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Author Topic: Intermissions added to Films? Seen or added yourself? Markus Lemm Expert Film Handler Posts: 113 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Registered: Nov 2005 posted 12-17-2005 12:00 AM                        I was reading the 'Intermission in King Kong' topic and was wondering who has seen intermissions added to other films? I remember that when we played "Apocalypse Now Redux" we added an intermission at the end of the 5th reel. Perfect spot since it is a fadeout of a scene and halfway through the film. Some people complained so we played it without the intermission then some people complained that we should add an intermission. Can't make everyone happy, eh. I also saw an intermission added in the middle of "About Schmidt" at some local cinema in Amsterdam.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-17-2005 12:56 AM                        There used to be 3 theatres in northern Montana that featured intermissions in every film. The people there were used to it and liked it, according to the owner. He died a few years ago -- one of his theatres closed, and the other two were bought out by a Montana circuit called Polson Theatres. They remodeled the theatres and did away with the intermissions.  |  IP: Logged Robert Harrison Expert Film Handler Posts: 239 From: Harwood Heights, Illinois, USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 12-17-2005 04:21 PM                     We actually had a lot of intermissions back in the 80s. In those days, we were a single screen changeover house with 6000' reels. Our projectors were Brenkerts. The number 2 machine would break down regularly, leaving us to show the whole film on one machine. So, we bought an intermission strip and placed it at the end of the first big reel until the repairs were made. Most of the time, no complaints. I think people were more easy going in those days. Also, we only charged $1.50.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-17-2005 09:34 PM                        I would never add an intermission to anything except out of necessity. I've had to do it a few times in booths with 6000' reel capability where there was some issue or other with one of the machines. I just add an intermission snipe to the end of reel 3 and make sure that someone announces to the audience that there will be a brief intermission halfway through the film. I hate doing this, but it's better than having to cancel a show until parts can be delivered and/or installed.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-18-2005 07:37 AM                        Scott, I agree to a point. A film's pace is dependent on continuity and a randomly placed intermission, especially just thrown in by a projectionist because it's at the end of a reel, is disrespectful to the film-maker's art and should never be done except, as you say, if it's purely out of technical necessity. On the other hand, really long films like TITANIC, KING KONG, and many of the other near three hour epics, if the film-maker didn't have the foresight to put in his own intermission, then out of respect for my audience, I am not going to make a theatre full of people suffer due to some inflated ego or just plain arrogance of the film-maker who thinks he's more important than considering the physical comfort of the audience. I think there has to be a balance with those overly long films, tipping on the side of my patrons. And again my argument that if the film-maker can live with an intermission in the overseas markets, then he should be able to endure a fifteen minute intermission over here for the comfort of his countrymen. And hey, as we say in Brooklyn, not for nuthin, Mr. Director, get over yourself....it's just a movie; we are not interrupting brain surgury.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 12-18-2005 07:55 AM                     Back in days of old, many theatres added an intermission to GREASE in order to pump up concession sales. They dropped those quickly as they discovered that the teenage girls that were flocking to the film so hated the BEAUTY SCHOOL DROPOUT number that they came running out in groups to by snacks.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 12-18-2005 09:53 AM                        Titanic was so long (and the good parts were in the last 45 minutes) that no one would leave that late; the result was peeing in the seats. (too much Coke) One theatre here in Kentucky anticipated this and ordered an intermission snipe "just in case." Ad mats were copied so that it appeared to be done by the film maker. This was "cut in" just as they realized they were sinking. Very well done. Louis  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 12-18-2005 09:57 AM                     "Gettysburg" had intermission. It was almost 5 hours long.  |  IP: Logged Robert Harrison Expert Film Handler Posts: 239 From: Harwood Heights, Illinois, USA Registered: Jun 2005 posted 12-18-2005 11:43 AM                     Ah, yes, "Gettysburg." Yep, we did do an intermission for that one. Especially when it was at our DTS house, so we could swap discs for the second half. I can still hear those cannons!  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 12-18-2005 11:56 AM                    Gettysburg intermission was built in with black and music for about 6 mins. Same was done for Gods and Generals.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 12-18-2005 12:19 PM                     It ran at what was then the ABC Shaftsbury Avenue in london in 70mm. They ran it in two parts; part one in screen one, and part two in screen two, so you actually had to change auditoria during the intermission. Never seen that done before. Going from one extreme to the other, I've also got the Laserdisc, which I've watched letterboxed on my 14 inch television.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 12-18-2005 12:28 PM                        I sort of envy those of you who've seen more recent "official" intermissions. The last ones I even remember where on "Gone With The Wind" and "Dr. Zhivago". That train scene coming out of the break was impressive.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 12-18-2005 12:46 PM                     We would get films like Dr. Zhivago in 2nd run with the intermission removed by the film exchange. We'd splice a snipe back in and go for it. The audience never complained.  |  IP: Logged John Koutsoumis Master Film Handler Posts: 261 From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Registered: Aug 2003 posted 12-18-2005 11:32 PM                     With films like King Kong (which I have not seen and don't plan to) if their is no fade to black or a dissolve to the intermission tag or a good long scene ending shot, as their used to be, then a intermission tag simply spliced on the end of a shot or c/o to is kinda abrupt in my opinion. Not to mention some boofheads who just shut the dowser and turn the lights on full. I've seen this before and it surely lacks showmanship. And what about the music. Are theatres adding play out/play in music via non-sync that matches the film score or just their typical non-sync top 40 rubbish? That just ruins the illusion The best scene to intermission I've experienced is with Ben-Hur or the clever one in 2001: A Space Odyssey. I say leave the film alone, but yes you have to think of others and their possible discomfort. Can't please everyone.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 12-19-2005 03:16 PM                     What about "How The West Was Won" as the riverboat sails off in the distance and the music swells, or Dr. Zhivago when the train rolls off to the horizon (matched by the opening shot of Act 2 with the tunnel exit and screaming whistles). And who can forget GWTW with Scarlett and the tree? I agree though, if you are going to put in a break, at least pick a logical place, not just a reel break.  |  IP: Logged

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