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Movie watching has come a long way, from theaters that featured silent flicks, to talkies, to the advent of home viewing.
Aside from movies that might be shown on various television channels, the option to choose a movie and view it whenever you like wasn't available until the 1970s. Betamax (introduced by Sony) and VHS (a product of Japan Victor Company, or JVC) engaged in what has been called the “format war” through most of the 1980s.
VHS cassettes could hold as many as two hours of content while Betamax was limited to about an hour. Betamax had better quality, but VHS eventually won, and by 1985, Betamax was on its way out.
The two-hour limit of a VHS tape wasn't without its own challenges. Movies that exceeded the limit required a second tape - and the two-cassette VHS was born. Lengthy movies like Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, and The Sound of Music were available only on double VHS, a trend that continued for long movies well into the 1990s. When DVDs were introduced, they could hold more content depending on how the data was compressed.
The double VHS might hold a special place in memory. Watching the first tape, having it come to a stop, rewinding it, then popping in the second cassette were all part of the two-tape movie experience.
This built-in intermission was also a pretty big annoyance - but very much a necessary evil. In hindsight, the movies we watched on double VHS were the best home-viewing experiences we ever had., and we wouldn't have had our introduction to these flicks any other way. What about you?
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A society girl abandons her haughty fiance for a penniless artist on the ill-fated ship's maiden voyage.- Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher
- Released: 1997
- Directed by: James Cameron
- Runtime: 195
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- 1Tilda Swinton1,020 Votes
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- 3Zach Galifianakis1,018 Votes
- Braveheart is a historical war drama directed by Mel Gibson, who also stars as the film's protagonist, William Wallace. Set in late 13th century Scotland, the narrative follows Wallace's life from his childhood to his role in leading the Scottish against their English oppressors. The movie features an ensemble cast with notable performances from Sophie Marceau as Princess Isabelle and Patrick McGoohan as King Edward I. Braveheart won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, distinguishing itself for its epic battle scenes and compelling storytelling.
- Actors: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson
- Released: 1995
- Directed by: Mel Gibson
- Runtime: 177
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Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Surrounded by the brutal realties of war, while searching for Ryan, each man embarks upon a personal journey and discovers their own strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honor, decency and courage.- Actors: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Jeremy Davies, Vin Diesel
- Released: 1998
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Runtime: 169
Did you watch the double VHS?- The Godfather, a celebrated crime-drama, presents an intimate study of the Corleone family. At its core is Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), initially an outsider, who gets reluctantly drawn into the family's criminal enterprises. His father, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), is the patriarch, whose power and influence cast long shadows over his family's affairs. The movie paints a vivid tableau of post-war New York's underworld, riddled with betrayal and power struggles. This cinematic masterpiece, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, swept the 1973 Academy Awards winning Best Picture amongst others.
- Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall
- Released: 1972
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
- Runtime: 177
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Presented as originally released in 1939. Includes themes and character depictions which may be offensive and problematic to contemporary audiences. Epic Civil War drama focuses on the life of petulant Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara. Starting with her idyllic life on a sprawling plantation, the film traces her survival through the tragic history of the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and her tangled love affairs with Ashley Wilkes and Rhett Butler.- Actors: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell
- Released: 1939
- Directed by: Victor Fleming
- Runtime: 222
Did you watch the double VHS?- A Civil War soldier develops a relationship with a band of Lakota Indians. Attracted by the simplicity of their lifestyle, he chooses to leave his former life behind to be with them. Having observed him, they give the name Dances With Wolves. Soon he is a welcomed member of the tribe and falls in love with a white woman who has been raised in the tribe. Tragedy results when Union soldiers arrive with designs on the land.
- Actors: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Kevin Costner
- Runtime: 180
Did you watch the double VHS? - Businessman Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) arrives in Krakow in 1939, ready to make his fortune from World War II, which has just started. After joining the Nazi party primarily for political expediency, he staffs his factory with Jewish workers for similarly pragmatic reasons. When the SS begins exterminating Jews in the Krakow ghetto, Schindler arranges to have his workers protected to keep his factory in operation, but soon realizes that in so doing, he is also saving innocent lives.
