Where can I find classic movies to stream or rent or buy?
Amazon’s video streaming service has some classic films to rent or buy, and many DVDs of classic films are available for purchase new or used.
Netflix has a selection of classic films, and the titles change every month, so once in a while they will have a great classic available for a short time. They also have a mail-in DVD rental service that has a much bigger catalogue of classic movies for rent.
Hulu used to have The Criterion Collection (a collection of mostly beautifully restored classic and international films) on its service but that has now moved to The Criterion Channel on FilmStruck, in association with Turner Classic Movies (as of this writing –things change all the time, so do your research). You can also buy DVDs from the Criterion Collection online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or directly from their website. Once a year they have a flash 50% off sale, and it makes the movies more affordable. The Criterion website also has great articles about movies and writing.
If you have cable, Turner Classic Movies and AMC both show classic films.
YouTube will sometimes have some classic movies but be cautious about image quality and copyright infringement.
If you’re interested in truly old films, the Library of Congress has some very early films available to watch for free online. They also have a list of resources including a list of film schools and careers in film preservation.
There are other classic movies streaming sites that I haven’t tried, such as Warner Archives (for about $100 a year), so a search might reveal some treasures, albeit expensive ones. Again, these things change all the time, so keep checking.
You can also purchase used DVDs in good shape at reasonable prices online through Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Never underestimate your local library where you can reserve many fantastic classic movie titles on DVD (in addition to great books about film-making.)
For those really hard to find films, turn to the experts in LA that the professional filmmakers and film academics use, one of the very best video stores in the world with extremely knowledgeable staff:
Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee in North Hollywood.
Cinefile Video
Vidiots (which as of this writing is in the process of moving to a new location in Los Angeles.)
Many towns also have excellent video stores where you can find classic, international, and hard-to-find films.
Where can you see films like these in movie theaters?
There is something really different about seeing a movie the way it was created to be seen, on a big screen, watching with other people. Although disappearing fast, there are revival cinemas in most large cities and even in some fortunate smaller towns. A web search for “revival cinemas” or “revival houses” will show you what’s available in your area. Also check out local colleges and universities that will screen classic films for classes, film clubs, or have archive screenings as they do at UCLA. Some concert venues will also put on special screenings of classic films with live orchestras.
Where can you find out more about classic movies and film-making?
This is a big question and you will find what you like by exploring YouTubes and websites online. Some places specialize in film analysis, like David Bordwell’s Observations on Film Art. For an online list of resources see The Museum of the Moving Image. Other places specialize in film analysis for screenwriters and filmmakers, for example, Tony Zhou’s videos, or the podcasts on the American Society of Cinematographers website. This website from a film school in New York lists some more great online resources, and with a bit of research, I’m sure you’ll find more, like this list of free film classes online or this one. Some websites specialize in classic movies like Turner Classic Movies (some good articles and film information) or Palace of Classics and some have great articles by film critics and film-makers themselves, like Criterion Collection. You can do a search online for directors, actors, and cinematographers that you admire, and find out more about how they worked. Some places specialize in resources for teachers, like The Story of Movies. A good tutorial, either online or with a film teacher, can be helpful when you get stuck or want more ideas. There are also many good books written about filmmaking. You can get an idea about some of them on this blog under the “Brilliant Books” category on the right. But you’ll learn most by watching the classics like a filmmaker, and then trying things you like yourself in your own stories and movies.