In the days before television, VHS and DVD, not a lot of thought was given to film preservation. As such, the further you go back, the harder it is to find copies of certain films. There were a lot of films nominated during the 2nd Academy Awards that are either completely lost or unavailable in any consumable format.
Should any of these films become available, I promise to go back and review them.
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4 Devils (1928)
Nominated For: Best Cinematography (Ernest Palmer)
According to Wikipedia:
"The plot concerns four orphans (Anders Randolf, Barry Norton, Charles Morton, and Gaynor) who become a high wire act, and centers around sinister goings-on at a circus."
The film is sadly lost. Details are available on the DVD of Sunrise: A Tale of Two Humans.
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The Awakening (1928)
Nominated For: Best Art Direction (William Cameron Menzies)
Can't find much information on it, besides that it takes place in World War I. No known copy exists.
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The Barker (1928)
Nominated For: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Betty Compson)
Plot according to Turner Classic Movies:
"Nifty Miller, the greatest carnival barker in the world, sends his son, Chris, to law school in the hope that the boy will find in professional life a more settled and prosperous life than that of the sideshow. During one of his summer vacations, Chris finds work with the carnival, and Nifty breaks off his relationship with Carrie, a hula dancer who, seeking revenge for this slight, pays another carnival girl, Lou, to vamp the innocent boy; Lou, however, genuinely falls in love with Chris. When his father finds out that they are in love, Chris defiantly announces his intention to marry the girl. Seeing his ambitious plans for his son seemingly collapse, Nifty quits the carnival and turns to drink. He later finds out that Chris has returned to law school at Lou's urging. Offered a partnership in the carnival, Nifty returns to his former life as a barker."
Prints exist, but no VHS or DVDs
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The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1929)
Won: Best Art Direction (Cedric Gibbons)
Wikipedia on the novel the film was adapted from:
"It tells the story of several interrelated people who die in the collapse of an Inca rope-fiber suspension bridge in Peru, and the events that lead up to their being on the bridge. A friar who has witnessed the tragic accident then goes about inquiring into the lives of the victims, seeking some sort of cosmic answer to the question of why each had to die."
A part-talkie, part-silent film. The talkie portions are lost, and the remaining parts of the film are in storage and are unavailable.
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The Cop (1928)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Elliott J. Clawson)
Not much information on this film, a print might exist at the Library of Congress.
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The Divine Lady (1929)
Won: Best Director (Frank Lloyd)
Nominated For: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Corinne Griffith)
Best Cinematography (John F. Seitz)
The plot according to IMDb:
"A partly fictionalized account of history begins with the arrival of slatternly Emma Hart, a cook's daughter, at the home of Charles Greville. Greville takes her as his lover and grooms her until their relationship becomes an inconvenience. Greville then dupes Emma into traveling to Naples to live with his uncle, Lord Hamilton, ambassador to the court at Naples. Realizing that Greville has abandoned her, Emma agrees to marry Lord Hamilton. Soon, however, she meets Admiral Horatio Nelson of the British Navy. Emma plays a crucial role in convincing Naples to open its ports to Nelson during his campaign against Napoleon's French fleet. Soon, Emma and the married Nelson become romantically involved -- a relationship which will have consequences for them both."
Prints exist, and it's aired on Turner Classic Movies a few times. Possible review in the future.
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Drag (1929)
Nominated For: Best Director (Frank Lloyd)
Plot according to Turner Classic Movies:
"Young David Carroll takes over the publication of a local Vermont newspaper. Although he is attracted to Dot, "the most sophisticated girl in town," he marries Allie Parker, daughter of the couple who run the boardinghouse where he lives. Inseparable from her parents, Allie remains at home when David goes to New York City to sell a musical he has written. There, Dot, now a successful costume designer, uses her influence to get David's play produced. David and Dot fall in love, but she leaves for Paris when David indicates he will remain true to Allie. He sends for Allie; but when she arrives with her whole family, he decides to follow Dot to Paris."
Prints seem to exist, not much information beyond that.
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Dynamite (1929)
Nominated For: Best Art Direction (Mitchell Leisen)
The plot, according to IMDb:
"Wealthy Cynthia is in love with not-so-wealthy Roger, who is married to Marcia. The threesome is terribly modern about the situation, and Marcia will gladly divorce Roger if Cynthia agrees to a financial settlement. But Cynthia's wealth is in jeopardy because her trust fund will expire if she is not married by a certain date. To satisfy that condition, Cynthia arranges to marry Hagon Derk, who is condemned to die for a crime he didn't commit. She pays him so he can provide for his little sister. But at the last minute, Derk is freed when the true criminal is discovered. Expecting to be a rich widow, Cynthia finds herself married to a man she doesn't know and doesn't want to."
