Double Feature

The screening a double feature was a widespread strategy of cinema operators that show through the block system involuntarily acquired B- movies along with attractive A- films, especially in the 1930s and 1940s. This could be seen behind the other with a movie ticket two films.

Background

In the late 1920s, the cinema began, two movies for the price of a ticket to show to compensate for the decline in sales during the economic crisis. Compiled these double features often of an A film with high production values ​​and a (often shorter ) B - movie from the low-budget range, but there were also double features, which consisted only of B- movies. Often the old expiring and the new incipient film as a double feature were shown together even when you change channels in the cinema. The total length of both films together did not usually exceed 180 minutes.

Double features were widespread in the 1930s and 1940s in the United States and England and resulted from the policy of the Hollywood studios, by the theater owners were forced to remove the B- movies in the block with the A- movies. Under the influence of television growing competition and the end of the studio system ended the oligopolistic position of the studios regarding the rental policy. The practice of double features was rare - especially as the run lengths of the films increased and these were therefore not suitable for a double performance - and finally disappeared in the early 1950s.

Nowadays double features are listed mainly as a nostalgic reminiscence in cinemas and have common thread usually thematic or directorial similarities. As a tribute to the grindhouse cinemas designed Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino their eponymous film project ( Grindhouse ) as a double feature. Partial run today also sequels, along with their predecessors, eg Iron Man and Iron Man 2 These are often previews ( on Wednesdays or Sundays sometimes ) offered before the actual release date.