What was the first film you saw in the cinema?

What was the first film you saw in the cinema?

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A Winner Is You

24,942 posts

226 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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Apparently it was Snow White, although I don't remember it (and no, that wasn't during it's initial release!)

R.Sole

12,241 posts

205 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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unsprung said:
R.Sole said:


Made all the more memorable as the place caught fire with 10 mins to go and burnt to the ground!
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?
People were edging towards the exits but were hanging about trying to see the end of the film! biggrin

FourWheelDrift

88,382 posts

283 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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They don't make 3d movies like they used to.

unsprung

5,467 posts

123 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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R.Sole said:
People were edging towards the exits but were hanging about trying to see the end of the film! biggrin
lol !!

humanity is doomed wink

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Saturday 16th November 2019
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It was my 8th birthday, 1977, Star Wars.

Blew my mind.

I don't think I even knew what a cinema was and then 'that' happened.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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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.

Antony Moxey

8,016 posts

218 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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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!

BryanC

1,107 posts

237 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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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.

Edited by BryanC on Sunday 17th November 20:36

PurpleTurtle

6,941 posts

143 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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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!

PurpleTurtle

6,941 posts

143 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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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.
An incredible experience and I remember it still so vividly. My father was not quite so impressed, he fell asleep !
Ha, spooky! My dad wasn’t so lucky, him and my mum had taken us and a few friends, one of the kids puked 5 minutes in so my dad had to take him home, got back in time for Skywalker et al doing the run on the Death Star!

XJSJohn

15,959 posts

218 months

Sunday 17th November 2019
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TheRainMaker said:
RedWhiteMonkey said:
daddy cool said:
I think it was E.T.
I cried.
Havent watched it since.
Snap, me too.
And me (don’t think I cried though)
Another one here

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

GTO-3R

7,458 posts

212 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Rocky IV for me and I fell asleep just as he was about to kick Drago's ass!

Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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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!

Alex

9,975 posts

283 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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belleair302 said:
Herbie Rides Again in St Albans Odeon somewhen around 1974, I would have been around 5 years old as a birthday treat.
I remember seeing Herbie Rides Again, and the local VW dealer in Sheffield had a Herbie replica in the showroom. I wanted that car so much.

Bright Halo

2,951 posts

234 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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I’m not sure it was actually the first film I saw at the cinema but the first one I have a clear memory of was Diamonds are forever. We all used to go together as a family, great memories.

AshVX220

5,929 posts

189 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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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. biglaugh

The earliest film I actually remember seeing was Star Wars '77.

stongle

5,910 posts

161 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Earliest memories are Lady and The Tramp (re-released not in 1955) and probably Snow White, around 78/79.

First films I wanted to see and vividly remember is Flash Gordon and Empire Strikes back in 1980. Both in Basildon. Remeber queuing up ages outside to get in.

C0ffin D0dger

3,440 posts

144 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Can't say for certain that it was the first film I ever saw at the cinema but the first one I remember was Star Wars: A New Hope. Would have 6 years old at the time!

irocfan

Original Poster:

40,156 posts

189 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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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?
we weren't on base either in Germany or (later on) in Ripon and I don't recall seeing any films on base - that's not to say I didn't but. You're right about a different world-view though (exacerbated by going to boarding school!) hehe

bigpriest

1,577 posts

129 months

Monday 18th November 2019
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Jaberwocky 1977 - never been back since smile