The film is in rotation on Turner Classic Movies, but no VHS or DVD is available. A possible review coming in the future.
---
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1929)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Hanns Kräly)
The plot according to IMDb:
"There is a big charity function at the house of Mrs. Cheyney and a lot of society is present. With her rich husband, deceased, rich old Lord Elton and playboy Lord Arthur Dilling are both very interested in the mysterious Fay. Invited to the house of Mrs. Webley, Fay is again the center of attention for Arthur and Elton with her leaning towards stuffy old Elton. When Arthur sees Charles, Fay's Butler, lurking in the gardens, he remembers that Charles was a thief caught in Monte Carlo and he figures that Fay may be more interested in the pearls of Mrs. Webley, which she is. After Fay takes the pearls, but before she can toss them out the window, she is caught by Arthur who is very disappointed in how things are turning out."
Prints seem to be available, but no VHS or DVD copies.
---
The Leatherneck (1929)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Elliott J. Clawson)
Can't find much information. If prints are available, there isn't any VHS or DVD copies.
---
Madame X (1929)
Nominated For: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ruth Chatterton)
Best Director (Lionel Barrymore)
Plot according to IMDb:
"Thrown out of her home by a jealous husband, a woman sinks into degradation. Twenty years later, she is charged with killing a man bent on harming her son. The son, unaware of who the woman is, takes the assignment to defend her in court."
Prints exist, will probably review in the future.
---
The Patriot (1928)
Won: Best Writing, Achievement (Hanns Kräly)
Nominated For: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Lewis Stone)
Best Art Direction (Hans Dreier)
Best Director (Wrnst Lubitsch)
Best Picture
The tag line according to IMDb:
"These Characters Will Fascinate You! EMIL JANNINGS - Cruel, brutal, but also pathetic. The mad Czar who holds all Russia in his tyrannical grasp. FLORENCE VIDOR - An exotic beauty of the court. The Czar's favorite! Betrayed by her lover, she becomes a thorn in the hands of the conspirators! LEWIS STONE - Prime Minister and trusted friend of the mad Czar, who conspires against the monster ruler of Russia. NEIL HAMILTON - Heir to the throne. Worshipped by the Russians. The only man who can hold the government from self-destruction."
This film is very, very lost. Chances of finding it are 0 to nil. It is the only Best Picture nominee for which no complete or near-complete copy exists.
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Sal of Singapore (1928)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Elliott J. Clawson)
Not much information. A print supposedly exists at UCLA.
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Skyscraper (1928)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Elliott J. Clawson)
The plot according to Turner Classic Movies:
"Blondy and Slim, buddies, are high steel workers. Blondy falls and is seriously injured while attempting to rescue Slim. As a result of his injury he can no longer work, and he falls into a reclusive depression. Only after his friend pretends to be interested in his sweetheart does he recover his spirit and become well again."
Not much information on availablity.
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Thunderbolt (1929)
Nominated For: Best Actor in a Leading Role (George Bancroft)
Plot according to IMDb:
"A criminal known as Thunderbolt is imprisoned and facing execution. Into the next cell is placed Bob Morgan, an innocent man who has been framed and who is in love with Thunderbolt's girl, without knowing of their relationship. Thunderbolt hopes to stave off the execution long enough to kill young Morgan for romancing his girl."
Not much information on availability.
---
The Valiant (1929)
Nominated For: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Muni)
Best Writing, Achievement (Tom Barry)
The plot according to Wikipedia:
"The play's plot is actually quite convoluted. The basic story of the plot is that a half an hour before a murderer's execution, the Warden and the Prison Chaplain attempt to discern the prisoner's identity. He meets his long lost sister, although the end is slightly ambiguous if one is not paying attention. The play ends with the exit of the murderer, the Chaplain and the Warden."
Prints exist only in private collections.
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Weary River (1929)
Nominated For: Best Director (Frank Lloyd)
Plot according to Turner Classic Movies:
"Bootlegger Jerry Larrabee is framed by a rival gangster and is sent to prison, where he comes under the kindly influence of the warden. Jerry turns to music and forms a prison band, broadcasting over the radio. Radio listeners are deeply moved by his singing, and Jerry wins an early parole. He goes into vaudeville and quickly flops; he then moves from job to job, haunted by the past. Forced at last to return to his old gang, Jerry takes up with his former sweetheart, Alice. She gets in touch with the warden, who arrives on the scene in time to keep Jerry on the straight and narrow path. Jerry eventually becomes a radio star and marries Alice."
Prints exist, may review in the future.
