- 1). Tune into a classic movie cable station such as American Movie Classics (AMC) or Turner Classic Movies (TCM). On these stations, you can find all your favorites and fall in love with classic old movies. You'll also facts about your favorite stars and films. Both stations occasionally take you behind-the-scenes so you can learn how some of the great old films were made.
- 2). Decide what genres (horror, war, crime, westerns, musicals, comedy) will compose most of your collection. Perhaps you might focus on a particular decade of great movies. Or you might want to collect the great film noirs like "Postman Always Ring Twice," or wacky comedies like "Duck Soup."
- 3). Locate the movies you love. Your local movie store may have a small section of classic movies to rent or purchase. If they don't have a particular title available, have them check a catalog to see if they can order it.
- 4). Search for your favorite classic films online at Turner Classic Movies website. You may even find a collector's dream - a boxed set of films such as the Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin Collection, Volumes I and II.
- 5). Support film preservation efforts by donating to an organization such as the American Film Institute (AFI). These classic films won't remain forever if the original reels can't be restored.
- 6). Purchase one of three volumes of "Treasures from American Film: 50 Preserved Films" from the National Film Preservation Foundation (filmpres.org). Proceeds go to continued preservation efforts.
- 7). Visit classic film online forums (there are hundreds of them). You freguently will find classic films being offered for sale or swap.
- 8). Dip into the public domain. Many retail chains, including drugstores, sell DVD's of classic films that have shifted into public domain status. Because they no longer come with heavy residuals or licensing fees, companies sell them cheaply. You'll find a lot of junk, but if you're patient, you'll also uncover gems like "Front Page" with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell or "Sante Fe Trail," starring Errol Flynn.
- 9). Widen that domain. Search the Internet for classic movie sites that let you download public domain films for free or for a small charge. You also can watch the films on your computer screen. Again, you'll find a lot of duds, but there are gems out there, particularly if you like certain genres, such as early horror films or movies from the Eastside Kids series.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -