The Best Full-Length Films Online!

When somebody mentions watching a film for free online, the majority of film lovers€™ initial reactions would be €œOooooo€that€™s bad!€ However, just like it revolutionised online video watching, YouTube has quietly been offering web surfers a new (and LEGAL, I might add!) way of watching films for free. Now you€™re not going to find your Toy Story 3s, Scott Pilgrim vs the Worlds or other €˜only in theatres€™, summer blockbusters, but for fans of retro cinema there are some real gems! The titles that these YouTube users have uploaded are predominantly those that have lapsed into the public domain (i.e. free of copyright restrictions) €“ the kind that are released in those 50-100 film, instant movie collection boxsets on 12 discs etc €“ and as such there is a lot of rubbish, but if you sift through this and persevere there are definitely some worth a watch! Plus, with a bit more searching there are a few box office hits that somehow have been uploaded with permission for free viewing. The plethora of movies on offer span a wide range of genres, so there really is something for everyone. The quality varies, but every one I€™ve sat down with has been watchable€so, instead of paying for a rental tonight, check out some of the titles you could be watching for free this evening€

The Big Boss (1971, aka Fists of Fury)

When Cheng Chao-an begins work in an ice factory with his cousins, his vow of non-violence seems to be an easy one to keep. However, when members of his family begin disappearing, Cheng must find out why, resulting in him being forced to break his vow and take on €˜The Big Boss€™! Bruce Lee€™s first major film is definitely not his best work. The Big Boss is certainly no Enter the Dragon, but it is an entertaining watch. This is the film that made Lee a star across Asia and it is clear why: ACTION! With the plot demanding no fighting from Lee in the first half, when those €˜fists of fury€™ start swinging it€™s well worth the wait. The film is also worth watching because it€™s also a rare breed: a martial arts film with€wait, yep€a plot!! As I€™m not about to reveal any secrets, I suggest you go and check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1B9KGybeBU

Blackmail (1929)

A young girlfriend of a homicide detective is invited to pose for an artist in his studio. When the man tries to rape her, she stabs and kills him. A criminal oversees this, and with one of the woman€™s gloves in hand, decides to blackmail her. Meanwhile, the young woman€™s boyfriend has been assigned to the case€ Widely regarded as Britain€™s first talkie, this early Alfred Hitchcock thriller was originally intended as a silent feature. As such there are some long periods of little dialogue, however, Hitchcock€™s unique style of direction is gripping. Featuring his famous ploy of building suspense, the film remains a tense watch and this is a great introduction to his British work. Plus, if you enjoy it you€™ll have plenty more to seek out! Embedding disabled, so click HERE to view.

Carnival of Souls (1962)

After a car accident leaves her friends dead, a young woman miraculously survives. Taking a job as a church organist the young woman finds herself haunted by a mysterious phantom, drawing her ever closer to an abandoned carnival that appears to hold a secret€ This extremely low budget ($33000!!) sixties horror film has become a cult classic with film aficionados. With its highly atmospheric style and little reliance on special effects, Carnival of Souls has been able to transcend generations, and it remains as incredibly creepy to this day as it did nearly five decades ago. Infinitely better than the 1998 €˜remake€™ (there is little in common between the two films) of the same name, this film is a fun piece of retro horror! Embedding disabled, so click HERE to view.

The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969)

In this instalment of the unashamedly anti-Asian franchise, the evil Fu Manchu plots to freeze the Earth€™s oceans using a new deadly device. Hot on the dastardly villain€™s trail is his arch-nemesis, Interpol€™s Dr. Nayland Smith. After his career-defining performance as Dracula in Hammer€™s string of hits about the count of the undead, Fu Manchu was the other villainous character Christopher Lee was famous for playing. As the fiendish Chinese villain, contemporary audiences may find Lee€™s - a quintessentially English man €“ performance uncomfortable to watch. However, the screen has been filled with Westerners imitating Asian people: Peter Ustinov in Disney€™s One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing (1975) and Sidney Toller in the Charlie Chan series of the 1940s for instance. Whilst Castle is not the best in the Fu Manchu franchise, it€™s worth a watch for simple cheesy pleasure. Plus, as always, Lee€™s performance is far greater than the material he€™s been given actually demands of him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqtoAXz3RFo&ob=av1n

D.O.A (1950)

Upon discovering that he has been poisoned with a €œluminous toxin€, for which there is no antidote, Frank Bigelow embarks on a journey to discover who and why? With up to a week left to live, Bigelow must find his murderer before their objective is met. Considered a classic of the film noir genre, D.O.A is easily one of the most fantastic films that€™s slipped into the public domain. The plot sounds slightly ridiculous €“ and it is €“ but despite this it is a suspenseful watch that will hook you in until the end title rolls. The film is equally impressive technically and is particularly memorable for it€™s opening scene, a languishing tracking shot that follows Bigelow as he walks the halls of a police station to report his own murder. This is certainly one of my favourite films available to watch online and you should go watch it now (€well, after you€™ve read the rest of my article!)€ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj9TlNoEnsY&ob=av1n

