Just what the title says - are there any old movies you would be willing pay to go see on the big screen? In the past I’ve been privileged to see the restored prints of both Vertigo and Lawrence of Arabia in the movie theater, and my town has an art house cinema which occasionally does revivals, so I’m sure I’ll be seeing many more films the way the were originally intended to be viewed.
What old movies would YOU love to watch on the big screen rather than on your living room TV? And what’s the reason for your choice?
Both Barry Lyndon and Citizen Kane are on my “watch on the big screen” wish list, too.
I’d also enjoy going to see some of the old screwball comedies in the theater, not so much because of any anticipation of improved picture quality (although I’m sure that would be there), but because I think the reaction of the crowd would add to the enjoyment of the movie. “laugh and you laugh together…” and all that.
Edited to add: On a vacation to San Francisco two years ago, one of the most enjoyable experiences of the trip was going to a sing-along viewing of The Wizard of Oz at the Castro Theater. The film looked gorgeous, of course, but it was the interactive nature of the showing which made it such a hoot, and so very memorable.
I’ve seen Vertigo, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Bridge on the River Kwai on the big screen. I saw Forbidden Planet on the big screen as well, but I was too young to appreciate it in 1956. I’d love to see it again. Citizen Kane as well. Oh I forgot I saw It Happened One Night on the big screen around 15 years ago.
Barry Lyndon would be great. I saw 2001 in the theater and is as good as it gets.
8 1/2 would be great to see on the big screen. A lot of old Fellini films would be great to see.
I saw Wizard of Oz and Casablanca in the theater. mrAru and I were pumped, we saw Casablanca in a restored 30s vintage theater, and went dressed semiformal as it was a specialty showing evening.
Never happen in a million years, but I would give up organs to see Star Wars (before it was ANH) on the big screen.
Just for shits and giggles? Jurassic Park.
Geez, I must have seen it on the big screen about ten times. I saw it the week it opened, with my friend. We didn’t know anything about it, except that we heard it was supposed to be kind of good.
SW is 36 years old, so it’s as old today as Mrs. Miniver was when SW was first released, so it qualifies.
I have paid full price to see Godfather 1 & 2, Pulp Fiction, and Titanic in the theaters years after they were released, usually in X-anniversary re-releases (for example, GF 1 was a 25-year anniversary re-release in 1997.)
Ten or fifteen years ago, I saw wonderful classic movies at the Alabama Theatre. They had a series of classic movies with bar service available. It was fun to enjoy the crowd and the beautiful theater with a glass of wine. We saw: Lolita, The Manchurian Candidate, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Midnight Cowboy, and a few others I can’t remember.
I make a point of seeing old movies at art theaters whenever I get the chance and have pretty much completed my list of those I’d really want to see in a theater (thanks mostly to Landmark Theaters in the 70s and 80s.)
The one big exception is The Good, The Bad and the Ugly which I’d pay pretty much any price to see on a big screen. I saw Jaws in a theater during its original release but would really like to see it on a big screen again. (The old movie palace down the street showed it a couple months ago but I managed to miss it. Still kicking myself…)
On a side note, old cartoon shorts take on a whole new dimension when viewed on a big screen with a large audience.