Last night’s experience at the Dryden Theatre in Rochester consisted of two polar extremes: the communal joy of seeing a great movie with an appreciative audience, and the backstabbing torment of suffering through a filthy print. And these two extremes did not at some paradoxical time coalesce into a magical “Meh. It’s Lawrence of Arabia!” No, my reaction was consistently: “If not for the lady in the balcony with the hearty laugh who has encouraged all of us to enjoy this movie, I would ask for my money back.”
There were several times when I wished the projectionist had some way to swap in the DVD. No, I didn’t mind that the cut shown was not final; I only noticed a couple shots missing from the beginning, which actually benefited the movie. Scratches, dirt, drained color–these were the primary offenders. Roughly half of the film print appeared to have been used as a fan belt for an SUV. It was not quaint; it was distracting and ugly, like seeing a Michelangelo fresco in desperate need of restoration. Yes, there were moments of pristine clarity that a home theater cannot provide, and I am ever grateful for them. But before I darken the Dryden’s doors again, I will call the office and ask about the quality of the print.
Would I have gone if I had known all this beforehand? Probably. I did not realize until last night just how much humor is in the movie. It was awesome and fascinating to watch a classic with lots of well-cultured people, several of whom saw Lawrence of Arabia for the first time last night. Indeed, the courtesy of the patrons and staff was first-rate. Next time I might even step outside my discomfort and talk to someone, if only to be a humbug about the dirty print.
Another thing. To the kind lady at the Canandaigua exit toll booth: you owe me a nickel. Edit: Sorry, I was wrong! The toll increased five cents last night at midnight. I was in Rochester while it changed. Spooky.
