Films that aren't on the telly anymore

[Halb]

Not sure why I started thinking of these old films, maybe Xmas. I can recall certain films returning like an old faithful hound, but I haven't seen on the schedules for years, stuff like Bond still gets shown, though we no longer need New Day's Day for them, or SUperman 3 and the like.

But the one that made me start thinking of these older films was Animalympics, it wasn't a brilliant film but it was enjoyable and I'd watch it (or tape it) if it was on. Mad Monster Party was another. Arsenic and Old Lace, which is a classic. I thik te older films that are the very best, seem to get shown every so often, but ones that aren't iconic, or part of the cultural memory, but still very good just seem to be forgotten.
Charley Varrick was mentioned in another thread, but I don't recall that being on more than once anyway. Maybe twice.

What films (forgotten gems?) do people recall being on regularly in years gone by that just stopped at some point?

[Halb]

vixen1700 said:

The Phantom Tollbooth used to be on a fair bit but haven't seen it in years.

That's a good one, I think I recall that. I enjoyed the book.

[Halb]

popeyewhite said:

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

Funnily enough, tHat was on BBC2 on the 17/8. It's next on my planner (hence I know) once I watch In the Heat of the NIght!
It was a pleasant surprise to see it,before that, I don't recall it being on for a loooong time

[Halb]

Steve vRS said:

One is Our Dinosaurs is Missing.

Is it no longer shown due to Peter Ustinov made up to look Chinese?

I recall that being on a few years ago.

[Halb]

Hub said:

I remember the Herbie films used to be on all the time, but I haven't seen any or noticed them on for years (though that isn't to say they aren't!)

I think the Herbie/Love Bug films suffer from rebootitus, whereby the reboots (at least two) move into the tv schedules. Conan suffers from this, everytime I see it on the planner it's, 'yes'! Then I press play to see it's the stty remake.
Love the first three Herbie films.

[Halb]

Johnspex said:

Will Hay films are often on Talking Pictures Tv.
Channel 81.

oh excellent, thank you

[Halb]

Revenge of the PP was on yesterday on either tcm or film4.
But I was meaning the main 5 channels. I guess film rights as said above comes into it

[Halb]

Hey mods, why you change my title? It was correct.

[Halb]

Love Silver STreak, I'd go see that at the pics. A rare example of the perfect blend of romance, thriller, action, intrigue etc.

[Halb]

Grandad Gaz said:

I can’t remember the last time a Marx Brothers film was on.

Horse Feathers on this week but again, TCM< not main 5.

littlebasher said:

PH5121 said:

Digby was always a Christmas favourite, also not seen Hawk the Slayer or Time Bandits for many years.

That, and Clockwise

Digby! that's one! LOve CLockwise, Cleese's best solo effort outside of Python. Still quote it today.

[Halb]

LOved COndorman, it was James Bond to 11 for a kid. It'd make a good remake

[Halb]

I still love watching Cadyshack, it drags at points, but love the characters.

MKnight702 said:

Thank you for that, I too love the old Will Hay films, plus all the others. I even got my wife to sit down and watch a few of the Ealing comedy films, like Passport to Pimlico and Titfield Thunderbolt. Plus I have The Time Of Their Lives on DVD which I haven’t watched for a long time.

I just can’t get my children to watch them though which is a shame. My son refuses to watch anything older than about 5 minutes (except Star Wars), try and show him a black and white film and he immediately leaves the room.

I managed to get some of my nephews into will hay and Laurel and Hardy

[Halb]

having a quick look on retro and talking and wow, there's some curious stuff on there.
a procedural film on how to solve a crime with jimdale, and something called the HUman Jungle, never heard of it.

[Halb]

velocgee said:

I rarely saw this on TV. I remember it being played for our Christmas movie at school. Not seen it in decades but always remember the running Lioness.

Anyway with Freeview, Sky, such movies will no longer make on to main terrestrial channels; either too dated*, too small and cult following or just not what the market is looking for (Avengers anyone?) Think how few people will watch Jason and the Argonauts* - with it’s now antiquated Skeleton fight scene - on ITV, that’s a lot of lost ad revenue.

I put down Trading Places. That was a popular Xmas one.

• one of my favs and by the way, used to be on at Easter not Xmas

Yeah the Lioness (falling on love with the goat) is one of the things I recall too. Funny you mentioned J&tA, that's one of the oldies that still appears on basic telly from time to time. I know I watched it within fairly recent memory, probably BBC2 as that seems to be the channel that shows more older films.

[Halb]

Silence was on...probably within a year, I know I've watched it on the box with a smallish period. It's still an iconic film so isn't going to be off the radar.

[Ivo Shandor]

Seeing a film and then tuning in to see the remake always pisses me off, the latest one was Conan.
My favourite telly channel now (I think I watch two), is Talking Pictures, it is packed with gems, I watched Ask A Policeman this week (a Gainsborough comedy), one of Will Hay's best. Alost all the films have to have a 'warning' before them.
Watched Warlords of Atlantis and The Land that Time Forgot recently as well.

[Ivo Shandor]

I like Top Secret, but even back then I thought it was a B effort when compared to Airplane/Naked Gun. Some top level gags, but the actual film can drag in places and feels uneven.

[Ivo Shandor]

The Likely Lads was on Talking Pictures on the 5th of September.

My favourite Mel Brooks stuff is Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and The Producers.

Wild Geese was on a couple of years ago. Wild Geese 2 (which I find unwatchable) has been on loads recently.

[Ivo Shandor]

Randy Winkman said:

Odd thing is that I read the book a little while ago and was disappointed in the ending compared with the film. And I say that as someone that loves literature and rarely watches films. In fact I particularly like John Wyndham books and think that The Day of the Triffids film is rubbish compared with the book which is one of my top 10. But I'll never forget watching The Village of Damned when I was about 12 years old.

Have you seen the 1980's BBC adaptation? It's ace.

[Ivo Shandor]

vixen1700 said:

That was on Talking Pictures last week. Lasted about twenty minutes as it was so dreadful.

Watched the original Taking of Pelham 123 again last night, recorded from Film 4 last week. Hadn't seen that in years.

Talks with a heavy English accent, might be a fruitcake. /Mattheu