Did see a LOT of old movies at MOMA, but haven't gone that route in a very long time...too much of a hassle now.
Talking about old French movies...have you ever seen the THE 1927 Abel Gance silent "NAPOLEAN"? I did...with full symphony orchestra, when they were touring it, in the '80s. Now THAT was something else again and in spades!
Yes, I saw Napolean opening night at Radio City with Coppola’s orchestra (I imagine that’s the music you heard as well). Francis Ford C. got Abel Gance on the telephone in Paris and Ed Koch introduced it. Great night!
If you liked that, you’ll like this Les Miz. The director was clearly influenced by Abel Gance.