For Classic Movie Fans

[Jet]

75 long-lost silent movies being returned to US



AP – WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A cache of 75 long-lost silent films uncovered in the New Zealand Film Archive vault, including the only known copy of a drama by legendary director John Ford, is being sent back to the United States to be restored.


Among the movies found in storage are a copy of Ford's "Upstream," the earliest surviving movie by comic actor and director Mabel Normand and a period drama starring 1920s screen icon Clara Bow. Only 15 percent of the silent films made by Ford, who won four Oscars, have survived. New Zealand Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said the find is important as there are no prints of the films remaining in the U.S.

"These important films will be preserved and made available to both U.S. and New Zealand audiences to enjoy," he told The New Zealand Herald newspaper Tuesday.


John Ford, 1942

Film Archive corporate services manager Steve Russell said the films were discovered when American preservationist Brian Meacham visited last year. Many of them remained in New Zealand because distributors at the time did not think the return shipping costs were worth the expense, he said.
"It's one of the rare cases where the tyranny of distance has worked in our and the films' favor," Russell said.

Finding "Upstream" was "a fabulous discovery, particularly for our American colleagues, but also for ourselves," he told The Associated Press.
Because they were printed on unstable and highly inflammable nitrate film stock, "there are very strict conditions when sending it by air," he added.
Returning the films will cost the U.S. National Film Preservation Foundation more than 750,000 New Zealand dollars ($500,000).

"We're having to ship in U.N.-approved steel barrels, a little bit at a time," said foundation director Annette Melville. "So far, we've got about one-third of the films, and preservation work has already begun on four titles."
"About a quarter of the films are in advanced nitrate decay, and the rest have good image quality, though they are badly shrunken," she added.
The late Ford's 1927 film "Upstream" was being copied onto safety stock in New Zealand to prevent further damage in transit.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hopes to screen the restored Ford movie in September, Melville said.
Copies of the films are to be made available in New Zealand through the Film Archive, and Russell said he expected a "premier" showing of "Upstream" would be arranged at some point.

Russell said that New Zealand Film Archive does not own the recovered movies, which acquired them from private donors and collectors who "have all agreed the original archive material should be returned to the U.S. for preservation work to be done."

Similar film repatriations have occurred with Australian and European archives, including the return to Germany of a nitrate print of the Fritz Lang silent masterpiece "Metropolis" to help in restoring a print of the late 1920s original, he said.

[Jet]

No comment on Marilyn.
Except...

[cinderella]

This is great news!! Hope TCM shows this soon.

Originally Posted by Jet

75 long-lost silent movies being returned to US



AP – WELLINGTON, New Zealand – A cache of 75 long-lost silent films uncovered in the New Zealand Film Archive vault, including the only known copy of a drama by legendary director John Ford, is being sent back to the United States to be restored.


Among the movies found in storage are a copy of Ford's "Upstream," the earliest surviving movie by comic actor and director Mabel Normand and a period drama starring 1920s screen icon Clara Bow. Only 15 percent of the silent films made by Ford, who won four Oscars, have survived. New Zealand Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said the find is important as there are no prints of the films remaining in the U.S.

"These important films will be preserved and made available to both U.S. and New Zealand audiences to enjoy," he told The New Zealand Herald newspaper Tuesday.


John Ford, 1942

Film Archive corporate services manager Steve Russell said the films were discovered when American preservationist Brian Meacham visited last year. Many of them remained in New Zealand because distributors at the time did not think the return shipping costs were worth the expense, he said.
"It's one of the rare cases where the tyranny of distance has worked in our and the films' favor," Russell said.

Finding "Upstream" was "a fabulous discovery, particularly for our American colleagues, but also for ourselves," he told The Associated Press.
Because they were printed on unstable and highly inflammable nitrate film stock, "there are very strict conditions when sending it by air," he added.
Returning the films will cost the U.S. National Film Preservation Foundation more than 750,000 New Zealand dollars ($500,000).

"We're having to ship in U.N.-approved steel barrels, a little bit at a time," said foundation director Annette Melville. "So far, we've got about one-third of the films, and preservation work has already begun on four titles."
"About a quarter of the films are in advanced nitrate decay, and the rest have good image quality, though they are badly shrunken," she added.
The late Ford's 1927 film "Upstream" was being copied onto safety stock in New Zealand to prevent further damage in transit.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hopes to screen the restored Ford movie in September, Melville said.
Copies of the films are to be made available in New Zealand through the Film Archive, and Russell said he expected a "premier" showing of "Upstream" would be arranged at some point.

Russell said that New Zealand Film Archive does not own the recovered movies, which acquired them from private donors and collectors who "have all agreed the original archive material should be returned to the U.S. for preservation work to be done."

Similar film repatriations have occurred with Australian and European archives, including the return to Germany of a nitrate print of the Fritz Lang silent masterpiece "Metropolis" to help in restoring a print of the late 1920s original, he said.

[waxnrope]

Originally Posted by cinderella

This is great news!! Hope TCM shows this soon.

would someone kindly let me know if and when these will be aired on the telly? I don't have a subscription ... I go to theater or buy the films ... there are hundreds ... but I do wish to see these, and will go to a friend's house to do so.

[Jet]

was Gloria Swanson supposed to be exaggerated? She gets on my last nerve even though I like Sunset Boulevard. What I like is William Holden, not her. is she supposed to be deliberate? or is that typical of Gloria Swanson?

