Old Movies

[jasonfitch]

I'm a fan of old movies and I was wondering why they aren't released to theaters more often. It seems to me that although old movies are rereleased occasionally, usually for an anniversery, it's usually in limited release and I live in an area where limited release very seldom reaches. With the obsession lately with remakes and musicals, it would make sense, at least to me, that rereleases of old movies would make money, look at Disney or the original Star Wars trilogy. I would love an opportunity to see some of the David Lean epics or big musicals like Guys and Dolls (which I hear is headed for a remake) on the big screen. The studios wouldn't have to pay for production costs and it wouldn't hurt the video/DVD rental market, because they could put the titles in moritorium before rerelease and then rerelease them after the movie was done playing in theaters just like they do with regular, new movies. All it would take was a little creative advertising. If there is a reason why the studios don't do this could someone tell me?

[MattSinger]

The cost of all those prints (and all that advertising is quite expensive). Not to mention if we're talking a really older movie, and you're going to release this movie wide, the audience is going to expect the movie to look as good as anything else out in theaters, which means it's going to have to cleaned up and remastered, and if the original film is in bad shape, then it can be very expensive. Without some sort of guarantee this movie is going to bring a return, I can see why studios are hesistant.

That said, in revival and independent theaters in major cities, they reshow old movies. You just need to know where to look. I saw a theater recently in NYC that is showing a brand new print of Breakfast at Tiffany's. So they're out there.

[jasonfitch]

Thank you for your reply. What you say makes sense. I guess I'm gonna have to move to a big city. /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

[Razorback]

I saw Singing in the Rain in Manhattan a few months ago. It looked and sounded great!

RB

[MattSinger]

Where did you see it? Was it a new print?

[DarthMaulRat]

I know that the AFI has a historical society of sorts, they should get more money to start saving films by cleaning them up and storing them digitally. Digital files can always be converted to the next format, but film can only survive for so long.

I know that old film needs to be washed and needs expert care, but perhaps digital film scrubbing could be handled as projects at technical institutes or colleges. This would cut costs, but of course some students would probably sneak in monograms or shanks in single frames.

[MattSinger]

Digital is good for certain things, but I believe, like some people, that there is something to be said for watching a film on film. But I'm a megageek.

[DarthMaulRat]

Well, the take over of digital projectors seems inevitable. Its not like a digital projector would improve the clarity of these old movies. That would be a shame. Sharpening filters are the devil. There is a difference between cleaning film and improving the picture.

I guess the random black dots and streaks of film are nostalgic in an awkward kind of way, but I'm thinking that not too many people are going to miss it. When todays's films start looking all spotted after a month, I find it rather annoying.

I suppose you could make special glasses that have gnats running amok inside the lens to simulate that special look of film.

[jasonfitch]

So I did a little research and I found a place that is only about 90 minutes from where I live where they play old movies all the time!
http://www.eastman.org/home.htm

[Razorback]

Yep... new print with re-mastered sound. I don't remember the name of the theater but it was downtown. I tried doing a search for it so I could give you better info but I can't find it. I'm sure with your connections you can find out. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif It was about 5 months ago tops.

RB