Theaters and intermissions..

[LTuser 339]

Back in the day (the 80s) i remember quite often, theaters having intermissions when a film was a long one..  These days not so much.

Elsewhere, where we are discussing films in an off topic thread, someone was mentioning about the re-release of avengers end game, and how he'd be more than happy to go see it again, IF the theater went back to the days where they did an intermission say at the 2 hr mark.

 

Someone in effect (not actual wording though)replied to him, "Theaters more than likely no longer do that, cause people would whine and moan, and ask for their money back"...

So who here thinks that theater goers would complain about having a say 10 min intermission in a film that's 3 hrs + long?
Who would like them to?

[DexterOnone 300]

I think the majority of people would definitely complain about intermissions in films, unless the film was specifically written and produced to have a natural break in it (as plays for theatre productions are).

Movies are generally written to build towards the climax, so any break would completely derail the “dramatic tension” at that point and spoil your enjoyment of the rest of the film.

The only intermissions I welcome in cinemas are those between films during a back-to-back movie marathon!

[Frimmel 2,593]

6 hours ago, LTuser said:

Back in the day (the 80s) i remember quite often, theaters having intermissions when a film was a long one..  These days not so much.

Elsewhere, where we are discussing films in an off topic thread, someone was mentioning about the re-release of avengers end game, and how he'd be more than happy to go see it again, IF the theater went back to the days where they did an intermission say at the 2 hr mark.

 

Someone in effect (not actual wording though)replied to him, "Theaters more than likely no longer do that, cause people would whine and moan, and ask for their money back"...

So who here thinks that theater goers would complain about having a say 10 min intermission in a film that's 3 hrs + long?
Who would like them to?

Intermissions were not common in the eighties to my recollection.

I don't think a great many cinema goers would understand what an intermission was these days. You also have to get the patrons back in their seats which may be a chore in a big multiplex.

More importantly theaters don't have intermissions for long films because long films are already cutting into the number of times a film can be screened. They don't want to add to that length and further reduce the time an auditorium is in use while also at the end of the day extending the time staff needs to be on the clock either at the end or at the beginning of the next day.

If a film that would normally start at say seven is three hours long already and has to start at 7:30 because of earlier screenings then that's a 10:30 finish. Add a couple of fifteen minute intermissions and now your staff instead of going home before 10 in a more normal length movie is there till past 11. More staff time and less screenings that maybe you make up with more concessions at intermission. It is going to come off as trying to bilk the audience for more concessions as well. 

And late screenings for long movies are also less attended because of the being out late aspect. 

[CaptainJaguarShark 2,050]

I can see some argument for intermissions breaking immersion... but I also just don't care. I'm also not sure that it's actually a true statement. Some of these movies are just too **** long to sit through in one sitting comfortably.

[Sithborg 11,644]

Generally, I think intermissions should be back if you are cracking 3 hours. 

[That Blasted Samophlange 6,923]

As much as I would like them, it wont happen.  Theatres run on the business of showing as many viewings as possible with as little turnaround.   

Intermissions put a hamper on this.  

As the technology has changed, intermissions are also not needed.   There are no longer film reels to change.   

[FTS Gecko 24,135]

I remember intermissions.  I remember the staff carrying trays of ice creams around for people to buy Cornettos or whatever during the break.

I also remember my home town having a beautiful art Deco style cinema with three screens, the main screen being a huge double tiered affair with a grand staircase, velvet curtains in front of the screen and a bar which was almost never open.  There were queues halfway round the block on Friday and Saturday nights.

(I also remember sneaking in the back door as a kid with some friends and catching Eddie Murphy's "A Distinguished Gentleman", a film I haven't seen since.)

Yeah, there's an office block where that cinema was now, and a Vue in town which is modern, quiet and to be honest, pretty soulless.

[LTuser 339]

58 minutes ago, FTS Gecko said:

I remember intermissions.  I remember the staff carrying trays of ice creams around for people to buy Cornettos or whatever during the break.

I also remember my home town having a beautiful art Deco style cinema with three screens, the main screen being a huge double tiered affair with a grand staircase, velvet curtains in front of the screen and a bar which was almost never open.  There were queues halfway round the block on Friday and Saturday nights.

(I also remember sneaking in the back door as a kid with some friends and catching Eddie Murphy's "A Distinguished Gentleman", a film I haven't seen since.)

Yeah, there's an office block where that cinema was now, and a Vue in town which is modern, quiet and to be honest, pretty soulless.

I remember those days.   Last cinema i was in, that felt that way, was late 1989.. 

[TopHatGorilla 1,057]

Pepperidge farm remembers.