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Wonder of Women (1929)
Nominated For: Best Writing, Achievement (Bess Meredyth)
The really short synopsis from IMDb:
"A German pianist is going to break up with his unfaithful wife, when he receives the message that his favourite stepchild has died."
Despite a rumor of a laserdisc existing at UCLA, this film is pretty lost.
Showing posts with label lost films. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lost films. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Lost Films: 1st Academy Awards
In the days before television, VHS and DVD, not a lot of thought was given to film preservation. As such, the further you go back, the harder it is to find copies of certain films. There were a lot of films nominated during the 1st Academy Awards that are either completely lost or unavailable in any consumable format.
Should any of these films become available, I promise to go back and review them.
---
The Devil Dancer (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Cinematography (George Barnes)
Lost film, very little information on it. According to TCM, here's the plot:
"Takla, a white orphan brought up and kept captive in a Himalayan monastery, is rescued by Althestan, an adventurous Englishman who falls in love with her. His sister, displeased with her brother's choice, arranges to have Takla kidnaped. Althestan searches for her and eventually finds her with a troupe of itinerant Muslim entertainers."
---
Gilbert Roland as Johnny Powell in "The Dove"
The Dove (1927)
WON: Best Art Direction (William Cameron Menzies)
Only four reels out of nine of this film exist. You can find them at the Library of Congress. According to Wikipedia:
"Based on a play by Willard Mack, the original story is about a Mexican despot (played by [Noah] Beery), who falls in love with a dancing girl (played by [Norma] Talmadge), who rejects him. Due to the political repercussions of condemning Mexico, it was decided to relocate the plot to some anonymous Mediterranean country."
---
Glorious Betsy (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Writing, Adaptation (Anthony Coldeway)
A partial sound film. Prints exist at Library of Congress, but some of the sound is missing. According to Wikipedia:
"The film is a semi-historical narrative and depicts the real-life courtship, marriage, and forced breakup of Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and his wife from the American south, Elizabeth Patterson. Napoleon did not approve of the union (despite the fact that her family was one of the wealthiest in America) and the marriage was annulled. Jerome was subsequently forced to marry Catharina of Württemberg. They had one child, depicted in the movie, Jérôme Napoleon Bonaparte. In order to provide a "happy ending", Jerome in the film leaves France to be with his wife. However, in historical fact he remained in Europe."
---
Vilma Banky as Bianca in The Magic Flame (1927)
The Magic Flame (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Cinematography (George Barnes)
Only five of the original eleven reels exist, and they're stored in the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House Archives. Here's the plot via TCM:
"Bianca, the aerial star of Baretti's circus, loves Tito, the clown, and resents the advances of the handsome Crown Prince of Illyria, who poses as Count Cassati. The prince pursues the wife of a neighboring squire and kills her husband when he discovers them together. Maddened by Bianca's refusals, the prince lures her to his hotel with a forged letter, but she drops from the window, using her gymnastic skill to escape. Tito comes to her aid and in a struggle with the prince casts him from the window into the sea. Bearing a striking resemblance to the prince, Tito assumes his identity and thus evades prosecution. Believing Tito to have been killed by the prince, Bianca leaves the circus to seek vengeance. During the coronation, she is about to assassinate the "prince" when he reveals his identity, and together they escape to the circus."
Here's a copy of the New York Times review of the film that goes into more detail, via a Vilma Bank fansite.
And if you want to go even MORE into detail, here's a novelization of the film, translated from a French magazine.
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The Noose (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Barthelmess)
Prints exist, one at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
---
Richard Barthelmess in The Patent Leather Kid
The Patent Leather Kid (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Barthelmess)
Prints exist. According to Wikipedia:
"[The film] tells the story of a boxer who scoffs at fighting outside the ring... particularly for the United States once it enters World War I. Eventually, he is drafted, is shipped overseas, and performs a heroic act, which results in his being severely wounded."
---
Lewis Stone and Maria Corda in The Private Life of Helen of Troy
The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Writing, Title Writing (Gerald C. Duffy)
About a half hour of this film exists at British Film Institute archives. Based on the novel by John Erskine.
---
A Ship Comes In (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Louise Dresser)
Very little information. Prints seem to exist, but I have no idea where.
---
Sorrell and Son (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Director, Dramatic Picture (Herbert Brenon)
Long thought lost, a partially restored can be found at Academy Film Archive. The film was remade twice, once in 1934 and again in 1984. The plot according to IMDb:
"Stephen Sorrell, a decorated war hero, raises his son Kit alone after Kit's mother deserts husband and child in the boy's infancy. Sorrell loses a promising job offer and is forced to take work as a menial. Both his dignity and his health are damaged as he suffers under the exhausting labor and harsh treatment he receives as a hotel porter. But Sorrell thrives in the knowledge that his son will benefit from his labors. Sorrell has allowed the boy to believe his mother dead, but when the mother shows up, wanting to re-enter the young man's life, Sorrell must make hard decisions."
