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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009 edited
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    Hey all.

    I think we can all agree that *generally* speaking, older movies dont fare so well on WTM. This is probably because a lot of people dont have any interest in discovering older black and white or silent movies etc.. but some great films are being missed out on. Also, people dont realise that a lot of these films are what is considered "public domain", that is the copyright has expired etc. and they can be shared freely and legally, many of them viewable online for free.

    I thought it would be nice to break from all the banter and enjoy some older movies :) We are all movie lovers after all :)

    So sit back with your favourite beverage and enjoy some of these classics if you haven't already seen them, you never know they may help you score a point or two on WTM :) as well as broadening your cinema taste, which is always a good thing. OK so the quality isnt great on these (you probably arent going to be able to screencap for WTM for example) but this is still a great, convenient way for people to enjoy these old classics if they dont want to shell out on restored versions etc on DVD.

    If anyone knows any other places you can find classic, public domain movies for free online, please post them, although I should probably add this disclaimer;

    **** Don't post links to material which is currently copyrighted / not public domain *****
    If you arent absolutely certain, dont post :)

    Many of these download links contain mp4 downloads for all you gadgety iPod type people :)



    Nosferatu (1922)
    Can be downloaded here http://www.archive.org/details/nosferatu
    Originally released in 1922 as Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens, director F.W. Murnau's chilling and eerie adaption of Stoker's Dracula is a silent masterpiece of terror which to this day is the most striking and frightening portrayal of the legend.



    Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari ( The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ) (1919)
    Can be downloaded here http://www.archive.org/details/DasKabinettdesDoktorCaligariTheCabinetofDrCaligari
    The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is the first modern Horror Film and it influence a number of contemporary productions.
    A real classic! - A great introduction to early German Surrealism / Expressionism.



    M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Moerder (1931)
    Can be downloaded here http://www.archive.org/details/M_
    I STRONGLY urge people to watch this film. I personally believe this is Fritz Lang's greatest film, beating even the completely awesome and ambitious Metropolis. I only discovered this movie recently, and I was glued to the screen the whole time. Many of you will know already that Fritz Lang was a mentor of sorts to Alfred Hitchcock, and this movie really shows where Hitchcock got much of his inspiration. Impressive camera angles, great sound direction for an early talkie (I thnk this was one of the first talkie films to present audio cues of what was happening off-screen etc) and excellent and thought provoking issues are raised. It was really influential and ahead of its time technically. Please watch and enjoy this film! I can also strongly recommend the Eureka! restored version of this movie on DVD. Its restoration is nothing short of stunning, and the documentaries about the restoration and the movie itself are very interesting.



    The Last Man On Earth (1964)
    http://www.archive.org/details/the-last-man-on-earth
    I'm sure most of you have seen I Am Legend by now, the Will Smith one. Maybe even the 2nd interpretation of the book, Charlton' Heston's Omega Man, but lots of people have never seen the first big-screen interpretation of Richard Matheson's book "I am Legend", The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price. Ultra campy but still creepy, the ending of this movie is the most faithful to the book and although I wont spoil anything, it will actually explain what the title "I am Legend" actually refers to. Something you dont get in the Will Smith one :) Awwww hell naw


    Post is getting far too long now, so have a look at this guy's youtube channel for more examples.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/LuckyStrike502#grid/user/148DA376DF715ABD

    Other highlights include The House On Haunted Hill, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Romero's Night of the Living Dead, Scrooge, Carnival of Souls, The Hunchback of Notre Dame etc..

    Enjoy, and post any other **PUBLIC DOMAIN** movies you may know of!
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    Awesome !

    Thanks a lot, themOOch !
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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009
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    I just want to stress once more that if you only watch one of these movies, make it M. Simply awesome.
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    The last scene of M is one of my favorite! Peter Lorre is just amazing...
    • CommentAuthorbap2008
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009
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    Great !

    Thank you for this post, m00ch !

