What was the first film you saw in the cinema?
Discussion
unsprung said:
R.Sole said:
Talk about a dramatic ending!Was it pandemonium with people leaping for the doors? Or was this more about a small matter that allowed for plenty of time for an orderly departure, before a full-on fire took over?
One of the Lassie movies.
My Gran took me there when I was 4 or 5
For those who have no idea who Lassie is.... she was a dog who helped save gentile folk out of precarious situations.
What I recall of the day most was Lassie somehow got stuck inside a burning wooden cabin - with no way to escape.
Lassie is trying all of the doors, windows etc to find a way out to no avail, the orchestra on the soundtrack is building the tension to a crescendo .
My Gran (bless her) cannot take it any more, she stands up and shouts at the top of her voice to all of the audience.... "What is wrong with you all - why aren't you men going up there to help Lassie? Can't you see she needs help?!!"
We were promptly escorted out of the cinema and I never saw the end of the movie.
To this day - I have no idea if Lassie escaped.
My Gran took me there when I was 4 or 5
For those who have no idea who Lassie is.... she was a dog who helped save gentile folk out of precarious situations.
What I recall of the day most was Lassie somehow got stuck inside a burning wooden cabin - with no way to escape.
Lassie is trying all of the doors, windows etc to find a way out to no avail, the orchestra on the soundtrack is building the tension to a crescendo .
My Gran (bless her) cannot take it any more, she stands up and shouts at the top of her voice to all of the audience.... "What is wrong with you all - why aren't you men going up there to help Lassie? Can't you see she needs help?!!"
We were promptly escorted out of the cinema and I never saw the end of the movie.
To this day - I have no idea if Lassie escaped.
I have a nagging memory of seeing Merle Oberon and Charles Boyer ( b+w, soft focus ) but internet digging suggests a 1934 movie, 13 years before I was born. Why so, so but i suppose realistically it might have been a rerun of Fantasia 1940 sometime in my infancy.
I was indeed fortunate as mum was a cinema usherette so was able to sneak in after school for the beginning of my cinema experience.
One film was about a group of cursed British troops in the Indian wars and they died one after the other by Cobra bites, one coming out of a desk drawer when opened. I had nightmares for years after and snakes still give me the shivers.
I also remember a weekly cinema visit each Friday night with my Dad, probably got in for free then too. That was a diet of the war films now on tv.
Another memory, so this is my offer to the thread was Marilyn Monroe getting drenched at the Niagara Falls. 1953 ish.
I was indeed fortunate as mum was a cinema usherette so was able to sneak in after school for the beginning of my cinema experience.
One film was about a group of cursed British troops in the Indian wars and they died one after the other by Cobra bites, one coming out of a desk drawer when opened. I had nightmares for years after and snakes still give me the shivers.
I also remember a weekly cinema visit each Friday night with my Dad, probably got in for free then too. That was a diet of the war films now on tv.
Another memory, so this is my offer to the thread was Marilyn Monroe getting drenched at the Niagara Falls. 1953 ish.
Edited by BryanC on Sunday 17th November 20:36
Everyone saying ‘Star Wars, 1977’ are you sure it wasn’t 1978?
Wiki says: “ Star Wars premiered in the UK on December 27, 1977. News reports of the film's popularity in America caused long lines to form at the two London theaters that first offered the film; it became available in 12 large cities in January 1978, and other London theaters in February.”
I only say this because I was convinced I saw it at age 5 in 1977, but living outside London this seems impossible, must have been 1978. At the time the film was so hyped that one year may mentally merge into another.
Yeah, I know, pedant alert!
Wiki says: “ Star Wars premiered in the UK on December 27, 1977. News reports of the film's popularity in America caused long lines to form at the two London theaters that first offered the film; it became available in 12 large cities in January 1978, and other London theaters in February.”
I only say this because I was convinced I saw it at age 5 in 1977, but living outside London this seems impossible, must have been 1978. At the time the film was so hyped that one year may mentally merge into another.
Yeah, I know, pedant alert!
Se7enheaven said:
PurpleTurtle said:
Star Wars.
The first one, before all this prequel nonsense, at The Gaumont Cinema in Birmingham in 1978.
Afternoon matinee performance because I was only 5. Was amazed by the sheer size of the screen, the concept of another short film beforehand as a warm-up, and the interval after that where one could go and buy an ice-cream from a lady in the dark holding an illuminated tray.
This was all quite a bit to take in for my tender years, let alone all the Jedi business!
Wow spooky, same for me. Star Wars , Gaumont , Birmingham. Matinee performance, 1978. I was 9. The first one, before all this prequel nonsense, at The Gaumont Cinema in Birmingham in 1978.
Afternoon matinee performance because I was only 5. Was amazed by the sheer size of the screen, the concept of another short film beforehand as a warm-up, and the interval after that where one could go and buy an ice-cream from a lady in the dark holding an illuminated tray.
This was all quite a bit to take in for my tender years, let alone all the Jedi business!
An incredible experience and I remember it still so vividly. My father was not quite so impressed, he fell asleep !
TheRainMaker said:
RedWhiteMonkey said:
daddy cool said:
I think it was E.T.
I cried.
Havent watched it since.
Snap, me too.I cried.
Havent watched it since.
Obviously didn’t cry
well, maybe a little bit
Edit - was in The Rex in Berkhamsted ...
Edited by XJSJohn on Monday 18th November 10:16
Antony Moxey said:
The Towering Inferno in 1975, with my dad. I was nine at the time. Struggling with the fact that it was almost 45 years ago!
It wasn't the first film I saw in the cinema, but I remember seeing The Towering Inferno. It was a film my parents wanted to see, so my brother and I got dragged along!Apparently mine was Bambi, not that I remember it much. it would have in '75-'77 I would guess. at the time I think Disney used to rotate their films in the cinema every 7 years or so?
Anyway, we had to leave the cinema early, apparently I was bawling my eyes out so much it annoyed the other customers and my mum dragged me out.
The earliest film I actually remember seeing was Star Wars '77.
Anyway, we had to leave the cinema early, apparently I was bawling my eyes out so much it annoyed the other customers and my mum dragged me out.
The earliest film I actually remember seeing was Star Wars '77.
unsprung said:
irocfan said:
I suspect part of the reason for me is I was an army brat and dad was stationed in Germany for a fair chunk of time prior to '77/'78
Interesting! And something that would have given you a unique view of the world as a child.No films shown on base, then?
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