# What old movies would you pay to see in a theater? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648 "2013-02-07T23:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/1 "2013-02-07T23:08:14Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/2 "2013-02-07T23:12:47Z")
I’ve also seen _Lawrence of Arabia_ in a theatre and would happily pay to do so again. One I’d love to see ‘properly’ is _Barry Lyndon_, because the cinemaotgraphy is so amazing. There would have to be an intermission… ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/3 "2013-02-07T23:24:31Z")
I’ve seen Citizen Kane, which was a cool screening. Not that old, but I’d like to see Indiana Jones 3 in the theater. My favorite Spielberg movie. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/4 "2013-02-07T23:27:29Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I’ve also seen _Lawrence of Arabia_ in a theatre and would happily pay to do so again. > > One I’d love to see ‘properly’ is _Barry Lyndon_, because the cinemaotgraphy is so amazing. There would have to be an intermission… Barry Lyndon is all about the natural lighting, which still makes me wonder how they did it. Especially the candle-lit scene. Amazing ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/5 "2013-02-07T23:31:38Z")
Enormous custom-made lenses and special film is what I’ve read - not that I understand such matters though. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/6 "2013-02-07T23:32:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/7 "2013-02-07T23:37:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/8 "2013-02-07T23:37:55Z")
> [@lisiate](#): > > I’ve also seen _Lawrence of Arabia_ in a theatre and would happily pay to do so again. > > One I’d love to see ‘properly’ is _Barry Lyndon_, because the cinemaotgraphy is so amazing. There would have to be an intermission… 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. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/9 "2013-02-07T23:38:20Z")
I saw _Citizen Kane_ on a big screen, as with _Lawrence of Arabia_ it was the first time I’d seen it at all which made it extra cool. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/10 "2013-02-07T23:43:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/11 "2013-02-07T23:48:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/12 "2013-02-07T23:54:31Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Never happen in a million years, but I would give up organs to see Star Wars (before it was ANH) on the big screen. 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. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/13 "2013-02-08T00:09:17Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/14 "2013-02-08T00:10:38Z")
I went to see Dial M for Murder in the original 3-D. Totally worth it if you get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/15 "2013-02-08T00:13:09Z")
_Seven Samurai_, _The Good, The Bad and the Ugly_ and _The Searchers_ would be the top of my list. ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/16 "2013-02-08T00:37:36Z")
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. [http://alabamatheatre.com/](http://alabamatheatre.com/) I watched a special showing of Gone With the Wind on the big screen. Do we count the Star Wars rereleases as old movies? I saw all of those. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/17 "2013-02-08T01:01:16Z")
The Wizard of Oz Labyrinth All the MST3K shorts American History X ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/18 "2013-02-08T01:34:30Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/19 "2013-02-08T01:39:29Z")
I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of “old movies” on the big screen. A few years ago a local historic theater ran a bunch of them. Some of the ones we saw: _Casablanca Citizen Kane My Fair Lady Monty Python and the Holy Grail The Loved One_ I think but I’m not sure about _The Wizard of Oz_ and _Psycho_. There are so many more I would love to see that I can’t possibly name them all, especially _High Noon_ and any of the other Hitchcock films. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648/20 "2013-02-08T02:17:02Z")
The 1933 version of King Kong. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-movies-would-you-pay-to-see-in-a-theater/649648.md?page=2)