8mm Forum: First Feature Film?

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Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on December 07, 2008, 05:23 AM:

Now here's a new? topic. What was the first Feature Film you can ever remember seeing? Yes, it's a memory thing... go right the way back as far as you can and come up with the VERY FIRST FILM YOU EVER SAW!
Mine takes me back to Lightwater and the Second World War; a mobile film unit came to our primary school (the school is still there in Catena Rise) and showed "SANDERS OF THE RIVER". This sticks in my mind because who could ever forget the amazing voice of Paul Robeson (the film contained the memorable "The Canoe Song"); it has stayed with me ever since. I recently picked up a copy of the Video at a car boot sale and am waiting for the correct moment to watch it again for the first time in ??? years!
I wouldn't be able to recall the technical details after all these years, even if I'd understood the difference at the time, but the Film Unit presumably was 16 mm, or maybe even using 35 mm (GBN's ?).
The second film was "THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP" which I saw at the local cinema as a reward for collecting a certain weight of paper and cardboard for salvage. This post was prompted by the fact that I have also found this recently in Video at a Book Fair.
If I'd been older, the third would have been "THE OUTLAW" with Jane Russell; us oldies wil never forget the poster at least!!!

And does anyone remember the mobile cinema vans with a rear projection screen under a hood at the back which came round showing patriotic and propaganda films in the street? Does anyone know where there might be a preserved version of one of these? I made my own version of one to show Girl Guide promotional films at a local village Revel (fete, to those outside of the West Country) some 30 years ago.

Martin

[ December 07, 2008, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Martin Jones ]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 07, 2008, 06:07 AM:

It was Sean Connery in "You Only Live Twice" at a Drive-In way Upstate in New York the summer before I started Kindergarten.

Mom and Dad were concerned about the impression Mr. Bond's romantic escapades might make on a 5 year old, but the only thing I objected to was the 'copter dumping the car into the ocean.

(I liked cars. I still do!)

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on December 07, 2008, 08:06 AM:

I've done some "Googling" and some of you may be interested in the following...

http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/homefront/films/se4.html

This page offers a short (about 1 min) clip from the newsreel referred to; probably amateur cine film.
Martin

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 07, 2008, 01:02 PM:

The first feature I saw was actually a double feature!

My dad was in the air force and in his spare time, He would make a few extra bucks by working at the base movie theater.

He brought me to work once when I was five and I sat up there in the projectionist booth and watched "Robin Hood" (Disney, animated), and "Silent Running" (Bruce Dern), I believe it was 1970 or 71).

It's not too surprising that the two fields or "genre's" I love the most are animation and sci-fi!

Posted by John W. Black (Member # 1082) on December 07, 2008, 01:22 PM:

Hot Rods To Hell with Mimsy Farmer.And I've loved bad movies ever since.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on December 07, 2008, 01:23 PM:

First one I can remember is The Marx Bros - The Big Store.

-Mike

Posted by John Edwards (Member # 1333) on December 07, 2008, 02:39 PM:

johnny mack brown western cant remember title second one johnny wiessmuller in tarzan escapes.JE.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 07, 2008, 02:54 PM:

Micheal ...

How old are you? Holy Cow!, "The Big Store", that's 1940!

Good to see your still out and about!

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on December 07, 2008, 03:07 PM:

Ha, I'm 46. [Smile]

When I was a kid this was on TV - the post didn't specify TV or theatre.

-Mike

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 08, 2008, 02:43 AM:

Well..let me think [Roll Eyes]

it was "The Wreck of the Mary Deare" Gary Cooper at a "Picture House" thats what we called it back then. I was about 7 years old and I think it was called the Rosevale on Dunbarton road, Partick in Glasgow. In those days everyone smoked and just to watch the projecting light getting through the thick haze to the screen was fasinating in itself it was a real grubby place which I think must have added to the atmosphere of the film as well [Smile]

.

The early film that did leave a mark on me and it was a special treat that my father took me to see was "The Alamo" with John Wayne we walked for miles on a foggy wintery Glasgow night to watch that film, this "Picture House" was a real palace compared to the world outside and when the film started I was in my mind at "The Alamo" and I guess thats where my interest in film really started which I still have to this day.

Graham.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on December 08, 2008, 03:13 AM:

Michael, what's "TV"?