    And for reminding me that Germany once had film makers, who had more talent than Uwe Boll ;)
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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009
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    lol bap. Hitchcock would agree you had arguably the best filmmakers in the world early 20th century :)
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      CommentAuthorfungus
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009 edited
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    I can recommend the internet archive. They have quite a collection of movies in different genres:
    http://www.archive.org/details/moviesandfilms

    You will find such classics as His Girl Friday ( http://www.archive.org/details/his_girl_friday ) or Peter Jackson's first film Bad Taste ( http://www.archive.org/details/BadTaste1987 ).
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      CommentAuthornaut
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009 edited
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    great thread indeed!
    a reference to M twice ( http://whatthemovie.com/shot/26610 ) a day.. I should really go watch it :)

    @m00ch.. oh, I will.. right behind Independence Day
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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2009
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    Wow I didnt know bad taste was PD now - cheers fungus! Havent seen that in a few years will have to watch it again soon. Most of those download links are for the internet archive its an awesome place indeed.

    And Naut, shame shame indeed, put it at the top of your must watch list immediately :p
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      CommentAuthorDeviant
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2009
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      CommentAuthorDeviant
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2009
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    Bad Taste is NOT Public Domain btw :) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092610/faq#.2.1.5
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      CommentAuthorRazzomega
    • CommentTimeJul 31st 2009
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    I have another site with public domain movies, don't now if it's only the same movies : http://emol.org/movies/catalog/index.html

    Emol.org
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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    So has anyone here watched any of these movies via these PD links? If only one person watches M and realises how awesome it is it will be worth it :)
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      CommentAuthorDeviant
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    I'm going to watch Dr. Caligari soon. Saw the other ones already before you posted them. But if anyone hasn't watched M, I strongly recommend it.
    • CommentAuthoragonistes
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    I was planning on watching M soon, as well as Dr. Caligari, I've been meaning to watch that one for a longer time now.
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      CommentAuthorconnectiv
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    M has been on my to-watch-list for a long time, if I had known it was available freely I'd have gotten around to it sooner. Thanks!

    Also, I didn't know there was an older version of I am legend. I was very disappointed with the Will Smith movie and subsequently bought the novel which is now among my favourites. Really, I couldn't believe how shamelessly they turned this wonderful story Hollywood...
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      CommentAuthorpspan
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    you mean the Omega Man?
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      CommentAuthorthem00ch
    • CommentTimeAug 4th 2009
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    Although M is public domain, I strongly recommend picking up the Eureka! restoration on DVD. M is such a good film that if you have no other means, watch it on youtube or wherever. However if you are looking for a new DVD, try picking it up, its really outstanding. I think its on Amazon so you can use the referral link on WTM to get WTM some money too :)

    Hope its OK to post an amazon link, but remember to use the click though on WTM if you are going to get it. Quite pricey though....

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/M-Film-Fritz-Lang-DVD/dp/B0000A33PX

    I actually spent about 50 quid on this...

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fritz-Lang-Box-Set-DVD/dp/B000NY1566/

    Which had the Eureka restorations of M, Metropolis, Spione, Dr mabuse the gambler and the testament of dr mabuse. Totally awesome and a bargain at twice the price. Appears it may be OOP now :(
    • CommentAuthorbap2008
    • CommentTimeAug 6th 2009 edited
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    could you make this one a [Sticky] ?

    edit: Thx
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      CommentAuthorCotp
    • CommentTimeNov 1st 2009
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    One of my favourite movies of my childhood:


    If you havn't got it in DVD you can always get it for free as public domain here:
    http://www.archive.org/details/The39Steps
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      CommentAuthorRazzomega
    • CommentTimeNov 7th 2009
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    I found another public doman movie site
    Classic Cinema Online:
    http://www.classiccinemaonline.com/1/index.php

    Don't know if it is any use, but just thought it would be fine posting it.
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      CommentAuthorRazzomega
    • CommentTimeNov 26th 2009 edited
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    Hi Guys and Girls.. I will just recommend the site Legittorents http://www.legittorrents.info/ where you legally can download full-lengt movies down to your computer :).. I can strongly recommend the documentary "Home" which is in a good quality imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014762/.. And they also have "Plan 9 from outer space" imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052077/

    Hope it's usefull please write if you thinks it's nice :)!
    Edit: The site seems to be down/work slows at the moment
    2nd Edit: It's up again
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    Didn't know about this public domain thing =o I thought rights took 100 years to expire? But I guess that makes things very much easier =) so thanks for the tips, tehee
    • CommentAuthorAsmodai
    • CommentTimeFeb 17th 2010
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    It depends on the country that you are in, and the country where the film was made. If you are not sure, you can always google a bit.
    • CommentAuthorAsmodai
    • CommentTimeJan 22nd 2011
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    Maybe people here can help me: I am looking for a movie, I think it SHOULD be in public domain, but can't find it anywhere. Does someone have any information or a link or whatever?

