Classic Film Lover Resources - Part 1 - Streaming
So, where the hell can one find this stuff?
Beyond general obscurity, there are two major things that contribute to a film being difficult to find: if the film is old and if it is “foreign”. The bad news is that the vast majority of the films this blog focuses on fit both of these descriptions with varying degrees on the age factor. The good news is that we live in a magical time where the world of media and information is at our fingertips…mostly. With a little guidance, anyone with a smartphone and a few spare bucks can gain glorious 1080p access to the movies of days long past fit with properly synced audio and subtitles. Below you’ll find information on some of my favorite resources that I’ve used in my journey through classic cinema.
Note – I am endorsed by none of these services, just love the products.
THE plug in a movie and find where it’s streaming service. This should be your first stop when looking for a specific film. There’s not much to it. Just look up your flick and bam, you got a list of every service it’s currently streaming on or that offers a rental service. Their mobile app is fine, but the service is simple enough that a browser bookmark works just as well. Know that Letterboxd Pro users ($19/year) can use this service to sort a watchlist by available streaming service. In my experience, this has seriously cut down on time spent scrolling through Netflix’s ridiculous suggestions.
As an iPhone user (I know), I’ve been happy with Apple’s movie rental system, but its service is mostly interchangeable with Amazon Video based on your personal preference. Both have a wide selection of films but few exclusives from one another (at least in the realm of classic films), chances are you already have a payment method on file with one of these services, and both options have excellent players. Altogether, these factors make iTunes and Amazon Video my digital rental services of choice, but I’m not opposed to using the occasional free rental code at VUDU or FandangoNOW.
As much as I love MUBI and Netflix (despite their paltry selection of classic films), Filmstruck is the streaming service made for someone like me. Their selection of classic and world cinema is unparalleled, and weekly themes assist more meaningful bingeing. Add in the fact that this is the exclusive streaming service for the Criterion Collection (more on this later), and you have the best source available for difficult to find flicks that are actually worth your time.
FilmStruck offers a 14-day free trial and discounted rates for students and educators. Issues the service once had with its player have since been resolved. It comes highly recommended by yours truly as a genuine fan of the service.
A few of my favorites currently streaming on FilmStruck
- Harakiri (of course)
- Paris, Texas
- Watership Down
- Faust
- The Thin Blue Line
- Lady Snowblood
- Le Samourai
- The Apartment
- Chungking Express
- The Kid
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