Martin

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on December 08, 2008, 03:19 AM:

I think it was either Disney's "The Jungle Book" when it was first released here (dec. '68) or L&H "The Swiss Miss" at a Children's matinee...

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on December 08, 2008, 04:21 AM:

First full length movie at a commercial cinema was,"The Wizard of Oz"for me [Smile]

[ December 10, 2008, 03:50 AM: Message edited by: Trevor Adams ]

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on December 08, 2008, 05:30 AM:

Trevor,
If "O" means the same in NZ as it does in UK, where can I get a copy of "The Wizard of O" ?

Martin

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 08, 2008, 10:33 AM:

Martin ...

" The Wizard of "O" " ?

That almost sounds like the title of a naughty film ...

" The Wizard of Ahhh's " ? [Razz]

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on December 08, 2008, 10:37 AM:

Osi,
That's exactly what I meant....and who wouldn't want to be known as a Wizard at that?
Change subject before the Moderators get hot under the collar!!!
Martin

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on December 08, 2008, 10:44 AM:

Graham - I have to say that "The Alamo" seems a very fine starting point for anyone's first "viewing experience" - but then again, I may be a little biased of course.

"Step down off your high horse, Mister. You don't get lard unless you boil the hog! " - Davy Crockett

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on December 08, 2008, 11:39 AM:

Mine was probably "Mary Poppins" as a kid in the late 70's/very early 80's as Disney always re-ran their films in the cinema, time and time again. How times have changed.

Graham S [Smile]

Posted by Alex Fox (Member # 94) on December 08, 2008, 01:30 PM:

The first film I remember seeing was in a picture house much like Graham describes and was in a village called Glenboig in Scotland (would you happen to known of it Graham not far from Glasgow)was FRANENSTIEN. Alex.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on December 08, 2008, 01:37 PM:

Red Riding Hood, must be 1960

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on December 08, 2008, 02:06 PM:

In the cinema - LADY AND THE TRAMP.

-Mike

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 08, 2008, 09:54 PM:

Keith I think in those days the Western really fired up the imagination and John Wayne in particular represented everything that was good, he was a man of principal, even after all those years, watching The Alamo on DVD has lost none of its appeal although it would be great to see some of those films we remember the most back on the big screen where they belong.

Alex I have never been to Glenboig, Whiteinch and Scotstoun area of Glasgow was about it for me up to about 1964, did you grow up in Glenboig?

Graham.

Posted by John Hermes (Member # 1367) on December 08, 2008, 10:34 PM:

The first one I can remember was "Don't Go Near The Water", when I was about five years old. My dad as in the Navy and I guess that's why we went to this Glenn Ford comedy.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 08, 2008, 10:57 PM:

No wonder my older brother is such a fan of the Duke!

I never did like the earlier Duke pictures, though I look forward to seeing this new release on DVD of "The Big Trail". Have you heard about it me older bro?

From what I hear, this is going to be the first time, (since it's original release in 1930) that it has been seen in it's original widescreen presentation, which was called "FOX Granduer", which wasn't quite as wide as cinemascope, but was at least twice as wide and the standard "square" presentation that was the norm until cinemascope. As stated, this will be released in it's original widescreen, and from what people who have seen of it have said, it really is worth seeing in this format, all nicely restored!

Many said the Dukes performance was somewhat "wooden" in this film, and because of this film, the Duke was stuck in low budget groaners, (until "Stagecoach" 1939), but his performance was actually quite good.

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on December 09, 2008, 02:03 AM:

I have that particular Special edition DVD, Osi. It is impressive to see in it's "original" release format, especially if you have only seen the "academy" release version. The production values for 1930 are very good, although you do get the impression, due to the caption boards,it was a "silent" film with sound added later (which it wasn't, of course). When you consider that most of it was filmed on location, in 1930, it was one hell of an achievement.

Duke certainly looks young and as with all "new" actors his performance is a little "wooden", but you can see the Duke we all know and love "bubbling under the surface". I also think his performance is made to look a little "stilted" by his fellow actors, who were all "Theatre Actors, darling!".

quote:
We can't turn back! We're blazing a trail that started in England. Not even the storms of the sea could turn back the first settlers. And they carried it on further. They blazed it on through the wilderness of Kentucky. Famine, hunger, not even massacres could stop 'em. And now we picked up the trail agin. And nothing can stop us! Not even the snows of winter, nor the peaks of the highest mountain. We're building a nation and we gotta suffer! No great trail was ever built without hardship. And you gotta fight! That's right. And when you stop fightin', that's death. What are yer gonna to do, lay down and die? Not in a thousand years! You're going on with me!"

