Film Forum
209 W. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10014
209 W. Houston Street,
New York,
NY
10014
44 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 205 comments
Nick; they usually indicate on their website wheter a film will be shown in 35mm or DCP digital.
Thanks Bill. Love Castle’s films—he took showmanship to the upmost level. What I would have given to have been there. Any idea if showings were film or digital?
Yesterday I attended a William Castle double bill of “The Tingler” and “Homicidal”. They took interactive movie-going to new heights. Forget 3D – these movies were in 5D. I even got popcorn in my hair. Most fun I’ve had at the movies in years.
Thank You, Film Forum for the fantastic presentation of “The Creature From The Black Lagoon”. The digital restoration and 3-D were eye-popping, to say the least. (as was, of course the beautiful Ms. Adams.) It was great to see a film where the 3-D became a important part of the plot and not just an “add-on”. Once again, kudos to FF.
looking for Montay drive in movie speaker. Is there anyone that can help? E-mail me at Thanks.
I like that they request all electronic devices be turned completely off. The patrons take their filmgoing very seriously. I was there for the Spaghetti Western series and a man in front of me took out his cel. A patron behind me immediately leaned forward and requested he take it outside. Yes! But some go a bit too far. The man directly in front of me turned around every time I shifted in my seat. Give us a break!
I enjoy reading newspaper ads and reading what movies the Forum plays is interesting. Glad that this place is still in business in the big apple.
I finally broke down and bought a membership to Film Forum. I don’t know why I didn’t do it years ago. But with the upcoming Spaghetti Western series, I know I’ll be hitting this place up at least ten times so why not join and get the tickets for less. And honestly, it’s great to support a robust independent theater. Even if their three screens are small and cramped.
I’ve had many wonderful experiences at Film Forum over the years: meeting Werner Herzog at a screening of White Diamond was a particular favorite but I also really enjoyed seeing Battle Of Algiers, Days of Heaven, Aguirre: Wrath Of God, and Fat City in 35mm revivals.
In light of so many theater closures and the push to DCP, it’s great to see Film Forum do well. I know they are incorporating DCP and I don’t really have an issue with that so long as they continue showing other formats as well.
hdtv, the showing I went to of “House on Haunted Hill” 2 Sundays ago was jammed also. (It was the first showing of that film since they only showed Haunted Hill/Sardonicus for one day.) Everyone was so enthused and friendly. It was great just talking to total strangers there about Castle and the films being shown. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see “Macabre,” “Homicidal” and “Night Walker there as well. I can still remember seeing all of these films, (with the exception of "Homicidal,” which I somehow missed, in the movies as a child.)
I read Castle’s autobiography about 20 years ago and if you have not read it, I highly recommend it.
And thanks to this Castle retro, I take back anything I’ve ever said negative about this theater. (See my previous post some months back.) I now look forward to seeing the remastered “Psycho” there at the end of October.
Does anyone have any idea how the Castle festival performed at the b.o., taking into account the fact that double bills in shoebox auditoriums limit the turnover? By chance the featival included all of my favorites – three in the “Whistler” series, “Homicidal” (Is it even possible to be fooled by that one?) and “The Night Walker,” especially for Vic Mizzy’s spooky and imperishable score.
Gimmicks notwithstanding, Castle’s mysteries and thrillers are hopelessly contrived and often plain terrible (“13 Ghosts”), but he was such a consummate ham that he kept me returning as a kid. Anyway, I hope “Night Walker” did well and that Film Forum is encouraged to book more of such Americana festivals.
Vic Mizzy
hdtv, I was there for the first showing of “Sardonicus” and “Haunted Hill” on Sunday. I originally saw these films when they played in my neighborhood theaters in Brooklyn when I was a kid. I haven’t had a better time all summer. I enjoyed the fact that the older audiences (like myself) were laughing and chuckling at some of the scenes that scared us silly as kids. I also enjoyed the fact that some people brought their own young children to see Castle’s films. I’m sure that they were a lot more entertaining than most of the garbage that passes as horror films today.
I went last Sunday to see “The Tingler” and missed sitting in the wired seats for the second time in 50 years. Oh well, wait til next time. I’m not sure if you were there but it was hilarious to see the skeleton from “Haunted Hill” make a re-appearance during the LSD sequence in “The Tingler.” I had such a great time that I’m only sorry that this Castle tribute didn’t last another week.
Registering.
Nice shot Chuck.
Hello,
Is there any chance that Film Forum might be bringing back some of their adventure/Sci-Fi series from the past such as the James Bond, Swashbucklers and Horror / Sci-Fi presentations from a few years back ?
Saw “Hidden Fortress” last Saturday morning as part of the Kuroswa fest.
Had not been to the Forum in years and, for better or worse, little has changed:
Tiny screen.
The support column!
Flat floor.
Seats designed by the Marquis de Sade
The resident hipster doofus who yelled out “Start the f***ing movie over” when they started the film out of frame.
That said, taking your daughter to see a good print of an influential film the way it was meant to be seen: PRICELESS
The Film Forum recently installed a new projection system. I only wish that they would sell iced tea again. Love the sea salted popcorn, and the lobby. Gary C is right about the chairs. Outside of Turner Classic Movies, the only venue that shows films, most restored, that are not on dvd.
GaryC, this is the Times Square Forum;
/theaters/2925/
I’ve been to this theater twice, once to see the revamped “Major Dundee” and once during the United Artists retrospective to see “The Magnificent Seven” and while I appreciate being able to see these classic films on the big screen again, this is one of the most uncomfortable theaters I’ve ever been in. The seats are uncomfortable, the screens are tiny, the space between rows too small and since I saw these films on fairly warm days in April and May, the theater was very hot. I cannot even imagine watching a very long film in this theater. I considered seeing “The Great Escape” there during the UA retro. I’m glad I didn’t. It would take a really great movie to get me back there again.
By the way, wasn’t there a Forum theater previously located on Broadway in Midtown Manhattan? I seem to recall seeing some films at a theater with that name during the 1960s.
I just came from the James Whale fest. at the FF. Thank the movie Gods for this theater!!!! Only if they could do something about the young hippster doofuses that seen to show up on the weekends sometimes. Looking forward to Jan. for Kurosawa.
Some of the programming that always had me returning to the Film Forum were the early SciFi/Horror Festivals, Swashbucklers and Vintage 007……
Will these type of programs be returning at any time in the near future?
I agree with all the comments about screen size at FF. But with real estate prices the way they are in Manhattan, I’m sure the staff had a business plan for costs/size that would allow them to do what they do. They are a non-profit after all, and seem to be a well run one at that. And for all the sell-out shows, I’ve also been to many sparsely attended in those small theaters.
Yes this is the Watts Street Location.
mhvbear, is it the Watts Street location?
This picture is of the Film Forum at it’s previoius location.
The Film Forum.
View link