Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Falling Asleep During a Film?

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-11-2006, 03:32 AM:

Have you ever fallen asleep in a theatre during a film you thought was really BORING?

I have during:

"The Lawnmower Man"
"2001"

Those have to be the worst God-awful ***BORING*** films EVER made!

What are yours?

Posted by John Koutsoumis (Member # 1855) on 06-11-2006, 03:59 AM:

Don't ask me what the first "Tomb Raider" film was about. I fell asleep somewhere in the second reel and woke up about 5 mins from the ending. The Cinema was quite full too. Man that film was crap [bs]

I also started dosing off at a screening of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" staring Errol Flynn and got very bored and sleepy (and actually nodded off a few times) with Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" which I saw in 70mm & six-track mag.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 06-11-2006, 04:12 AM:

I was screening the IMAX DMR re-release of Lion King a few years back. Usually I'm in the booth, but I had one of my guys up there and I got to be in the auditorium ... in the comfy seats. I don't know how much I snoozed, but I remember not knowing if the levels were good, afterward.

Now, during an actual movie that I, say, paid for? I don't think I slept. I came close during Johnny Mnemonic, but I was sitting next to a girl I was interested in at the time, so her presence weakened that movie's narcoleptic powers. [Wink]

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-11-2006, 04:30 AM:

The chief at an arthouse I once worked decided that he was going to work the evening My Night With Maud was screening. Being French, from the '60s and with a title like that, he figured there had to be some porn in it. The next morning when I came in, the assistant manager asked why the screen had 'gone off' for 10 minutes in the middle of the film. It turned out that when the chief discovered that the film in fact was about middle aged women sitting round a table, smoking and discussing philosophy, he'd rapidly lost interest, fallen asleep and missed a changeover.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 06-11-2006, 09:51 AM:

"Look Who's Talking Too"

Yeah - I know - why'd I watch it? It had to be screened and I had built the film. I went to sleep in the first reel and woke up during the credits. It was still in frame so I assumed it was built right.

[sleep]

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 06-11-2006, 09:59 AM:

Back in the late 70's I had an operator who had an all night job after he projected running a snow cat grooming runs on the ski area. After running the trailers he'd thread up #1, set the alarm on his early digital Timex, lean his back against the wall, put his head on the lamp table (behind the ORC M-1000 in a booth that was only 6' deep) and fall asleep to be awoken by the alarm to make the changeover. He did this regularly between reels for three or four winters and never missed a changeover. His nickname was (and still is) "Magic."

Over 25 years later, Magic, who now is a physican's assistant and is inside 30 chests each week in Maine, still comes back to the Telluride Film Festival each August to be Chief Projectionist in the theatre he used to sleep between reels in. He tells me he no longer sleeps in projection booths...... but I'm never sure.....

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 06-11-2006, 10:17 AM:

"The Ruling Class" (1971) starring Peter O'Toole. Not only did I snooze, but at every reel change cue, I would wish: Let it be over, let it be over...

I snoozed through "The Empire Strikes Back" at my first viewing, not because it was dull, but because it was so LOUD! Thats a old topic here.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 06-11-2006, 10:25 AM:

Star Wars Episode I because, yeah, it sucked that much.

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 06-11-2006, 10:33 AM:

Leonard Part 6
Bolero Bo couldn't keep me awake.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 06-11-2006, 10:43 AM:

Empire Strikes Back SE. [sleep]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 06-11-2006, 02:51 PM:

quote: Bruce McGee
I snoozed through "The Empire Strikes Back" at my first viewing, not because it was dull, but because it was so LOUD! Thats a old topic here.

Funny, but it is amazing how a good comfy chair, putting your feet up coupled with a warm and beefy sound system played at a good volume (not cheezy multiplex volume) can do this. [Big Grin]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 06-11-2006, 03:07 PM:

In my case it was the story.... [sleep]

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 06-11-2006, 04:13 PM:

Grey Gardens: The story of two crazy old ladies running around half naked through their broken down East Hampton mansion and cackling at the camera for two and a half hours!

That's all I remember but I did wake up happy and refreshed... that the movie was over! [sleep]

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 06-11-2006, 04:35 PM:

The only time for me was as a paid admission at EL CID, which is quite amazing given that it was such a big spectacle roadshow type film. I even cut last period class to see it but can't tell you what it was about other than every time I opened my eyes, I saw Anthony Quinn's 3 story high pretty ugly face and so I just closed them again.

