What does this sentence mean

[vkhu]

Hardly a man saw the film but was greatly moved by the spirit

Originally, this was a multiple choice question. My instructor said it's the word "but" but I don't understand the sentence.

[5jj]

Hardly a man saw the film but was greatly moved by the spirit

Originally, this was a multiple choice question. My instructor said it's the word "but" but I don't understand the sentence.

What was the question?

[vkhu]

Choose the best option:
Hardly a man saw the film............. was greatly moved by the spirit

A)but
B)who
C)whom
D)which

[TheParser]

Hardly a man saw the film but was greatly moved by the spirit

Originally, this was a multiple choice question. My instructor said it's the word "but" but I don't understand the sentence.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) I think that we recently had a wonderful discussion about this "but."

(2) If I remember correctly, this is an "old-fashioned" or very elegant way to say

"who ... not."

Hardly a person [Don't say "man." That hurts the feelings of our female members]

saw the film who was not greatly moved by the spirit."

(a) Maybe in more simple English, something like:

There was almost no one who was not greatly moved by the spirit of the film.