---
William Boyd, Mary Astor and Louis Wolheim in Two Arabian Knights
Two Arabian Knights (1927)
WON: Best Director, Comedy Picture (Lewis Milestone)
Long considered lost, a complete print was recently found and aired on Turner Classic Movies. There's a good chance I'll get to review this one in the future. Plot according to IMDb:
"Two American soldiers are captured by the Germans on the Western Front during World War One and escape a POW camp only to stumble into further life-threatening adventures when they come across an Arabian king's daughter while on the lam."
---
Evelyn Brent and George Bancroft in Underworld
Underworld (1927)
WON: Best Writing, Original Story (Ben Hecht)
This film still exists, but isn't available on DVD, and I haven't been able to find a copy of the VHS. It still gets screened at museums occasionally. I'll probably be able to review this in the near future. The plot according to IMDb:
"'Nobody helps me -- I help them!' boasts open-handed gangster Bull Weed, handing over what will prove to be the best investment in his high-spending career: a thousand dollars that will put the literate 'Rolls Royce' of vagrants back on his feet. Living it up in the Twenties with the aid of cool but smouldering moll Feathers, the Bull lords it over the law and his rivals alike -- specifically big Buck Mulligan, whose floral-tributes business echoes that of a certain real-life Chicago gangster... Yet Feathers, prize possession and object of envy, proves his weak point; and in the end, Bull Weed will indeed come to need help from others, and more than he has ever needed it before. But can Rolls Royce and Feathers still give it to him? And will the Bull accept?"
---
The Way of All Flesh (1927)
WON: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Emil Jannings)
This film is lost. It was remade in 1940. Here's the plot of the 1940 version according to IMDb:
"Paul Kriza is a cashier of a bank in a small town, and the happy husband of Anna and the father of four children. He is sent to New York to deliver some securities for the bank. There, he is tagged as easy-pickings by a con-game gang and Mary Brown, gang accomplice, proves he is. Waking up in the morning he discovers he has been robbed of the securities and, when he confronts the gang, he is hit on the head and taken out to be left on a railroad track. He comes to, struggles with the henchman and the man is killed when a train comes roaring by. Paul escapes but his watch is found and he is reported as the dead man. But he can't go home again."
Here is my review of The Last Command, the other film that won Emil Jannings the Oscar.
Should any of these films become available, I promise to go back and review them.
---
The Devil Dancer (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Cinematography (George Barnes)
Lost film, very little information on it. According to TCM, here's the plot:
"Takla, a white orphan brought up and kept captive in a Himalayan monastery, is rescued by Althestan, an adventurous Englishman who falls in love with her. His sister, displeased with her brother's choice, arranges to have Takla kidnaped. Althestan searches for her and eventually finds her with a troupe of itinerant Muslim entertainers."
---
Gilbert Roland as Johnny Powell in "The Dove"
The Dove (1927)
WON: Best Art Direction (William Cameron Menzies)
Only four reels out of nine of this film exist. You can find them at the Library of Congress. According to Wikipedia:
"Based on a play by Willard Mack, the original story is about a Mexican despot (played by [Noah] Beery), who falls in love with a dancing girl (played by [Norma] Talmadge), who rejects him. Due to the political repercussions of condemning Mexico, it was decided to relocate the plot to some anonymous Mediterranean country."
---
Glorious Betsy (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Writing, Adaptation (Anthony Coldeway)
A partial sound film. Prints exist at Library of Congress, but some of the sound is missing. According to Wikipedia:
"The film is a semi-historical narrative and depicts the real-life courtship, marriage, and forced breakup of Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and his wife from the American south, Elizabeth Patterson. Napoleon did not approve of the union (despite the fact that her family was one of the wealthiest in America) and the marriage was annulled. Jerome was subsequently forced to marry Catharina of Württemberg. They had one child, depicted in the movie, Jérôme Napoleon Bonaparte. In order to provide a "happy ending", Jerome in the film leaves France to be with his wife. However, in historical fact he remained in Europe."
