Over the past four years, Steven and I have found ourselves truly falling in love with film. Not only do we adore the more modern classics from the ‘80s and ‘90s, but we also love taking in an old film, or something very eclectic. With each viewing- whether or not we enjoy the film itself - we find we always learn and gain something from watching a film from yesteryear. It’s always a fantastic lens into the feelings - whether they be hopes or worries - of the time the film was made, where people’s tastes and interests were, and how far film had come along.

That being said, it hasn’t always been obvious where to source new films to inspire us, or where to find said films once we’re ready to begin our viewing. So I’d like to share with you my six favorite sources of cinematic inspiration.

1. Turner Classic Movies

The most obvious source of the Old Hollywood films I watch is of course America’s favorite source for any entertainment from yesteryear: Turner Classic Movies, also known as TCM. I think John Mulaney said it best while recounting a story from his youth: “I was watching this old movie on Turner Classic Movies, because I was not an athletic child.” As a fellow former unathletic child, I sympathize. Since 1994, Turner Classic Movies has been essential in bringing old film to those old and and old at heart. Those who remember the days of the Bette Davises and Katharine Hepburns, as well as those who could only dream of a world with that much start power and bravado. I fall into the latter. Although I was born in 1992, my parents always exposed me to old media. Growing up, my mother would always be watching a television program from the ‘60s in her sewing room, and my father made it a point to share with me the classic musicals he grew up with. While I of course always loved the ‘90s and noughties content that I grew up alongside, I felt that I always had more context to what I was viewing as well as media iconography, due to my exposure to classic movies and shows.

Turner Classic Movies can offer an opportunity for families to share continuity with each other through classic film, or introduce someone to them who had never had that exposure. They not only play classic films all day long without any commercial interruptions, but they have wonderful themed programming such as a full day of film noir, or a full day dedicated to a particular actor, actress, or director. And each film is book-ended with presentations by one of the hosts of TCM - my favorite of course being Ben Mankiewicz - sharing fascinating details about the film’s production, inspiration, or cast and crew. TCM isn’t just about playing movies; It’s really about giving you context and understanding, which is so important when watching a film that premiered 60 years before you were born.

We watch Turner Classic Movies through our YouTube TV app, but it also can be included as an add-on to streaming apps such as Hulu or Max. And of course, the original way of viewing TCM is through a cable network. Whether you’re an athlete or just an athletic supporter, Turner Classic Movies is for you.

2. The Criterion Collection

The Criterion Collection streaming app has been another wonderful source for movies old and new, including more obscure arthouse films, foreign cinema, and documentaries. For example, one of my favorite films of all time, Paris is Burning is available to purchase and/or stream. Since subscribing to The Criterion Channel, we’ve revisited some David Lynch films and enjoyed some of the work of Gene Tierney when she was the featured performer. I also discovered the 1971 film The Boy Friend starring Twiggy and Tommy Tune. It was something that never came upon my radar, yet when it was suggested to me, I was very inspired by its makeup and costume designs.

Their complete list of films - which span from 1920 to 2023 so far - can be found on their website. Each film’s page provides details about the film as well as whether it’s available to own on DVD or Blu-Ray through The Criterion Collection, or available to stream on The Criterion Channel.

Fair warning: The Criterion Channel’s app leaves much to be desired. Its interface isn’t always intuitive, it isn’t easy to see a list of every film available, and it doesn’t always save where you were in the middle of a film; However, what you get out of being a member is still very valuable and worth the price.

3. Kanopy

This was recommended to me by a fellow Old Hollywood-loved I met while in Rockport, MA. He is a big Charlie Chaplin fan, and told me the best place to watch his movies as well as many other classic films for free was the Kanopy app. Kanopy is available to educators as well as those with a membership to a participating library. I in fact signed up with a library card locally in order to gain access to an account. Once I got my account started, I could immediately begin watching movies from my phone or TV. With my public library account, I have access to 15 tickets a month, which are Kanopy’s version of a token. Most films are worth 2 tickets each, although some may be more or fewer. Once I choose a film that I’d like to spend my tickets on, I have access to it for 72 hours. It’s very similar to renting a film on Prime Video.

