Why do the credits run in the begining of older films?

Question

As we all know credits now run at the end of the movies, but "back in the day" they ran at the start of the film-- why?

Answer 1

If you watch older movies, you will notice that, even in the "bigger budget" movies the crew needed was much smaller than today's vast productions.

At some point, as credit lists got longer and longer, studio executives listened to audiences that complained about the length of these credits at the beginning of a movie, and moved them to the end.

In most studio moves today, only the main actors, and main production crew (cinematographer, editors, writers, producers, and director) are lised at the start of a film. the Director is ALWAYS listed last, just before the film really begins - though some films do have narration or action that is importatn to the story.

Answer 2

Because, you wont get up and walk out. Back then, you just payed good money to see a movie, put the credits at the beginning and you have a captured audiance. Now days no one stays to watch the credits. They just get up and leave. But to a dirctor, producers, actors and all the little people that make the movie the credits are just as important as the movie it's self and take it as a major insult when people don't stay until the END of the movie.

Answer 3

Because you just said "they are old"