aside from buying them and borrowing them from other old movie friends, I get them from the library, which is how I've seen most of my classics. My library was voted best library in the nation though, so I am certainly more privledged than other people in regards to having films available to me.
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Post by tclion on Jun 26, 2006 17:36:12 GMT -6
Aside from buying them and borrowing them from other old movie friends, I get them from the library, which is how I've seen most of my classics. My library was voted best library in the nation though, so I am certainly more privledged than other people in regards to having films available to me. That is great malie. Our local library has mostly documentaries and stuff like that. So we don't rent to many movies from there... |
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Post by gina1975 on Jun 27, 2006 17:40:45 GMT -6
I mostly watch movies on my satelite. If it is a new movie I'll ppv it and if I like it enough I'll buy it. We make it to the theater maybe 3 times a year and borrow a lot of movies from family and friends.
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Post by Midge on Jun 27, 2006 18:47:16 GMT -6
If it is a new movie I'll ppv it and if I like it enough I'll buy it. What a great idea, Gina! That way, you don't waste money on a turkey. |
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Post by tclion on Jun 27, 2006 19:57:46 GMT -6
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Post by tinyhippy on Jun 29, 2006 12:41:01 GMT -6
I have a few ways of seeing movies, but mostly I'll catch them on TCM. Otherwise, our library has literally hundreds of classics - most of them on old VHS tapes that are slowly breaking down, true, but they have some on DVD too. (The old VHS tapes can come in handy for seeing movies that are no longer in print, anyway). My husband will occassionally drag me to the cinema as well.  ;D |
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Post by harlowbaby on Jun 29, 2006 15:14:42 GMT -6
I watch most movies on TCM but a lot of times I will just buy it online if I'm really in a hurry to see something that I can't find around here. The video rental stores where I live don't have a very good selection of classic movies and a lot of times I will her about a movie that I want to see that I can't find anywhere local. Well, I'm impulsive and don't like to wait  so I'll buy. Or I'll Netflix it! |
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jun 29, 2006 15:27:39 GMT -6
Harlowbaby, you sound exactly in MY situation! Not a single store around here carries any classic movies -- or "older" movies -- or whatever. That was my whole reason for joining NetFlix too! netFlix has one of the best selections I've EVER seen -- ESPECIALLY of silent movies, which are MY personal favorites! I've put my NetFlix account on hiatus for the time being, but I do plan to rejoin later! Larry |
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Post by harlowbaby on Jun 30, 2006 0:30:53 GMT -6
Ya know, I have yet to see a silent film..can you believe it? Are there any that you would recommend for my first time viewing? |
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jun 30, 2006 9:19:16 GMT -6
For your first-time viewing, I would defintely recommend beginning with comedies, although comedies are not MY favorite genre. But getting introduced into the SILENT area, I think a drama may tend to frighten you away (unless the two genres are mixed)! That is my OWN personal opinion. A great one I would like to recommend would be The Kid (1921), with Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, and a very young Jackie Coogan. (You may recognize Coogan as "Uncle Fester" on the 1960's Addams Family series. Believe it or not, he used to be a cute kid!  ) This film is widely available in stores, as well as online; you can purchase it singly, as part of a DVD set, or in most Chaplin collections. So it is easy to obtain! Speaking of Coogan, The Rag Man (1925) is a very cute film but it is NOT available anywhere on VHS or DVD. You'll just have to wait to catch it on TCM, if that network is available in your area. One can't really go wrong with Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chase. Keaton is my least personal favorite of those four, but it's just because he has a "dryer" humor than the others (keep in mind, this is my OWN perception). For action comedy with thrills, chills, and spills, you must definitely watch Harold Lloyd! And getting hold of some early comedies by Laurel & Hardy may prove difficult, but they're defintely worth seeing. Once you feel a little more at ease with watching silent films, then I would say you could start getting into the dramas. A few of my personal recommendations for drama: - Sparrows (1926)
