Munich's cinemas that are done with dubbing
Since the beginning of time humans have gathered together to hear stories of people overcoming difficulties—be it fighting off a saber-toothed tiger or nursing the wounds of a broken heart. At first, before language developed, these tales were portrayed through a lot of grunting and facial expressions in front of the campfire in the cave. But with speech came theater, and with theater there eventually emerged a medium that was best able to express the trials and tribulations, the hopes and fears, the happy and sad journeys of the human experience. Just over 100 years ago the motion picture camera and projector were invented to capture and project those important moments, both real and imaginary. Today, it seems, the motion picture knows no bounds. And the great thing is: we don’t have to sit in a cave anymore. But we still have that primal urge to gather together for a common experience of story-telling. Considering the accessibility of video stores, DVD rentals through the mail and the Internet, not to mention that old friend the television set, it’s amazing we still feel the need to get out of the house at all. But get out we do, because, in the end, we are social animals who really need to experience stories on a massive screen with complete Dolby Digital surround sound. And for those who prefer to hear their stories told in the original language in which they were intended to be told, Munich offers several opportunities to gather with like-minded individuals who might believe that synchronization is one of the greatest crimes ever to befall the words of moving pictures. Probably the best-known movie theater playing original English-language films in Munich is Cinema (www.cinema-muenchen.de ) on Nymphenburgerstrasse. Having celebrated its 50-year anniversary, on October 23, the movie theater has come a long way from its first screening, of Inferno in 1954. Giesela and Dieter Buchwald took over ownership of the theater in 1975, when attendance was low and many technical improvements were needed, and they have worked diligently to make Cinema what it is today. What began as a marketing strategy to increase attendance by attracting students who were hungry for American hit films like Easy Rider and Woodstock, soon turned the theater into an exclusive place to see films in their original language. Thanks to the number of students, tourists and expatriates living in Munich, by the early 1990s Cinema was offering films in English, French, Italian and Spanish, all in their original languages. Cinema also became the first movie theater in Germany to acquire the Lucas Film THX sound system, and for eight years, in the early 1980s, it was the only theater in Germany serving freshly made popcorn on the premises. Today Cinema is the most successful single-screen cinema in Germany and continues to give moviegoers what they crave. Double features, sneak previews and, during the winter months, Sunday matinees with Continental breakfast all offer a variety of ways to enjoy films. Another movie theater in Munich that specializes in original English-language movies is the Museum Lichtspiele (www.museum-lichtspiele.de ) on Lilienstrasse. While Cinema’s single screen and seating area is spacious, and the building is lit with modern neon lights, the Museum Lichtspiele offers several smaller screens and an old-time Hollywood feel. The four individual theaters under the Lichtspiele roof seat between 50 and 95 people and each has its own cinematic theme, from an entire wall painting of the Star Trek Enterprise in one to a scene from The Big Blue in another. Each has Dolby surround sound, and two have Dolby Digital sound systems. Built in 1908, the theater has been screening original English-language movies since 1988. Offering a varied program, including children’s matinees and a Kultkino, the Museum Lichtspiele has earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for showing the same film over the longest period. The award is for the 1974 film musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has been playing at the Museum Lichtspiele every week for 30 years. The theater has just been sold to a new owner and has recently undergone rather extensive refurbishments to provide its moviegoers with the best film-viewing experience possible. “The Museum Lichtspiele is something of a Munich establishment,” said moviegoer Antonia Keller. “I enjoy its traditional, old-time feel.” Besides these two movie theaters there are also several other places showcasing original English-language films. Smaller theaters include Lupe 2 on Ungererstrasse, Neues Arena on Hans-Sachs-Strasse, Werkstatt Kino on Fraunhoferstrasse, which recently hosted a small Canadian film screening, and Marmorhaus on Leopoldstrasse. Additionally, the Mathäser Filmpalast on Bayerstrasse generally shows at least one or two of its 14 films in the original English language, and the Filmmuseum on St.-Jakobs-Platz occasionally screens retrospectives encompassing the works of international directors and actors. So wherever you are in Munich, chances are that there’s an original English-language film playing … in a theater near you.