[Venus007]

Originally Posted by Jet

was Gloria Swanson supposed to be exaggerated? She gets on my last nerve even though I like Sunset Boulevard. What I like is William Holden, not her. is she supposed to be deliberate? or is that typical of Gloria Swanson?

I think that is how her barking madness showed itself plus Norma Desmond was a silent film actress and the overacting was part of it. (My theory on it at least)

[waxnrope]

she certainly played a nutter in the film. her eyes were scary with madness.

[cinderella]

That goes to show what a talent she was! I am a huge fan of Norma...oops, I mean Gloria!! Lol, her character in Sunset Boulevard has become so identified and intermingled with her real persona, that one tends to confuse them - not sure how Miss Swanson would take that, but it is a credit to her acting ability.

Originally Posted by waxnrope

she certainly played a nutter in the film. her eyes were scary with madness.

[cinderella]

Venus, hi! So glad you're participating in the thread.

Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite films too. I own the film, never fail to watch it on TCM when it's on, and have lost count of the times I've seen it - must be at least 100 times, and that's a modest number!! My favorite part - because it's so poignant, and she does it soooo well, is the part early in the film when William Holden is in her bedroom, and he recognizes her and says: "I know you. You're Norma Desmond. You used to be big." and she replys as the camera comes in for a close-up: "I AM BIG, it's the PICTURES that got small!!!" Wow, what a line!!! Love it!!!

I have read Gloria Swanson's biography, and have seen clips of vids where she's interviewed (you can prob find them on YouTube.com)

Gloria Swanson was an international MEGA film icon in her day. Anything she did or said, or wore (she was a clothes-horse!), was BIG NEWS. She received thousands of fan mail weekly (just like in Sunset - only the mail was not 'faked'), and had a staff just for handling fan mail.

She started out her movie career as a Max Sennet 'bathing beauty' around the age of 15. She was indeed a SUPER STAR during the silent film era, and those clips you see of her in Sunset Boulevard are from a big hit she made in the 20's called Queen Kelly. So the dipiction of her as a 'has-been' in Sunset, was not too far from the truth for many a silent film star.

However, Gloria Swanson made a very good transition to the 'talkies', and appeared in many films way after the silent film was 'dead'. She had a great speaking voice, so the talkies, if anything, enhanced her career. As you may know, the 'talkies' ruined many a career of the big stars of the silents. So Gloria knew first-hand' what the talkies were all about, because many of her movie star friends' careers were over when the talkies came to town. Everyone thought it was just a passing fad back then, but the talkies were here to stay.

Originally Posted by Venus007

I think that is how her barking madness showed itself plus Norma Desmond was a silent film actress and the overacting was part of it. (My theory on it at least)

[cinderella]

No, my cinema comrade, Gloria was NOT like that. The exaggerated acting was indicative of the silent film era. Since there was no dialogue, emoting had to be very physical to show emotions. It had to be exaggerated so the public would 'know' what 'feelings' were being conveyed. (Also, in the silents, makeup tended to be very exaggerated as well. This also added to what sometimes appears as a bit grotesque or bizarre appearence of the characters.)That's why you see a lot of that in the silents. Some stars, i.e., Norma Shearer carried those exagerrated motions to the talking pictures. If you've seen The Women, you'll notice how she over-acts her role at times.

Originally Posted by Jet

was Gloria Swanson supposed to be exaggerated? She gets on my last nerve even though I like Sunset Boulevard. What I like is William Holden, not her. is she supposed to be deliberate? or is that typical of Gloria Swanson?

[Jet]

Triple Feature!!

SUDDENLY
THE DESPERATE HOURS!
RANSOM

[cinderella]

WHEN???? Those are 3 great flicks, comrade!

Originally Posted by Jet

Triple Feature!!

SUDDENLY
THE DESPERATE HOURS!
RANSOM

[Jet]

Triple Feature!

Ransom
Suddenly
Ths Desperate Hours!

[cinderella]

Jet, is this on today? I haven't checked the schedule?

Originally Posted by Jet

Triple Feature!

Ransom
Suddenly
Ths Desperate Hours!

[cinderella]

Lord, I've so many films on both DVD & VHS, and don't know what to watch. TCM seems dismal these days...wonder who the hell is doing the programming!

[Jet]

Originally Posted by cinderella

Jet, is this on today? I haven't checked the schedule?

no i just thought i'd mix them together

[Jet]

TCM REMINDER

Featured Actor for July
Gregory Peck

My personal favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird
The Paradine Case
The Big Country
Gentleman's Agreement

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by Jet

TCM REMINDER

Featured Actor for July
Gregory Peck

My personal favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird
The Paradine Case
The Big Country
Gentleman's Agreement

Well i know i can get TKAM at least! The book is having a big anniversary this year...i will cross my fingers on the others! Thank you!

[always2late]

Originally Posted by Jet

TCM REMINDER

Featured Actor for July
Gregory Peck

My personal favorites:

To Kill a Mockingbird
The Paradine Case
The Big Country
Gentleman's Agreement

I LOVE The Paradine Case! And, of course, To Kill a Mockingbird....both were on last night

[Jet]

Stanwyck and Suspense!

Sorry Wrong Number
Double Indemnity
The File on Thelma Jordon
Jeopardy
The Two Mrs. Carrolls