- Sunrise (1927)
- Broken Blossoms (1919)
- The Unknown (1927)
I'm sure I can come up with others as time passes. As soon as I click "Post Reply" I'll probably remember a half dozen others I should have suggested!  Also, obtaining some of the early (drama) silent shorts might be advisable because most of them are only 12 - 15 minutes long. That way, you can expose yourself to silents for short intervals of time, if you think that's all you can handle!  Get yourself a copy of Griffith's Biograph shorts (see my other posting in this thread). Perhaps you can get some tips from other members as well. Bruce pops in here occasionally (login name "silentfilm") and he is an expert and historian on silent films. He also has done restoration for some silents, if I'm not mistaken. (He attends the Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka, Kansas every year, as do I.) Perhaps HE can give you some of his best tips and suggestions.  Larry |
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Post by Midge on Jun 30, 2006 14:19:08 GMT -6
I think the best way to discover silent movies is to see them the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen, with an audience. Kristy, since you're in Northern California you might like to know about the 11th Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival. It is being held in July at the historic Castro Theatre. All the movies will be presented with live musical accompaniment. One of the scheduled movies is Sparrows. Here's a link to the Festival's web site: www.silentfilm.org/filmfestival.htm(Edited because I said "Kari" when I meant to say "Kristy". Oops! Sorry.) |
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jun 30, 2006 14:39:20 GMT -6
Thank you for posting that information, Midge! I'm glad to hear that there are so many venues around the country at various times of the year that hold silent film festivals! That just goes to show that this is an art that will NEVER die!!!!  A big thank you to all of you presenters who do this every year!!!! Larry |
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Post by harlowbaby on Jun 30, 2006 14:45:32 GMT -6
Thanks for suggestions Larry! I will definitely check those out. And Midge, that silent film festival sounds like fun! I'm in nor cal too so that would be something to look into.
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Post by Midge on Jun 30, 2006 16:50:59 GMT -6
I'm hoping to attend myself, if I can get the time off from work.
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Post by tclion on Jun 30, 2006 19:42:23 GMT -6
I must say one of my best times on an outing was going to a film festival. I think you will come away with a new appreciation for silent films..
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Post by Midge on Jul 1, 2006 1:46:05 GMT -6
Oh, absolutely. There's no comparison. I've been lucky enough to see many silent movies in theatres. I saw my first Buster Keaton movies that way. It really makes a difference to see them on the big screen.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jul 1, 2006 8:19:10 GMT -6
I remember seeing the silents for the first time at the festival too! I was very excited to the point I thought I would cry! I absolutely felt like I went back to another era! And if you ever get to hear the Mont-Alto Motion Picture Orchestra accompany the films, you've got it made! Rodney Sauer and his group travel many places doing these festivals, so it wouldn't surprise me if you ever get to hear them! You can check out his website at www.mont-alto.com/ to keep up with his schedule!  Larry |
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Post by tclion on Jul 1, 2006 14:34:46 GMT -6
Yes Larry they play so beautifully. I love to listen to their cds and I do enjoy their music in the silent films... Absolutely wonderful....
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Post by harlowbaby on Jul 1, 2006 15:04:29 GMT -6
That would be awesome Larry! I have a quick question. For those of you who have seen the schedule for the silent film festival in SF, if I were only able to see one or two of the films, which ones would you recommend getting tickets for?
