The death of cinema has been erroneously predicted time and again over the last half-century: first because of TV in the 1950s, then home video in the early 1980s and again with streaming and downloading in the late noughties – not to mention the rise and rise of ultra-quality American TV series.
But despite the recurring and exaggerated claims of its imminent demise, the medium – now nearing its 120th birthday – is still going strong. However, it’s easy to weary of all the franchises, remakes, brain-dead blockbusters, remakes, samey RomComs starring actresses called Jennifer, remakes…. happily though, there are many cinematic experiences out there way beyond the norm – and some are even free. Read on for ideas about a few less than conventional nights at the flicks.
Silent Films
People have preconceived notions about silent films – either that they’re cringingly melodramatic or totally slapstick, featuring Charlie Chaplin chasing flappers down palm-tree-lined streets in LA at ultra-high speeds. People also think they won’t be able to sit through one. This is understandable; few people alive today have even seen one, save for film buffs. Even your 85-year-old grandmother won’t remember silent films, as they fell from favour practically overnight following the release of The Jazz Singer in 1927. But silent films were as diverse as contemporary films – and they were never truly silent, either. Today, you can see brilliantly restored prints of silents, accompanied by original new scores and even live bands or pianists. Plus, Hollywood films were not subject to official censorship prior to 1933, so you can expect considerably more risqué content than you’re used to in old films! Quite an experience.
Bollywood films
Bollywood films have entered the Western cinemagoers consciousness in a big way in the last decade. Once, they were shown only at cinemas catering to exclusively Indian or Bangladeshi neighbourhoods or else on terrestrial late night TV. But the enormous popularity in the West of films such as Lagaan, Monsoon Wedding and even Moulin Rouge, which was heavily and unashamedly influenced by Bollywood musicals, boosted the popularity of these Hindi-language films, bringing them to a vast international and interracial audience, revealing a body of work as diverse, varied, exciting and artistic as anything produced by Hollywood. Now you catch Bollywood horrors, dramas, comedies, romances and action films at your local cinema – Cineworld provide detailed synopses of the latest Bollywood movies on release.
Outdoor screenings
Many cities have free summer seasons of outdoor screenings, usually in a major park (in London, they are often also held in the courtyard of Somerset House or an amphiteather on the South Bank). This is an opportunity for a twilight picnic as well as an evening at the cinema. So turn up early, claim a pitch, break out the snacks, beer and Pimms and enjoy whatever classic is on offer.
Film clubs
You can find film clubs online for every genre and taste imaginable. Clubs will often hold screenings at repertory cinemas, usually with discussions and geek-ins in the bar afterwards. If there’s a particular type of film or era of films you’re fairly obsessed with – ’70s Italian horror, silent Danish films, ’80s cult kung-fu flicks – then there’s likely to be a club out there for you.
Sing-alongs, quote-alongs, all-nighters and beyond
The sing-along screenings of The Sound of Music and Grease are well-known now, but bubbling under, there are some less orthodox approaches to this form of entertainment: there’s been everything from sing-alongs to cult 1970s horror The Wicker Man – ideal if you enjoy warbling Pagan sacrifice ditties – to quote-along screenings of Withnail and I and Clueless. There are even swear-alongs to the films of John Waters, such as Pink Flamingos and Serial Mom.
Another phenomenon that’s in the throes of a revival is all-nighters, in which several films by the same director (or produced by the same studio, or maybe even starring particular people) are screened back-to-back throughout the night. This was once a regular feature on the fleapit circuit (the UK version of grindhouses) before home video put paid to it in the early 1980s. The Prince Charles Cinema in London’s Soho regularly showcases all-nighters.
There are as many different ways of viewing and experiencing cinema as there are sub-genres of film. So put down the remote, haul yourself off the sofa and give some – or all – of the above a whirl.