Let ‘Em Stretch Their Legs

I couldn’t agree more with Leslie T. Zador’s comments regarding intermissions for long films (“Filmgoers Need a Break During Very Long Fare,” Counterpunch, Dec. 29). They didn’t seem to ruin classics such as “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago” or “Around the World in 80 Days.” In fact, the end of Act I and the beginning of Act II of “Doctor Zhivago” were not only dramatic but very effective. I hope many readers respond to this article and many film directors consider returning to this policy. We need the “stretch.”

JOE DANFORD, Glendale

****

Leslie T. Zador has an honorable plea. To reinstate the intermission to films of lengthy running time would be terrific.

However, we now attend, almost exclusively, the multiplex. In the past, single screens could easily manage the crowd. One lobby, one audience, one screen. The problem of keeping track of wandering patrons inside a lobby which also serves other auditoriums and other crowds is a large one. Theater-hopping and lost ticket stubs add to the mayhem.

When we forfeit the single-screen theater, we compromise a bit of the romance of film going.

RICHARD KILROY, Los Angeles