ALIEN MOVIE CUSTOMS

Seeing a foreign film at Southeast Missouri State University is frill-free. No popcorn, no Raisinettes, no previews of coming attractions.

France, Germany and some Spanish-speaking countries have moviegoing traditions that depart from the American norm as well.

In France, where a night at the movies can last all evening, concessionaires roam the aisles instead of setting up shop in the lobby. And ice cream is the traditional food of film-watchers. "I've never seen a theater with popcorn," said Daniel MacLeay, associate professor of French at Southeast.

A typical French night at the movies includes news clips, cartoons and a documentary, with the feature film serving as the main event, MacLeay says.

In addition, older theaters still have ushers, a tradition that passed from U.S. movie houses in the '60s.

Popcorn isn't particularly popular in German movie houses either, says Richard Kump, an assistant professor of German at the university.

Candy bars, sodas and chewing gum are more standard fare.

While in Germany, the primary difference Kump encountered was the intermission invariably placed in the middle of every film.

Intermissions also are popular in Mexico, says Lynne Margolies, an assistant professor of Spanish at the university. But south of the border, the intermission appears near the end of the movie. "They'll stop it. Everybody goes and gets popcorn and they watch the last 20 minutes," Margolies said.