# What was your experience seeing Schindler’s List at the cinema? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074 "2020-03-23T05:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/1 "2020-03-23T05:23:51Z")
I never saw Schindler’s List at the cinema and I think it would have been odd. It’s a great film, one of the best ever made. But, it would seem weird to me to be watching it around people I didn’t know. And, I’d think it would be really hard to sit there and munch on popcorn while watching the inhumanity and cold blooded murder that I know was real. I had no problem enjoying films like Friday the 13th or Halloween, I know they’re not real even when I see Jason killing all teens, it never really affected me. Anyway, what was your experience seeing Schindler’s List at the theatre? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/2 "2020-03-23T05:28:35Z")
You don’t have to munch popcorn during a movie, if it bothers you. Otherwise I’m not quite sure why you think this would have been a problem. I saw Schindler’s List in a theater, and as I have been to movies in the theater before, I tended to forget there were other people around. I wasn’t sobbing my heart out because I generally don’t do that sort of thing, in public or private. If a discreet tear or two went down my cheeks, it wouldn’t have embarrassed me if someone noticed. Was that what you were talking about? Are you uncomfortable having emotions with other people around? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/3 "2020-03-23T13:20:49Z")
I saw it with a very dear friend. Don’t remember anything about the audience. I remember driving home late, by myself, in a rag top jeep. A very cold and snowy night on empty mountain roads. It was cold in many ways. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/4 "2020-03-23T13:28:27Z")
I saw it with my sister. Very sobering. There was some sort of high school or Church group there and they weren’t affected by it at all. I remember that they were either talking about how the Holocaust wasn’t real or the Death Camps were an exaggeration. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/5 "2020-03-23T13:47:34Z")
I found it a bit overwrought, obvious, manipulative and tedious, and the ending was typical Spielberg Hollywood, like SPR. I think Spielberg takes all the emotional capital the main part of his movies create, and squanders it on oddly-toned endings. Mind you, the Holocaust makes me mad, makes me sad. This movie, however, did not. As one person famously said about a different movie, it insists upon itself. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/6 "2020-03-23T15:00:10Z")
I saw it with my mother, soon after it first came out. We are Ashkenazi Jews; my father lost most of his relatives in the Holocaust. (That’s not why he wasn’t with us; he had died several years previously.) We thought it was pretty well done; though there were a couple of probably unrealistic bits. I don’t remember the reaction of other people in the theater. I think it was pretty quiet in there. I don’t think we, personally, were eating popcorn, or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/7 "2020-03-23T16:32:02Z")
Saw it in the theater but I don’t recall what the rest of the audience’s response was. Mine was profound sadness. What I’m glad I saw at home rather than the theater was _Shoah_. It didn’t even have any horrible images, just interviews and a couple of the camps as they are now, but when we did see it at home he had to stop several times and do something else for a while. It wasn’t due to the length. It’s at the very top of my _glad I saw it – never again_ list. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/8 "2020-03-23T17:51:15Z")
Intervals of shocked silence and bawling my eyes out. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/9 "2020-03-23T17:58:45Z")
I saw it in the theatre and still remember several people walking out. It was shocking and left a big impact on me. I can still clearly remember scenes from it and that isn’t something I tend to do often. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/10 "2020-03-23T18:04:51Z")
As intended by the director, the image of the little girl in the red coat is among the most haunting for me. The person I was with broke down crying, outside after the movie, asking me if it was all really like that, mostly in disbelief. I mean, I wasn’t there, obviously. But it’s the story of my own family, many of whom did not survive. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/11 "2020-03-23T18:39:38Z")
I watched it with my spouse. The theater was very quiet. When it was over, I remember everyone leaving in kind of a daze. It was an overcast, foggy night, and we weren’t the only ones walking slowly out to our cars. The movie had a huge impact on me. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/12 "2020-03-23T19:35:56Z")
I knew of Schindler before the movie. It still had a strong impact on me. I thought it was exceptionally well done. Couldn’t tell you if there were 5 or 55 other people in the theatre, not even back then. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/13 "2020-03-23T20:18:52Z")
I saw it first in a theater by myself, and a second time about a month later, also in a theater, but with two friends. I don’t remember any real difference. In 1994 watching movies in theaters was more common. Consequently, interaction with other audience members was less common. The thread title made me think of the patient of [Dr. Katz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Katz%2C_Professional_Therapist) who said he had recently seen Schindler’s List, adding, “To be honest–I didn’t think it was that funny”. To which the doctor replies, “Where were you sitting?” ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/14 "2020-03-23T20:19:07Z")
I kept waiting for the velociraptors to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/15 "2020-03-23T20:49:11Z")
I was a film projectionist, and saw it the week it opened at a Boston theater. Afternoon show, sold out or nearly so. As I tended to see everything from a projectionist’s point of view, I was annoyed that it seemed to go out of focus from time to time. Later on, we got it at our cinema and found that the emulsion on the black and white print was shedding, which not only caused build-up in the film gate which explained the focus problem, but the film would get very dirty and need to be cleaned quite often. (This affected other b&w prints from the era - _Go Fish_, _Shadows and Fog_, etc. It was the dawn of polyester-base release prints, and there were problems which I think have since been addressed.) Okay, you asked. I thought it was a good film, but was too distracted by technical problems to really get into it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/16 "2020-03-23T21:19:00Z")
What I remember most is that my mailman neighbor (who was a real jerk) saw me making out with my girlfriend and told my parents about it, which horrified them. It was just one of several improbably wacky things that all happened around the same time. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/17 "2020-03-23T23:17:42Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > What I remember most is that my mailman neighbor (who was a real jerk) saw me making out with my girlfriend and told my parents about it, which horrified them. It was just one of several improbably wacky things that all happened around the same time. Say more words. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/18 "2020-03-23T23:25:15Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > What I remember most is that my mailman neighbor (who was a real jerk) saw me making out with my girlfriend and told my parents about it, which horrified them. It was just one of several improbably wacky things that all happened around the same time. Ahh, was it your “[buxom little friend Rachel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoIOYPU5WA)”? That’s what I thought of immediately upon seeing the thread title… ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/19 "2020-03-24T00:51:33Z")
I saw it on an afternoon, by myself (the wife wasn’t interested), and noted to myself that “hey - it’s in black and white”. That’s no problem, but when some color showed up (the candle flames and the girl’s red dress, right?), I’m impressed by the juxtaposition. Later I saw it on HBO or someplace, an was surprised again that the first scene was indeed in color. I had somehow got there a few minutes late, not realizing that color had changed to B&W to symbolize the horrors. It was a quiet car ride home by myself. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074/20 "2020-03-24T01:01:18Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Ahh, was it your “[buxom little friend Rachel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoIOYPU5WA)”? > > That’s what I thought of immediately upon seeing the thread title… :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-experience-seeing-schindler-s-list-at-the-cinema/850074.md?page=2)