Dementia 13 (1963, aka The Haunted and the Hunted)

After the death of her husband, a manipulative young woman visits his family home in Ireland in order to forge herself a place in her mother-in-law€™s will. Her attempts to ingratiate herself into the family are interrupted by an axe-wielding lunatic€ Produced by the legendary Roger Corman, this was Francis Ford Coppola€™s mainstream directorial debut. With a brief to create a horror feature along the lines of Hitchcock€™s Psycho, the film is an interesting comparison. Despite the low budget and a relatively inexperienced director, Dementia 13 is a firm little thriller that€™s extremely enjoyable to watch. A great example of sixties psychological thrillers, check this out if you€™ve only come across Psycho before and would like to discover something along similar lines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0ukfVt3d5Q&ob=av1e

Destination Moon (1950)

During the U.S. space race with the Russians, an American businessman funds a mission to the moon in order to beat their Eastern counterparts. The mission is a success and the U.S. set up a base on then moon, but do they have enough fuel to return home? This is a rare example within the canon of 1950s sci fi films: it attempts to be as technically accurate as possible. Now, as I€™m not a rocket scientist so I don€™t know how successful this accuracy is, but it does make for a film with a very realistic film. In an age where films exploiting the fears and paranoia surrounding atomic radiation were the norm, this film is a rare gem. Whether you€™re a sci fi fan or not it€™s definitely worth a watch! Embed disabled, so click HERE to view.

Doll Face (1945, aka Come Back to Me)

A burlesque star €“ €œDoll Face€ Carroll (Vivian Blaine) €“ is denied a part in a €˜legitimate€™ Broadway show, as she is deemed to lack enough €˜culture€™. In retaliation, Doll Face€™s manager suggests that she should produce an autobiography. Employing a ghostwriter to scribe the book, the manager gets more than he bargained for when Doll Face has other things in mind for her collaborator! This piece of 1940s fluff is a fun way to fill 80 minutes of a rainy Sunday afternoon (which there are undoubtedly more of on the way€). It€™s notable mainly for Carmen Miranda€™s performance as fellow showgirl Chita Chula and as an attempt by Twentieth Century Fox to make a movie star out of vocalist Perry Como. The musical numbers by Blaine and Miranda are performed with gumption and make for enjoyable viewing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-oN9e3dwbg

The Driller Killer (1979)

An artist succumbs to mental decline when he can no longer handle the pressures of trying to pay his bills, look after his two female roommates and complete his paintings. As insanity takes over, he takes to the streets with a power drill and starts to randomly murder derelicts€ Famous for being one of the €œvideo nasties€ of the 1980s, The Driller Killer should be of interest to most film fans. Today the film does not seem as controversial as it was deemed back then, but it does make for rather uncomfortable viewing. Not something to sit down to with the Mrs, but check it out when she€™s out with the girls to judge for yourself what all the fuss was about! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEnFtJRxHpk

Father€™s Little Dividend (1951)

Stanley Banks has come to terms with his daughter Kay€™s marriage, only to find that she and her husband are expecting a baby. Initially opposed to the news, a number of disputes erupt between both sets of grandparents, leaving Banks having to accept he is to be a grandfather. Starring Elizabeth Taylor and the brilliantly cast Spencer Tracey, this is a fun family film that is good for some laughs. Following on from where Father of the Bride (1950) finished, the film reunites all of the original cast members and the chemistry is perfect between Taylor€™s dutiful daughter Kay and Tracey€™s irritable but caring father, Stanley. With some genuinely hilarious moments, Father€™s Little Dividend is a charming watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZRetFpth1w

His Girl Friday (1940)

Chicago newspaper editor Walter Burns uses every trick in the book to prevent his crack reporter and ex-wife Hildy Johnson from retiring and marrying insurance salesman Bruce Baldwin. As his efforts spiral out of control, anyone and everyone becomes embroiled in his schemes! One of the best examples of a screwball comedy, perhaps second only to Bringing Up Baby (1938). The quick-fire dialogue and hilarious lengths that Burns travels to prevent Hildy re-marrying are comic gold! With a brilliant cast including Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and Ralph Bellamy, you don€™t get romantic comedies to the standard of Howard Hawk€™s His Girl Friday any more. One the Mrs can enjoy too! Embedding disabled, so click HERE to view.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