---
Vilma Banky as Bianca in The Magic Flame (1927)
The Magic Flame (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Cinematography (George Barnes)
Only five of the original eleven reels exist, and they're stored in the International Museum of Photography and Film at George Eastman House Archives. Here's the plot via TCM:
"Bianca, the aerial star of Baretti's circus, loves Tito, the clown, and resents the advances of the handsome Crown Prince of Illyria, who poses as Count Cassati. The prince pursues the wife of a neighboring squire and kills her husband when he discovers them together. Maddened by Bianca's refusals, the prince lures her to his hotel with a forged letter, but she drops from the window, using her gymnastic skill to escape. Tito comes to her aid and in a struggle with the prince casts him from the window into the sea. Bearing a striking resemblance to the prince, Tito assumes his identity and thus evades prosecution. Believing Tito to have been killed by the prince, Bianca leaves the circus to seek vengeance. During the coronation, she is about to assassinate the "prince" when he reveals his identity, and together they escape to the circus."
Here's a copy of the New York Times review of the film that goes into more detail, via a Vilma Bank fansite.
And if you want to go even MORE into detail, here's a novelization of the film, translated from a French magazine.
---
The Noose (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Barthelmess)
Prints exist, one at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
---
Richard Barthelmess in The Patent Leather Kid
The Patent Leather Kid (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Richard Barthelmess)
Prints exist. According to Wikipedia:
"[The film] tells the story of a boxer who scoffs at fighting outside the ring... particularly for the United States once it enters World War I. Eventually, he is drafted, is shipped overseas, and performs a heroic act, which results in his being severely wounded."
---
Lewis Stone and Maria Corda in The Private Life of Helen of Troy
The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Writing, Title Writing (Gerald C. Duffy)
About a half hour of this film exists at British Film Institute archives. Based on the novel by John Erskine.
---
A Ship Comes In (1928)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Louise Dresser)
Very little information. Prints seem to exist, but I have no idea where.
---
Sorrell and Son (1927)
NOMINATED FOR: Best Director, Dramatic Picture (Herbert Brenon)
Long thought lost, a partially restored can be found at Academy Film Archive. The film was remade twice, once in 1934 and again in 1984. The plot according to IMDb:
"Stephen Sorrell, a decorated war hero, raises his son Kit alone after Kit's mother deserts husband and child in the boy's infancy. Sorrell loses a promising job offer and is forced to take work as a menial. Both his dignity and his health are damaged as he suffers under the exhausting labor and harsh treatment he receives as a hotel porter. But Sorrell thrives in the knowledge that his son will benefit from his labors. Sorrell has allowed the boy to believe his mother dead, but when the mother shows up, wanting to re-enter the young man's life, Sorrell must make hard decisions."
---
William Boyd, Mary Astor and Louis Wolheim in Two Arabian Knights
Two Arabian Knights (1927)
WON: Best Director, Comedy Picture (Lewis Milestone)
Long considered lost, a complete print was recently found and aired on Turner Classic Movies. There's a good chance I'll get to review this one in the future. Plot according to IMDb:
"Two American soldiers are captured by the Germans on the Western Front during World War One and escape a POW camp only to stumble into further life-threatening adventures when they come across an Arabian king's daughter while on the lam."
---
Evelyn Brent and George Bancroft in Underworld
Underworld (1927)
WON: Best Writing, Original Story (Ben Hecht)
This film still exists, but isn't available on DVD, and I haven't been able to find a copy of the VHS. It still gets screened at museums occasionally. I'll probably be able to review this in the near future. The plot according to IMDb:
"'Nobody helps me -- I help them!' boasts open-handed gangster Bull Weed, handing over what will prove to be the best investment in his high-spending career: a thousand dollars that will put the literate 'Rolls Royce' of vagrants back on his feet. Living it up in the Twenties with the aid of cool but smouldering moll Feathers, the Bull lords it over the law and his rivals alike -- specifically big Buck Mulligan, whose floral-tributes business echoes that of a certain real-life Chicago gangster... Yet Feathers, prize possession and object of envy, proves his weak point; and in the end, Bull Weed will indeed come to need help from others, and more than he has ever needed it before. But can Rolls Royce and Feathers still give it to him? And will the Bull accept?"
---
The Way of All Flesh (1927)
WON: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Emil Jannings)
This film is lost. It was remade in 1940. Here's the plot of the 1940 version according to IMDb:
"Paul Kriza is a cashier of a bank in a small town, and the happy husband of Anna and the father of four children. He is sent to New York to deliver some securities for the bank. There, he is tagged as easy-pickings by a con-game gang and Mary Brown, gang accomplice, proves he is. Waking up in the morning he discovers he has been robbed of the securities and, when he confronts the gang, he is hit on the head and taken out to be left on a railroad track. He comes to, struggles with the henchman and the man is killed when a train comes roaring by. Paul escapes but his watch is found and he is reported as the dead man. But he can't go home again."
Here is my review of The Last Command, the other film that won Emil Jannings the Oscar.
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