But then if you want to talk about all the films that at every changeover I said, "Make it be over....make it be over," The list would be longer than the longest credit crawl you ever saw (it's because I run a lot of "art house" films is why).

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 06-11-2006, 05:13 PM:

I just saw "Bareback Mounting"...err I mean "Brokeback Mountain" on DirecTV. JFC! That sure is a candidate for falling asleep through. I'm soooo glad I didn't pay to see that SLOW, BORING, DUMBASS, STUPIT, CORNY(Cornhole?), movie in a theatre... I'd would have fallen asleep.

Our Grand-Poopie-BAH told me the only parts he woke up for is when they showed the sheep. I didn't get what he meant...but that's not important right now.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-11-2006, 05:14 PM:

Black Hawk Down.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 06-11-2006, 05:46 PM:

Batman & Robin
Over The Hedge (second viewing)
Tomb Raider
The Matrix (42nd viewing)
Fight Club (33rd viewing)
Stick It (second viewing)

These are the only ones that I remember falling asleep to while in the movie theater... As for the multiple viewings of The Matrix and Fight Club... well, just loved em I guess. But when you are tired, they seem boring if you have seen them that many times.

Ciao

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 06-11-2006, 06:19 PM:

LOL Phil.....

So your saying that our "Our Grand-Poopie-BAH" is a BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD BOY! [Eek!]

Posted by Allison Parsons (Member # 2728) on 06-11-2006, 07:08 PM:

In the theater: Legend of Bagger Vance (im' sure there's a couple more though)

At home: Too many to count

How many times I've nodded off in the booth over 10 years: twice.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 06-11-2006, 07:34 PM:

From the auditorium side of the wall,,Episodes I, II,and III, Brokeback, too many more to list.

Posted by Jon Miller (Member # 163) on 06-11-2006, 09:45 PM:

Dune. No, I did not read the book, nor did I see it because I wanted to (it was just one of those nights out at the movies with friends). All I can say is that the movie bored me to sleep, although the scenes featuring The Police's frontman Sting looking something like a cross between a hot-air balloon and a dermatologist's nightmare was somewhat amusing.

Rating: [sleep]

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 06-12-2006, 01:07 AM:

I didnt fall asleep during Batman and RObin because it was just so horrible I could not believe i was watching it.

The Shadow was the first movie I really slept for a significant amount of time.
Other movies I slept in theaters:
The Hours(this movie really knocked me OUT)
The Recruit or whatevermovie with AL Pacino and Colin Farrell. Goddamit. this movie really knocked me out cold after the first half.
Youve Got Mail( i would have slept sooner, but i was too busy cursing myself for leting another family member make the choice. No single guys should be subject to such torture).
Tomb Raider(once I realized the side view of the breast shower scene was about as good as it got)
Moulin Rouge( I actually loved the first half, but everything starting with the overwrought ROxanne song put me to sleep)
Armageddon(slept in scenes with the spacestation and a few others)
Bad Boys 2(slept in the middle portion. what a freaking long boringass movie)

Honorable Mentions:
MIB 2. (Unbelievable I actually found time to sleep in an 80 minute movie)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind(what a majr disappointment for me)

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 06-12-2006, 10:13 AM:

In the theater:
LOTR Fellowship of the rings. I love the second two but the first one was BORING.
Pokemon 2000
Godzilla 2000

The absolute most boring movie I have ever tried to watch was "Enigma." I didnt fall asleep but I spent the whole time looking for change under the seats.

The New World comes in a close second. Great scenery but way too slow.

I forgot to mention the first Harry Potter. I never tried to watch the rest because I figured I would just fall asleep.

[ 06-12-2006, 06:15 PM: Message edited by: Chris Hipp ]

Posted by Cory Isemann (Member # 2517) on 06-12-2006, 10:23 AM:

I fell asleep in the first Pirates of the Caribbean.

I think I fell asleep in Blues Brothers 2000 also.

Posted by Robert John Jeromson (Member # 2559) on 06-12-2006, 04:54 PM:

Matrix Reloaded (Second Time) and Love Actually, ironically I really enjoyed them both.

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 06-12-2006, 05:29 PM:

TRON (second viewing, both times in the theater) Really enjoyed it the first time.