An eccentric millionaire and his wife invite five strangers to a haunted house party. For each of those who remain for the night is a prize of $10000. Throughout the course of the night the guests are subjected to murder, ghosts and other creepy goings on. But what - if anything - is real? A fun sixties chiller that will have you laughing rather than diving behind the sofa! Vincent Price is fantastic as the eccentric Fredrick Loren, whose motives for the haunted house party remains a mystery until the compelling climax. Infinitely better than the atrocious remake in 1999, check this out if you fancy a slice of horror cheesecake! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BeUWMfqELk&ob=av1n

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

The classic tale of Quasimodo, a deformed bell-ringer and his love for the Queen of the Gypsies, Esmerelda. Fifteenth century Paris is home to Jehan, the evil brother of the city€™s archdeacon and master of Quasimodo, who plots a peasant revolt with the help of the Gypsy King. Esmeralda is in love with Phoebus, one of the cities soldiers. When Jehan will stop at nothing to make Esmerelda his own, it is down to Quasimodo to save the beautiful woman from Paris€™s most despicable resident. The first screen version of this classic, oft told tale is by far the most atmospheric. The incredible Lon Chaney, who was the horror genres first star, plays Quasimodo to great effect. The grotesque makeup effects are not only testament to the talent of their creators, but also to the cinematographer who lights Chaney in a dramatic fashion. This is one of the horror stalwart€™s defining performances and should be watched by everyone. The fact that it€™s free is simply a bonus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSZmHa8qi8&ob=av1n

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)

After creating a carnivorous plant, a young man is forced to kill in order to satisfy his creation€™s appetite€ From veteran horror director Roger Corman, this classic black comedy is a hoot! Whilst perhaps not as fondly remembered as its 1986 musical remake, this version is worth a watch if simply to see where it all began. It€™s also notable for being one of Jack Nicholson€™s breakout roles. Made in two days on the sets left over from another product, it is Corman€™s skill as a director that prevents the film from looking like a low budget, rush job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HABYchwBjcg&ob=av1n

Marijuana Menace (1937, aka Assassin of Youth)

A young heiress gets tangled up with a group of marijuana smokers and so begins her social decline. A young reporter goes undercover and infiltrates the gang in order to save the youth of the town from a fate worse than death: marijuana addiction! This film is utter tripe, but is equally fantastic as a piece of 1930s paranoia nostalgia! It€™s a great watch despite the awful acting and the extremely melodramatic plot, simply because it serves as an indication of the attitudes towards drug abuse at the time. Although I do not advocate drug use in any way, the lack of facts and the unashamed use of €˜scare tactics€™ are nothing short of comic genius in today€™s society! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsyc2kV-wdY&ob=av1n

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

When the dead rise from their graves with a taste for the living, a group of people must barricade themselves inside a rural farmhouse with the hopes of staying alive€ The original film about the undead, all I can really say is you NEED to watch this! With a host of imitations on offer (some good, some atrocious), the beginning is a necessary watch. Still extremely unnerving today, George A. Romero redefined horror cinema with Night of the Living Dead. He also successfully altered the definition of the term €˜zombie€™. Having previously referred to a living person under a voodoo spell, Romero€™s redefinition has obviously stuck. If you love zombie flicks, this is how it€™s done! Embed disabled, so click HERE to view.

Santa Fe Trail (1940)

Set in pre-Civil War America, this is the €˜true€™ story of Jeb Stuart, his love affair with the fictional Kit Carson Holliday and his friendship with George Custer and his battles with abolitionist John Brown. This, the seventh collaboration between Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland, is an epic attempt to look at the issues that lead to the American Civil War. With excellent performances from the aforementioned leads, the film is also interesting for those who wish to see what sort of actor Ronald Reagan was. Also interesting is Reagan€™s portrayal of Custer, an unyielding traditionalist who welcomed racism and prejudice €“ perhaps his role as such an individual fuelled his discriminatory Presidency later in life€ Directed by Michael Cutiz, famous for such gems as Casablanca (1942) and Mildred Pierce (1945), this is a well-made film that is definitely worthy of your time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKF9Cv7l13k&ob=av1e

Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

A musical biopic of Broadway pioneer Jerome Kern, the film features a host of 1940s stars performing hits from his biggest productions. Included are songs from €˜Showboat€™, as well as other classics such as €˜Ol€™ Man River€™, €˜A Fine Romance€™ and €˜Look for a Silver Lining€™. A great example of an MGM musical when they were at the height of their popularity. With performances from the likes of Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Kathryn Grayson, Dinah Shore and June Allyson, to name but a few. Forget Glee, forget High School Musical and Moulin Rouge, this film may not be the best example out there, but it€™s worth a watch to get a glimpse of how a musical was made during the genres heyday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRrokHMQVeg&ob=av1n With hundreds of other films available too, what are you still doing here!? So go on, hit up YouTube€even if none of the above take you€™re fancy, there really is something for everyone!
 
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