75 'Lost' Films Found in New Zealand

The US National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) announced that some 75 silent-era films have been discovered in a New Zealand vault. Most of the films are complete, and the majority have the original color tints. Films of this era were printed on flammable nitrate, which is so volatile that it has been known to burst into flame when exposed to air! They are being shipped to America in special steel barrels.

One of the gems of the collection is the lost John Ford romance, Upstream. Ford went on to win four Oscars. Only about 15% of his silent-era films have surfaced, and he is thought to have made over 60. However, the NFPF reminds us that a lot of "lost" American films do still survive around the world. Most films of this time were destroyed in America after they ran in theaters, but they were distributed worldwide, and many countries saved their copies.

Some other gems include the trailer for John Ford's Strong Boy, another of his many lost silent-era films, and Maytime, featuring the original "It Girl," Clara Bow. Some of the films date back to 1898. All of these films are in the public domain.
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* The image above is of Clara Bow, the original "It Girl," and was found on www.clarabow.com, a fansite dedicated to the late actress, who died in 1965. Technically speaking, all images from the era in which this one was taken (1920s, possibly the 1930s [at the very latest]) are in the public domain. The Weirding fully respects the work archivists do, and credits our sources, even for "free" images, but must note that these images technically belong to no one and are free for the public to use, modify, and distribute.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010