"My Dinner With André" Saw it right after "Blazing Saddles" at a campus screening. What was I thinking?

Posted by Wayne Keyser (Member # 2420) on 06-12-2006, 09:18 PM:

The late 1960s (no vcrs, no dvds, see it there or never see it) - college foreign film society - giant "stadium style" lecture hall packed with "gotta see this for a grade" audience - nobody up there in the last row but little old me with two 16mm Kodak Pageants (still think they're one of the alltime great 16mm machines - thread 'em in your sleep, rarely lose a loop)

THE RED AND THE BLACK - Cocteau's ORPHEE - Anything by Bunuel - THE SEVENTH SEAL - All guaranteed to induce a deep slumber.

Oh, the list just goes on ... wake up to the flap-flap-flap of the tail leader, annoyed laughter from the audience, and a tap on the shoulder from the professor. Those were the days [*Sigh*]

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 06-13-2006, 02:16 AM:

In 84 I tried to fall asleep watching Steve Martin's The Lonely Guy but my buddy Jeff wouldn't let me."If I can stay awake watching this piece of crap, so can you." [Mad]

Sometime in the late 80's a movie titled "Heaven Becomes Hell", which had a poster which promised sex, played for one week at the Mall theatre. There were several employees at the screening. Halfway through, I am about to nod off. Jason laughs at something in the movie and wakes me up. I look around me and discover Jason and I are the only ones left.
In 90, I watch Wild Orchids (Orchid?). I successfully nodded off this time for an undetermined amount of time. I was on the clock, too... [uhoh]

Posted by David Ingalsbe (Member # 2433) on 06-13-2006, 05:05 AM:

Marky marks planet of the apes. I had to watch the movie twice in one night. ok movie for the price of admit (varifcation screening on both) but a second time at 3am is too much.
have slept in the booth twice durring break times. [Big Grin]

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-13-2006, 05:28 AM:

It only took five minutes and I was snoozing last week when I saw "THE DA VINCI CODE". I was looking forward to the movie regardless of the poor reviews it was getting from most of the critics. Because I used movie money to see the film for free from a Columbia DVD I had purchased, I only wasted two hours of my life trying to watch this over hyped film.

-Claude

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 06-13-2006, 07:56 AM:

In first year film school, we had a class the "History of Silent film" at 8:30am on a Monday, man did I sleep through a lot of great classics, that the school was paying big bucks for. I did catch the end of Greed though...

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 06-13-2006, 10:02 AM:

You got off lightly. If Irving Thalberg hadn't hated Von Stroheim so much that he butchered it down to the surviving 9,000 foot version and burnt the rest of the negative, you'd have been sitting there for ten hours... [sleep]

Furthermore, it's so depressing as to make The Passion of The Christ look like light entertainment. Believe it or not, the full original screenplay is about twice as thick as the novel on which it's based!

I saw Greed at National Film Theatre in London around 10 years ago, with live piano by a lady in her 80s, who had actually been a silent film pianist in the '20s before the conversion to sound. During the wedding reception scene, when Chester Conklin picks up the chicken bone with his hand and starts chewing at it (ignoring the elaborately laid cutlery around his plate), she started playing the German national anthem. That got her a standing ovation at the end...

Posted by Ian Woloschin (Member # 3709) on 06-14-2006, 10:10 PM:

I've slept through parts of movies in my booth, couldn't tell you the names if I tried though. If I slept, it wasn't worth remembering the name of the movie. It's an old style changeover booth though, so I can only sleep for about 30-35 minutes before I need to wake up. It's student run, so I'm usually supervising and not running film myself, but I'm responsible if something breaks (none of the other kids know how to fix anything).

Worst (or maybe best?) thing I ever did though, I was running the lighting for a Stephen Lynch show at my college, I thought it'd be a good show. It was so bad, I fell asleep for a good part of the show. Guess I got tired of him ranking on me and making the same joke over and over. Sure was glad when that show was over. It's not film related, but it's kind of close.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 06-14-2006, 10:27 PM:

I've come very close, but never actually fell asleep during a movie. If the movie is that bad, I usually get up and leave unless I'm with someone who wants to stay.

I've slept at work though. In fact I broke my toe while sleeping at work, in a 35mm film processing lab no less. But I digress. [Big Grin]