ChristineCB

In a tacit 'thanks' to Aitch and in so many threads in the ACTORS and DIRECTORS forums, along with the MySpace thread about fans and stars, I wanted to see if we all have different reasons for re-watching films.

We've had CGI VS STORY threads, and I often wonder why I prefer Harryhause/O'Brien FX compared to CGI.

But those are a minority of the films I re-watch.

Why do I rewatch films? What do I get out of them?

I think a film beckons a re-watch because of a scene or actors. But I've discovered that, in many of my most-oft rewatched films, it's not the Stars or the Climatic scenes.

It's the supporting actors and the Aitch's, I suspect. While I love Margaret Rutherford and her expressiveness, my re-watchings has me noticing how everyone else reacts to her as much or more than her great facial expressions.

The Doris Day-Rock Hudson films are great, but I end up watching Tony Randall and Thelma Ritter more than the stars.

So... why do I re-watch films? What do I get out of them? I know the story. I know the main characters.

Am I discovering all the other set-pieces behind those stars?

I love FATHER GOOSE, but when someone asks me about that film, the first line that pops into my head is Trevor Howard shrieking, "The Filthy Beast wants to marry Miss Goody Two-Shoes?!!" at the height of indignation and disbelief.

I love THE THIRD MAN, but I often remind myself of Bernard Lee's Sgt Paine after he's punched Holly on their first meeting, and then straightening Holly up, talking idly about enjoying Holly's western books. La de da da... so casually, 'just another day at the office, dear...'

Maybe this is another CGI VS STORY comparison issue. Since I know the main plot, is my rewatching an education of all the other relationships and subplots? Is it how all the other actors are used to fuel all other scenes?

Why do you re-watch a film? What do you get from it?

Steve Crook

I always like the scenes in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes where Jane Russell stands back and watches Marilyn with some admiration and respect for the new kid on the block.

Steve

ChristineCB

I know that scene. I didn't pick up on it at first, but somewhere in the years, I noticed it and it IS a most-interesting scene for Jane. I have to admit, it's her that I am watching, not 'the star' at that point.

Wolfgang

I just think it is in human nature to relive past experiences, to recapture those feelings you have when you first experience something. Sometimes repeat viewing can offer something new or more, but if that was our main motivation then we would watch something we have not seen before.

ChristineCB

I agree with your point, Wolfie. I forgot that obvious motivation, and upon occasion, I've re-watched a film for the exact opposite reason - "Was the film THAT bad? How could it be? I should watch it again with different expectations..."

And when it's bad the next time, well, at least I know it wasn't because my expectations were 'violated' because of hyped previews.

smudge

I often find that I have to step away from the hype to watch a film properly. I often get shown stuff by a friend, whilst the subject is fresh and trendy and everybody's in, "You have to see this !" mode.

If I am vaguely interested thereafter, I'll buy the DVD/go to the flicks after the hype has died down and see how I REALLY feel about it.

On the other hand, as Wolfgang has said, there's that 'Proustian' thing when I'll go back to see how it feels or to remeber how it did feel when I first saw that film. The other day I watched JAWS for the first time in a very long time, and vividly recalled arriving as a family, only to find the queue snaking round the block. We killed time in the nearby shopping centre and waited for the next queue to form up...

Finally, with best part of a couple of thousand titles on the shelf, somebody will ask to see something, or I'll just be tidying/browsing and I'll think, "Haven't seen that for ages..." and there you go !

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

ChristineCB

What do you get out of these? Does the reward vary from film to film? Do you discover (or re-discover) something after many other rewatchings? (This doesn't always occur but when it does - !)

Fellwanderer

I have a very prosaic reason for rewatching a film - I enjoyed it the first time round.

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

merryowen

: : :

Phil Turner

I generally like to give films a second chance. Occasionally, a classic film has fallen short of my expectations because I've been influenced by the hype and its lofty reputation. Second time around, when my expectations are more realistic, the film has been more enjoyable. This happened recently when I re-watched an American film, the Max Ophuls/Joan Fontaine classic Letter from an Unknown Woman. The second viewing was altogether more enjoyable, when I accepted the film for what it was.

Regards
Phil Turner

merryowen

So Klaus Klinski is sailing down the Amazon in a paddle steamer.

He is sitting on the top deck with a foot long cigar in his mouth and watching a live performance of Bellini's I Puritani.

The top tenor is Enrico Caruso.

The ship is sinking.

Claudia Cardinale is waiting on the riverbank. She is shrieking with delight at Klinski's antic and clearly has some ideas of her own as how to round off the evening.

smudge

Like you say Christine, different things come from different films (and different viewings).

As my knowledge of film grows, what I get from a film will change over the years. As I began to appreciate cinematography more and more I would find (for example) something like just one scene, perfectly lit, would jump out of a film at me.

Or character performers - when I've seen the film and appreciate the whole, I can start properly noticing the subtle performances going on in the background.

The same thing goes for a good piece of writing/construction - I may have been too busy just 'watching' at first to notice how cleverly the film was crafted, and the penny often drops second time around.

Sometimes none of this applies and I am just going back to an undemanding piece of entertainment/amusement simply to get lost in that familiar world and relax....

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

ChristineCB

Smudge, yes, those are all the rewards I get as well. Some films are just my trashy, guilty pleasures - they offer just about no additional reward or reveal new signs of greatness, no matter how often I watch. But they're still fun.

filmlover2007

I only rewatch films I enjoy. And I prefer films that are more obcure than the overrated "classics" that all the critics sing the praises of.

I rewatch films for the character actors, classic scenes, classic set-pieces, dialogue, cinematography, music, and a director's style.

I prefer watching films you can get completely absorbed and lost in. Films that become pure escapism and entertainment. Mainly, films before 1980 are the ones I tend to watch the most.

The other day, I saw for the firs time, THE ENEMY BELOW. Not only did I love every minute of it, I rewatched the film the next day because I enjoyed the complete package so much. It got me thinking why the film was so good, and the only reason I can think of is that it's one of those films that completely envelopes the viewer. Hardly any contemporary films are capable of doing this and I think that's why old movies, classic movies, are more popular now than they've ever been.

samkydd

Some films, especially comedies, pack so much into them that quite often you miss a throw-away line or incidental bit of background humour the first time round and so you don't mind watching again to see new things uncovered. Films which have great characters encourage you to watch again and again because you feel the need to spend more time with them.

With certain films once you've seen it there is no interest at all in seeing repeats; The Shawshank Redemption, The Killing Fields, The Deerhunter, The Omen, The Exorcist (most of them seem to start with "The") and unfortunately there are more of these than the former.

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