Old films you don't see any more
Discussion
Because they are s
te.
THey were tolerable to watch in the days when the alternatives were things like Dads Army or The GOod Life but would you really rather watch a silent black and white slapstick film depicting a man falling off a fire engine but managing to keep himself on by pulling out the hose very quicky, than THe Sopranos or similar?
te.THey were tolerable to watch in the days when the alternatives were things like Dads Army or The GOod Life but would you really rather watch a silent black and white slapstick film depicting a man falling off a fire engine but managing to keep himself on by pulling out the hose very quicky, than THe Sopranos or similar?
Edited by blindswelledrat on Friday 21st November 09:49
I strongly disagree. Some of those silent films were comedy genius - particularly Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton (I was never much of a fan of Chaplin).
Obviously, it's difficult to "sell" films like this to a modern young audience - but if they are broadcast in an instructive package explaining how they were made and containing factoids about the participants they can be very enjoyable. Paul Mertoin did such a series on TV very recently. In the 1960s, Bob Monkhouse (who was a massive fan of the silent comics) used to host a programme called "Mad Movies".
In the late 1970s, ITV made an excellent history of silent cinema narrated by James Mason. I wonder where that has disappeared to? It must be sitting in some archive somewhere.
Obviously, it's difficult to "sell" films like this to a modern young audience - but if they are broadcast in an instructive package explaining how they were made and containing factoids about the participants they can be very enjoyable. Paul Mertoin did such a series on TV very recently. In the 1960s, Bob Monkhouse (who was a massive fan of the silent comics) used to host a programme called "Mad Movies".
In the late 1970s, ITV made an excellent history of silent cinema narrated by James Mason. I wonder where that has disappeared to? It must be sitting in some archive somewhere.
Yugguy said:
Why don't we see Harold Lloyd.....
I used to love Harold Lloyd, all his own stunts as well...
Wow. That's bizarre. I was thinking about this earlier in the week!I used to love Harold Lloyd, all his own stunts as well...
I have a great memory as a child during the run up to Christmas of sitting at home watching Harold Lloyd.
Classic comedy and a shame they're no longer shown.
Eric, I honestly think it is false nostaligia.
Comedy genius?
Laurel and Hardy- poke each other in the eye and accidentally put poke mops into each others bums when they are bent over. Often accompanied by clown horn noises. Basically lots of poking and turning around whilst holding ladders on thier shoulders whilst the other by hilarious coincidence is bending down to pick up a coin at exactly the same time so it misses his head by an inch.
Its not funny.
Comedy genius?
Laurel and Hardy- poke each other in the eye and accidentally put poke mops into each others bums when they are bent over. Often accompanied by clown horn noises. Basically lots of poking and turning around whilst holding ladders on thier shoulders whilst the other by hilarious coincidence is bending down to pick up a coin at exactly the same time so it misses his head by an inch.
Its not funny.
They might not have aged well with time but I would bet money on there being a place for them even now in the hundreds of channels we get, look on it as an even older version of Uk Gold 
or better still put on one of the other free film channels that show utter dross 99.9% off the time
or better still put on one of the other free film channels that show utter dross 99.9% off the time Geronimo said:
People say that they don't make films like they used to, and they're right, they are a hell of a lot better now.
Only because modern films have been dumbed down so that drain dead idiots can see them and still understand what's going on.A personal favourite oldie of mine is The Third Man.
Regards
Iain
MrV said:
They might not have aged well with time but I would bet money on there being a place for them even now in the hundreds of channels we get, look on it as an even older version of Uk Gold or better still put on one of the other free film channels that show utter dross 99.9% off the time
You're soo right. There must be a place on T.V for this and it's like.or better still put on one of the other free film channels that show utter dross 99.9% off the time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tao1WHjKAsc
blindswelledrat said:
Eric, I honestly think it is false nostaligia.
Comedy genius?
Laurel and Hardy- poke each other in the eye and accidentally put poke mops into each others bums when they are bent over. Often accompanied by clown horn noises. Basically lots of poking and turning around whilst holding ladders on thier shoulders whilst the other by hilarious coincidence is bending down to pick up a coin at exactly the same time so it misses his head by an inch.
Its not funny.
Obviously, comedy is very personal. So what you might like may not agree with what I might like. That is not the point being discussed. What is being discussed is that, with the massive numbers of channels that now exist, is there not a place where this type of cinematic history can be aired? When you consider the "Only Fools and Horses" and "Last of the Summer Wine" are repeated in an endless loop year after year after year, surely some of this very old stuff deserves some sort of an airing.Comedy genius?
Laurel and Hardy- poke each other in the eye and accidentally put poke mops into each others bums when they are bent over. Often accompanied by clown horn noises. Basically lots of poking and turning around whilst holding ladders on thier shoulders whilst the other by hilarious coincidence is bending down to pick up a coin at exactly the same time so it misses his head by an inch.
Its not funny.
As I said earlier, I think the best way to show this early footage is in packages where an element of explanation can be made, such as Paul Merton's recent programme. Since some of the films date back to pre WW1 days, the context of the times they weree made in will be unknown to modern, especially younger, audiences. Explaining those contexts might help newcomers appreciate and understand them better.
blindswelledrat said:
Because they are ste.
THey were tolerable to watch in the days when the alternatives were things like Dads Army or The GOod Life but would you really rather watch a silent black and white slapstick film depicting a man falling off a fire engine but managing to keep himself on by pulling out the hose very quicky, than THe Sopranos or similar?
Have you actually watched a Harold Lloyd film? He was a physical comedy genius, just because he lived a long time ago doesn't make his skill any less.te.THey were tolerable to watch in the days when the alternatives were things like Dads Army or The GOod Life but would you really rather watch a silent black and white slapstick film depicting a man falling off a fire engine but managing to keep himself on by pulling out the hose very quicky, than THe Sopranos or similar?
Edited by blindswelledrat on Friday 21st November 09:49
He performed stunts that today's Hollywood stars would s
t themselves over thinking about, let alone doing.What would I rather watch? Stupid question, can't I watch and enjoy all types of broadcasts for different reasons?
Yugguy said:
Why don't we see Harold Lloyd, Will Hay, Laurel and Hardy, etc, etc. on any of the 100s of utterly ste satellite channels, or even BBC2 on a Sunday afternoon.
All Will's film's are readily available on DVD....te satellite channels, or even BBC2 on a Sunday afternoon.Anybody wishing to join us are more than welcome:-
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/wheretheresaw...
Wacky Racer said:
Yugguy said:
Why don't we see Harold Lloyd, Will Hay, Laurel and Hardy, etc, etc. on any of the 100s of utterly ste satellite channels, or even BBC2 on a Sunday afternoon.
All Will's film's are readily available on DVD....te satellite channels, or even BBC2 on a Sunday afternoon.Anybody wishing to join us are more than welcome:-
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/wheretheresaw...
Despite being in my early 30s, I remember watching these films with my grandad, sol they still mean a lot to me. And they are still funny. (well, some of them). Comedy tastes change remember, and you can still appreciate the skill but might not find them laugh-out-loud.
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