So far, Steven and I have watched the 1968 Frederick Wiseman documentary, High School. I remember watching it at a museum back in the early 2010s, and not being able to find a place to purchase or stream it for so long. When I realized it was on the Kanopy app, I knew I had to take the advice of my pal in Rockport. For those of you who love film and have yet to sign up with a card at your local library, please give this free resource a try. You never know which films from the past you might dig up. And if you’re anything like me, and your only experience watching Charlie Chaplin films occurred in a classroom, it might be a good time to brush up on those classics.

4. YouTube

There are a surprising number of old movies ready to watch for free on video sites such as YouTube or Dailymotion. Many of these films are so old and so obscure that their copyright holders no longer pursue users who upload the entirety of the film to these public platforms. So many wonderful channels are constantly uploading films in the public domain. Cinema4reel is a great example. If there’s an old movie you’re interested in and you haven’t found them available on the other platforms you already pay for, give YouTube or Dailymotion a shot. You may just be pleasantly surprised. My recent finds on there have been the 1930s technicolor marvel, Kind of Jazz, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film Rebecca, and of course the infamous 1975 documentary, Grey Gardens. If YouTube or Dailymotion doesn’t have the film you’re looking for, be sure to check free apps like FreeVee or Tubi before finally resorting to resource #5 on this list.

5. Prime Video

When all else fails, and I have gone through all of my streaming apps as well as the sources I’ve listed above, and I cannot find anywhere to view an old movie, I can almost always rely on Prime Video to have access to it to rent. When it come to rentals, it’s basically the modern Blockbuster. For those who don’t have access to Prime Video, YouTube boasts a similar library and rental price point. Besides some very obscure foreign documentaries, there’s almost nothing you can’t find to rent on Prime Video. But while Prime Video’s rental/purchase library is extensive and useful, they’re incredibly limited when it comes to old films included for free. You’ll usually have a smattering of popular oldies such as Some Like It Hot or Hitchcock classics, but past that, you’ll need to pay a la carte. One pleasant surprise I did find for free on there was the 1966 Czechoslovakian arthouse film Daisies. Of course, I only was able to find it because I searched for it specifically. It was never going to pop out at me on the main page of suggested films.

Prime Video suffers from the same issue from which many other streaming platforms suffer: Searching for the term “Old Hollywood” “Old Movies” or “Movies from the 40s” etc doesn’t yield very helpful results. When it comes to old or obscure movies, you’ll need to be searching for a specific title for their search engine to be helpful. If you want to get inspired Blockbuster-style and flip through the titles to see what else is out there, you’ll have to find a movie in the same genre or from the same period, and then sift through the suggested films.

6. Letterboxd

This may not be a source for watching films per se, but it is a great resource for any film buff to find and log down any film inspiration. Letterboxd allows you to rate and review films, keep a diary of your feelings and findings, create personalized film lists, create watchlists to remind you what you’ve recently discovered, and to even see what fellow film lovers are watching. The interface of this app is extremely user-friendly and attractive, and it really makes organizing all of your films quite simple. For example, I have tasked myself with watching every movie that Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn have ever been in, so I used Letterboxd to create a checklist of those films. Ever since, I have been watching my percentage of completion rise with each viewing. I also love that it allows me to see how many films Steven and I have watched over the years, as well as how many movies I’ve watched in my lifetime. When Steven and I are stumped on the next movie to view, I am often saying “Let’s check my Letterboxd.”

While these resources are by no-means ground-breaking, and they won’t necessarily find you the most obscure arthouse and foreign films in existence, I hope that the details on each resource can be helpful for those with a particular film or genre in mind. While indulging in your tried and true favorite films is a surefire way to put you in a good mood, I always encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and watch something from the past, from a foreign country, or from a genre that’s not their favorite. More context, more continuity, and more exposure to culture always leaves you feeling more informed, more empowered, and more open to the world around you. And that’s the great gift that film provides. Happy viewing.

Until next time!