- Breck Coleman - Waynes character, in "The Big Trail"

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on December 09, 2008, 04:04 AM:

There were probably a few films at the drive-in that I can't recall, but the first one that stands out was Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the Village Reservoir Drive-in.

I was about 5 and was totally taken by all the old uniforms and armour coming to life. My sister and I, perhaps one of my brothers had come along by then too, watched from the back seat of our family Volkswagen.

You'll find this anecdote in expanded form in the book Drive-in Movie Memories by Don and Susan Sanders!

David

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on December 09, 2008, 09:07 AM:

My Dad was a projectionist so the first films I saw were through the porthole and they were 2001 and PAINT YOUR WAGON. The first film I saw at a 'rival' cinema and sat in a seat was JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, that was a re-issue and would have been about 68-69.

Posted by Alex Fox (Member # 94) on December 09, 2008, 03:10 PM:

Hello Graham, No I was raised in a village called Annathill about one and a half miles from Glenboig, Coatbridge was the nearst town, we were about twelve miles from Glasgow. Alex

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on December 09, 2008, 08:29 PM:

In a movie theater? Probably Disney's SNOW WHITE.
No, not in 1937! Late 60's re-release.

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on December 10, 2008, 01:57 AM:

1st feature film was for me at a cinema could of been a re-release of CINDERELLA I think????
I remember going to the local cinema (I now own it!) and watching a Yogi Bear film I found out years later on that it was on super 8 and was part of a bunch of cartoons that used to run here every saturday morning all on super 8! still cant remember what Yogi Bear cartoon it was..... [Smile]

Pat

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on December 10, 2008, 03:48 AM:

Sorry,I didn't press my "zee key" hard enough! [Wink]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 10, 2008, 11:06 AM:

Patrick ...

In a regular movie theater, they actually projected Super 8?
Wow.

That wouldn't be too surprising with the quality of those Derann prints of today, as they are honestly up there with 16MM, (for those who do not have a Derann Disney, you are truly missing out! Buy one today!)

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on December 10, 2008, 12:16 PM:

Hmmmm...my earliest memories of going to a movie theatre are of sitting in the balcony of the Loew's 175th street, one of the five Loew's "Wonder Theatres", to see "Snow White; (early 60's re-release) and the beautiful old RKO Coliseum for "Ghidrah, The Three Headed Monster"! My son's first theatrical film was a re-issue of the original "101 Dalmations".

Doug

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on December 10, 2008, 02:56 PM:

My earliest memory is of THE THREE MUSKETEERS ,in the mid fifties ,in Alexandria ,Egypt , where I was born,probably at the "La Gaitee" cinema,which was the nearest to our home.And the scene that stayed in the mind of a four or five,or so,year old kid is that of Gene Kelly fencing Saul Gorss' pants down! And of course,until today,this classic has lost nothing of its charm and of course,a Derann copy of it is in my collection.
Graham
Yes,everybody smoked then and an unfavorable rememberance of my very early cinemagoing times is that in many instances we left the cinema before the ending because I was getting sick and dizzy from all the smoke and several times I vomitted.Thank god,things got better as I grew up!

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on December 11, 2008, 11:39 PM:

Osi.....
Yes the man who owned the cinema when I was young used to put on super 8 cartoons on the weekend for about 1hour for 50c, they were all spliced together on a 1200ft reel the projector was a Elmo ST1200 it even had its own projection porthole next to the pair of 35mm projectors in the booth!
When I brough the cinema I thought that maybe there could be something left but it is all gone now including the porthole! I may get keen enough to start up the tradition again!
Patrick [Big Grin]

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on December 11, 2008, 11:48 PM:

My mom took me with her to see Gone With The Wind at the fabulous Fox Theatre on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. It was a rerelease. I was so young it seemed like a dream.

http://www.scottymoore.net/foxatlanta.html

Posted by Stewart McSporran (Member # 128) on December 12, 2008, 01:24 PM:

I think my first cinema film was The Jungle Book in the late '60s. Either that or 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines' which my Dad took me to see during one family holiday to Blackpool!

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