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Post by tclion on Jul 1, 2006 17:45:46 GMT -6
That would be awesome Larry! I have a quick question. For those of you who have seen the schedule for the silent film festival in SF, if I were only able to see one or two of the films, which ones would you recommend getting tickets for? Well I suggest "Sparrows" and any Laurel and Hardy shorts that might show. These are the ones i cut my teeth so to speak. They just got me hooked. Let's not forget Harold Loyd. Excellent in making you heart skip a beat with his highwire hyjinks. |
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Post by Midge on Jul 2, 2006 17:17:41 GMT -6
I would also recommend Sparrows. That's the one I'm hoping to see. They're also showing Seventh Heaven, Pandora's Box and the delightful Marion Davies comedy Show People. I'm guessing Show People will sell out early, so if you're planning to go, I'd advising buying your tickets in advance to be sure of getting in.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jul 2, 2006 19:32:42 GMT -6
I must concur with TC on Laurel & Hardy! And Sparrows is an absolute must-see! A word of caution on Sparrows: be sure to take a box of Kleenex with you, because it will make you bawl like a baby!!  Mary Pickford gives an OUTSTANDING performance as the oldest orphan, trying to be the protector of the younger ones against the evil Mr. Grimes, astonishingly played by Gustav von Seyffertitz! This is also one of HIS excellent performances! Spec O'Donnell plays his son Buzz, who is almost as dastardly and sinister as the old man, himself. I'm sure you're probably familiar with the two aspects of theater: Comedy and Tragedy. Sparrows is definitely classified as Tragedy. This was about as close to horror as one could get in the silent days, too! You ABSOLUTELY MUST see this one!!!! Larry |
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Post by harlowbaby on Jul 2, 2006 21:23:25 GMT -6
Thanks for all the recommendations! I am (hopefully) going to get tickets soon. I think this will be a great experience I love experiencing new things for the first time...so exciting |
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Post by harlowbaby on Jul 3, 2006 13:04:42 GMT -6
Okay, so I watched my first silent film last night on TCM. They showed Don Juan and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! John Barrymore, Mary Astor, and a bit part by my beloved Myrna Loy! I liked it more than I thought I would |
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jul 3, 2006 13:05:50 GMT -6
See? It wasn't so bad after all, huh?!?! HEHE!! ;D Larry |
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Post by tclion on Jul 3, 2006 22:11:31 GMT -6
Okay, so I watched my first silent film last night on TCM. They showed Don Juan and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! John Barrymore, Mary Astor, and a bit part by my beloved Myrna Loy! I liked it more than I thought I would Their much better when you have someone to cuddle with while you watch them. I think their more romantic than talkie movies... |
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Post by angel2121 on Jul 7, 2006 17:52:53 GMT -6
I mostly watch movies by checking them out from the library. . .it's free, after all, and the library here at home at least is pretty well-stocked and will order almost anything I request (though I don't really do that that often). That's not necessarily true for the city where I go to college, though, but that library still has a few good things. Sometimes I'll rent, too, but only if I can find a store that's got classic films in stock, which is kind of hard to do where I live. . .but there is a certain store in the city where I go to college which has a few good old things I haven't seen yet. When I'm at home, I also watch movies off of TV or record them. . .usually just TCM, though. I don't go to theaters that much b/c they're too expensive. . .and I rarely ever buy a movie and usually do so when I'm getting a pretty good deal or if there's a movie I love that I feel impelled to buy.
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Post by Midge on Jul 7, 2006 20:20:47 GMT -6
I mostly watch movies by checking them out from the library. . .it's free, after all, and the library here at home at least is pretty well-stocked and will order almost anything I request (though I don't really do that that often). Great idea, Angela! Libraries aren't just for books anymore; they're a great resource for video and music CD's, too. Unfortunately ours is closed for renovation, so it's not an option for me right now. Thanks for all the recommendations! I am (hopefully) going to get tickets soon. I think this will be a great experience I love experiencing new things for the first time...so exciting Kristy, if you get tickets for Sparrows, let me know! My day off from work just got approved, so Big Al and I are going to see it next Saturday. I ordered the tickets on line to be sure of getting seats. If you do go, it would be fun to meet you there! |
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;D
so I'll buy. Or I'll Netflix it!
) This film is widely available in stores, as well as online; you can purchase it singly, as part of a DVD set, or in most Chaplin collections. So it is easy to obtain! 
