Film
I love films. I think being a child of the 1970's, perhaps means I attach a slightly greater 'mystique' to them than maybe modern young people might do....(does anyone else agree with me?) - In the 1970's and early 80's, the only way you could consume new films in the first instance, was by going to the cinema. Following on from that, if you wanted to see a film you loved again, you had to just hope that it appeared on either BBC1, BBC2 or ITV.
Just imagine that! It all seems rather ridiculous now when you think about it. But the concept of buying videos did not exist. Neither did video rental shops until the mid 1980's. Of the then three television channels we had (Channel 4 did not start until the end of 1982), only BBC1 and ITV would ever show films that were remotely modern. BBC2 mostly transmitted old black & white films from the 1950's/60's etc (they actually had a 'Saturday afternoon matinee' every week on that channel)...
I remember going to see 'Star Wars' in 1977. I remember seeing this in the Bournemouth ABC cinema that Summer. All I can remember now is the opening shot, the 'garbage compactor' sequence and Chewbacca screaming at that little wheeled robot on the death star. After seeing this incredible, ground-breaking film as a six year old, all I wanted to do, was to see it again! - But unfortunately I, like everyone else, had to wait.
In fact, we had to wait until it aired on British television. And incredibly, that was a full five years later! I believe it premiered on UK television, on ITV, in October 1982 (I checked my old diary). This is shortly before Channel 4 launched in the UK.
By that time, our family had a JVC video recorder and I remember recording it. Today, the release of films onto DVD and Blu-Ray (and on-demand services) very quickly follows the film release in the cinema. And aside from that, it is of course possible to watch endless clips/sequences etc on any number of legitimate websites (including YouTube), so you can instantly gratify yourself with almost any amount of any film you can think of. This instant gratification (I think) de-mystifies films somewhat.
How different things once were!
Just imagine that! It all seems rather ridiculous now when you think about it. But the concept of buying videos did not exist. Neither did video rental shops until the mid 1980's. Of the then three television channels we had (Channel 4 did not start until the end of 1982), only BBC1 and ITV would ever show films that were remotely modern. BBC2 mostly transmitted old black & white films from the 1950's/60's etc (they actually had a 'Saturday afternoon matinee' every week on that channel)...
I remember going to see 'Star Wars' in 1977. I remember seeing this in the Bournemouth ABC cinema that Summer. All I can remember now is the opening shot, the 'garbage compactor' sequence and Chewbacca screaming at that little wheeled robot on the death star. After seeing this incredible, ground-breaking film as a six year old, all I wanted to do, was to see it again! - But unfortunately I, like everyone else, had to wait.
In fact, we had to wait until it aired on British television. And incredibly, that was a full five years later! I believe it premiered on UK television, on ITV, in October 1982 (I checked my old diary). This is shortly before Channel 4 launched in the UK.
By that time, our family had a JVC video recorder and I remember recording it. Today, the release of films onto DVD and Blu-Ray (and on-demand services) very quickly follows the film release in the cinema. And aside from that, it is of course possible to watch endless clips/sequences etc on any number of legitimate websites (including YouTube), so you can instantly gratify yourself with almost any amount of any film you can think of. This instant gratification (I think) de-mystifies films somewhat.
How different things once were!
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