- Actors: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Segal
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
- Runtime: 195
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A tuneful, heartwarming story, it is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey who becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.- Actors: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood
- Released: 1965
- Directed by: Robert Wise
- Runtime: 174
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In the classic crime drama, Scarface, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) emerges as a Cuban immigrant in 1980s Miami. With nothing but ambition, he becomes involved in the lucrative cocaine trade. His rise to power is swift, but so too is his moral decline. Tony's mistress Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer) and right-hand man Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) feature prominently in this tale of excess and downfall. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, Scarface won a Golden Globe for Al Pacino's performance, eventually cementing its place in film history.- Actors: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia
- Released: 1983
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
- Runtime: 170
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10In early-1970s Las Vegas, low-level mobster Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) gets tapped by his bosses to head the Tangiers Casino. At first, he's a great success in the job, but over the years, problems with his loose-cannon enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), his ex-hustler wife Ginger (Sharon Stone), her con-artist ex Lester Diamond (James Woods) and a handful of corrupt politicians put Sam in ever-increasing danger. Martin Scorsese directs this adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi's book.- Actors: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles
- Released: 1995
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
- Runtime: 177
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11In Oliver Stone's political thriller, JFK, the spotlight shines on New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). He is drawn into a complex web of conspiracy theories surrounding the 1963 assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. The film, a fascinating blend of fact and speculation, features a star-studded cast including names like Tommy Lee Jones as Clay Shaw and Gary Oldman in the role of Lee Harvey Oswald. Snagging eight Academy Award nominations, it stands as an intriguing exploration of this notorious historical event.- Actors: Kevin Costner, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Oldman
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Oliver Stone
- Runtime: 189
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In the riveting drama The Great Escape, a group of Allied prisoners, led by Virgil Hilts (Steve McQueen), are confined in an ostensibly escape-proof German POW camp during World War II. The determined captives, including Danny Velinski (Charles Bronson) and Robert Hendley (James Garner), devise an audacious plan to tunnel their way out. This war epic, based on true events, is a tale of ingenuity, resilience, and daring that won critical acclaim for its gripping narrative and memorable performances. The movie's genre-defying plot and thrilling pace ensure it remains a classic in cinema history.- Actors: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Donald
- Released: 1963
- Directed by: John Sturges
- Runtime: 165
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Lawrence of Arabia, a sweeping epic drama, chronicles the remarkable life and adventures of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), a British officer stationed in the Middle East during World War I. The narrative unfolds as Lawrence is dispatched to Arabia, where he forges an unlikely alliance with Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) to launch a guerrilla war against the Turks. Despite grappling with his own moral quandaries and the harsh desert conditions, Lawrence's strategic brilliance shapes the course of history in the Arabian Peninsula. This cinematic masterpiece bagged seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, underscoring its timeless appeal and technical excellence.- Actors: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif, Jack Hawkins
- Released: 1962
- Directed by: David Lean
- Runtime: 222
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14Magnolia, a dramatic film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is an intricate tapestry of interconnected stories. It features characters like Jimmy Gator (Philip Baker Hall), a beloved game show host with a dark secret, and Claudia Wilson Gator (Melora Walters), his estranged daughter struggling with addiction. As their stories intertwine with others, such as Frank T.J. Mackey (Tom Cruise), a motivational speaker with his own hidden past, the narrative explores themes of redemption and forgiveness. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Tom Cruise's standout performance. This complex and emotionally charged drama is renowned for its unique storytelling style and compelling performances.- Actors: Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly
- Released: 1999
- Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Runtime: 188
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A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.- Actors: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Delroy Lindo
- Released: 1992
- Directed by: Spike Lee
- Runtime: 201
Did you watch the double VHS?- Set against the backdrop of Russia's tumultuous political landscape, Doctor Zhivago is a sweeping epic that tells the tale of Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif), a physician and poet. Balancing his love for two women, Tonya (Geraldine Chaplin) and Lara (Julie Christie), amidst the chaos of World War I and the Russian Revolution, Zhivago grapples with his torn affections. Directed by David Lean, this film won five Academy Awards. It stands as a monument in cinema history for its grandeur and portrayal of human resilience during times of upheaval.
- Actors: Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Tom Courtenay, Alec Guinness
- Released: 1965
- Directed by: David Lean
- Runtime: 180
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Nashville, a 1975 American satirical musical comedy-drama film directed by Robert Altman, presents a complex tapestry of interwoven narratives. The movie spotlights the political and musical world of Nashville, Tennessee, portraying the lives of 24 characters over five days. Ronee Blakley shines as Barbara Jean, a country music superstar, while Keith Carradine plays Tom Frank, a philandering folk trio singer. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of a political campaign. Nashville received an Academy Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for four other awards, including Best Director.- Actors: Keith Carradine, Lily Tomlin, Karen Black, David Arkin, Barbara Baxley
- Released: 1975
- Directed by: Robert Altman
- Runtime: 157
Did you watch the double VHS?