    Movie: Die Austernprinzessin a.k.a. The Oyster Princess a.k.a. My Lady Margerine
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0009893/
    • CommentAuthorpioa
    • CommentTimeFeb 13th 2011
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    There is a youtube channel with old Polish movies:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/WStarymPolskimKinie#g/p
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      CommentAuthorgregov
    • CommentTimeMay 27th 2011
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    Some Russian old movies (including The Battleship Potemkin) on youtube:
    http://www.youtube.com/user/mosfilm
    • CommentAuthorpioa
    • CommentTimeMay 20th 2012
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    • CommentAuthorRDPL55
    • CommentTimeMay 20th 2012
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    Great !! Watched it on screen last year !! Was impressive and moving !!
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      CommentAuthorfungus
    • CommentTimeMay 21st 2012
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    There are even new movies in the public domain. Nina Paley did a very lovable animation called Sita Sings the Blues ( http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/ ) and published it under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License. So you are legally allowed to download the movie up to 1080p HD uncompressed (160 GB) from the Internet Archive ( http://archive.org/details/Sita_Sings_the_Blues ).
    Of course there are already some nice shots on WTM: http://whatthemovie.com/movie/sita_sings_the_blues/snapshots
    • CommentAuthorpioa
    • CommentTimeAug 8th 2012
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    So... If anyone wants to feel a little bit like RDPL55 in watching old great (and those less great) movies, then:

    http://archive.org/search.php?query=%28collection%3Afeature_films%20OR%20mediatype%3Afeature_films%29%20AND%20-mediatype%3Acollection&sort=-avg_rating%3B-num_reviews&page=1

    Next step: get all of this on DVD.
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    Have been watching pre-1930 movies recently. Had great experience overall.

    Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, Intolerance, Ben-Hur , Man with the Movie Camera, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Judith of Bethulia, Steamboat Bill Jr, College, The Circus, Birth of a Nation, Fantomas, The Blue Bird, The Crowd are among my favorites..

    Greed, The Last Laugh, Cabiria, Les Vampires, The Cheat, Phantom of the Opera, Abel Glance's Napoleon, Theif of Bagdad, The Doll are in my watchlist now.
    • CommentAuthordoooom
    • CommentTimeAug 28th 2012
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    @Tommy
    Very nice indeed. You should also check out The General, Metropolis, La passion de Jeanne d'Arc and Sunrise, to name some of the great classics.

    And some personal recommendations would be: Der Müde Tod, La Roue, Visages d'Enfants, Girl Shy, Potomok Chingis-Khana, Bardeleys the Magnificent
    These movies might not be considered to be among the greatest classics, but they imo are some real gems.
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    Thanks for the recommendations doooom.. Will surely check them out..

    As for the General, Metropolis et al, I have seen them ages ago and are among my favs. Actually Keaton, Lang (I did not like Die Nibelungen: Kriemhilds Rache though), Dreyer have become one of my fav directors but except for Sunrise I could not get into Murnau (watched Faust (5/10) and Nosferatu (6/10) ) as much I'd like to. Have to watch some more of his.
    • CommentAuthorvepro
    • CommentTimeAug 9th 2013 edited
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    Hello all,

    next weekend my friend and I are hosting an public domain film festival in our little vilage of Sv. Filip i Jakov, Croatia. If you're around visit us, it's all for free

    • CommentAuthorAsmodai
    • CommentTimeAug 9th 2013
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    Nice bats in Croatia, as well. Including, but not limited to, Myotis capaccinii, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Barbastella barbastellus and four out of five European horseshoe bats!
    • CommentAuthorvepro
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2013
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    @Asmodai I wish I could take a pic of this one living with me so you could identify the lazy bastard. no sound from him last few days and it's not even that hot....and there were no lady bats for him to please.
    anyway, bats, huge gorillas, free movies...nice beaches....
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    Nice program ! It's a pity it's so far...
    • CommentAuthorDeon
    • CommentTimeOct 10th 2013
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    The 39 steps was one of the Awesome Movie I ever seen.Watch more movies at... http://www.muvi.com