Why don't cinemas repeat the classics?

[Ari]

I know we all have DVD players and Sky and whatnot, but there's nothing like the big screen full on cinema experience.

Surely there's a market for re-showing some of the classics. Who wouldn't pay to go and see Ronin again on the big screen, or The Matrix, or Top Gun or The Bourne Ultimatum or Back To The Future?

If I owned a cinema I'd have a "classics" night one night a week and every week show a great movie from the past.

A winning idea surely?

[TonyHetherington]

This is purely info taken from a snippet of something I once remembered, but I think the film reels are rare and not easy (or cheap) to come by.

I recall a Star Wars re-screening which had so much press because it was one of the few times the reels had been released

[CypherP]

I'd be fine with the idea, providing the cost was low. Its one thing paying a tenner to go and see a new film, before refreshments, but paying that to see a classic film wouldn't be overly enticing.

I'd love to go and see some remastered classics in the cinema though. I'd really like to watch Man on Fire again in proper surround sound and a huge screen. Nothing beats it, its just so blinking expensive!

[RobCrezz]

I wouldnt, because the cinema is too bloody expensive these days! Its almost the price of a DVD/Blu ray.

I do go to the cinema occasionally and do enjoy it, but it really is far too expensive.

[muppets_mate]

It's a good idea but probably not financially viable for regional cinemas.

There's a cinema just off Leicester Square in London which shows old films though.

[Skeksis]

They put some on at our local Cineworld sometimes, old war movies, A bridge too Far etc, The Thing (the original) and others I can't recall right now.

[gradeA]

http://princecharlescinema.com/allfilms.php



Edit: damn, beaten to it!

Edited by gradeA on Wednesday 18th January 10:29

[sparks_E39]

Titanic is being re released this year as it's 100 years or something since went down, but it's pretty terrible overly long and not really accurate so I won't bother. Good special effects for a 15 year old film though.

[dmitsi]

Local cinema to me (Brighton), shows classics at the weekends, but it's isn't a main stream cinema, shows more independent or cult films. It's not any cheaper than the normal cinema now, but the atmosphere is much nicer and you can take booze into the cinema. Recently saw Clerks, but forget to check the listings to see what's on. They showed Labyrinth not so long ago.

ETA: Duke of York's Picturehouse

[Eric Mc]

Back in the 1980s the cinema in Sligo used to devote one night to older films - which was always a great treat. I saw Dirty Harry in the cinema ten years after its original release.

[Ultuous]

Skeksis said:

They put some on at our local Cineworld sometimes, old war movies, A bridge too Far etc, The Thing (the original) and others I can't recall right now.

Same at our local indie, which is fab for being able to enjoy a film on the big screen as if you were at home (i.e. drink beer and not be bothered by plebs ) - I can't see the Multiplex's getting enough interest to fill them though!

[vixen1700]

We get old films at my local cinema, went to see The Seventh Seal a while back.

http://www.saffronscreen.com/ An excellent cinema in the local high school, wouldn't dream of going anywhere else for the big screen.

[KB_S1]

Glasgow Film Theatre does this.

[zac510]

They are around, especially in London. but you do have to hunt them out a bit because they get crushed under the big chain cinemas marketing in popular media.

The movies are very rewarding though and a few of these places have a nice bar or restaurant attached to cinema (particularly the BFI is a nice place to have a scotch before a movie ) so you can make more of an evening of it rather than just shuffle in and out of the cinema like a robot.

A few in London:
Barbican, BFI, Prince Charles, ICA, Curzon, Rich mix.

[sjg]

Everyman Cinemas in London have some smaller screening rooms - their Hampstead one has a room for 15. Big comfy chairs, huge projector screen, decent surround system, and they bring you whatever drinks you like from the bar. We did that for a mate's birthday and watched Smokey and the Bandit, worked out about £15 a head I think.

Some cinemas do put on older stuff, especially in the daytime for the OAP or parents with babies crowd. Hard to fill a cinema enough to justify the amount they pay to the studios for the privilege though, and people don't expect to pay full price for something that's not a new release.

[prand]

Aaaah takes me back to the days (and nights) of the Scala in King's Cross - used to show some great films, and was a great place to go after the pubs shut (if you didn't mind the tramps!)

[Trustmeimadoctor]

to be honest these days it wouldnt be hard they just need to digitize the original film stock at 4k then it can be sent out very cheaply.

[dougc]

zac510 said:

A few in London:
Barbican, BFI, Prince Charles, ICA, Curzon, Rich mix.

Add to that

Rio in Dalston
Tricycle in Kilburn
Everyman Hampstead, Belsize Park, Maida Vale, Angel (screen on the green), Baker Street
Aubin (behind Richmix)

[chazola]

Back to the Future was re-released last summer to celebrate its 25th anniversary, I went to see it in the afternoon on my own, there was one other bloke sat in the cinema, f-in ace to see it on the big screen again

Saw the Blues Brothers a couple of years back in my local Odeon, again only blokes in the audience.

Tried to do the same for Apocalypse Now recently, but it had sold out as there was only one showing.

So they do get shown every so often, just on limited release, and usually with little promotion.

[P-Jay]

My local Odeon has Special Screenings now and again, Back to the Future being a recent one I think, they're not an everyday thing, but it does happen.

They seem to be showing live screenings of plays at the moment too.