MovieChat Forums > Mean Streets (1973) Discussion > When they go to the cinema...

When they go to the cinema...


Does anyone know if the films they watch were real movies or were they specially filmed (presumably by Scorcesse on a low budget) to be part of the movie? I just noticed we only ever see the segments from the films on full-screen rather than seeing them on a cinema screen with the audience also in the shot.
I think both of the little movie clips they are seen watching fit well thematically with the overall films, the first showing weightless, almost comical violence and second showing a man trying to wrestle free from a cackling seductive woman, and I was just curious wether anyone knows where they're from?

reply

They're real movies. The western with two guys fighting is The Searchers (one of Scorsese's favourite movies and widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made). Can't remember what the other one is off the top of my head but it's probably mentioned on the movie connections page on this site.





These are the only words I have, I'm stuck with them, stuck in them

reply

Thanks for the response, according to the movie connections the other film is 'The Tomb of Ligeia'

reply

I used to assume they were Scorsese's creation, particularly because of how low budget they seemed to be (no offense to The Searchers).

But yeah, it makes more sense to show real films.

reply

I think one of them was a Fellini movie, if I recall?

reply