When I was mentioning most people have only see one pre-1939 film, I was specifically thinking of Snow White.
While I do not deny that movies of that era are often highly influential on later films, they do not lend themselves to modern watchability, because of the technical limitations of the medium at the time. Snow White being a notable exception because it was the literal first of its kind, and Disney has successfully restored and rereleased it decade after decade.
Largely I'm a believer that the merits of the film itself will lead to its preservation and often restoration and that preservation just for the sake of preservation isn't all that valuable a use of a limited resource.
I suppose I disagree since all the ones I listed I feel are entirely watchable for a modern audience. This modern audience of me (and the wife too) loved them.
While I do not deny that movies of that era are often highly influential on later films, they do not lend themselves to modern watchability, because of the technical limitations of the medium at the time. Snow White being a notable exception because it was the literal first of its kind, and Disney has successfully restored and rereleased it decade after decade.
Largely I'm a believer that the merits of the film itself will lead to its preservation and often restoration and that preservation just for the sake of preservation isn't all that valuable a use of a limited resource.