Name that fragment of a century-old forgotten silent film!
January 30, 2016 10:12 AM   Subscribe

Beneath glimmering chandeliers at an Art Deco movie house built into the side of a mountain, 150 silent-movie buffs sat wide-eyed as snippets from films lost decades ago lighted up the screen. Their quest: Name the film, or at least spot details that will advance the cause. The fans shouted clues as a piano player wearing an old-time parlor vest and a thick period mustache improvised jaunty scores. They scoured vintage magazines on their laptops, checked film databases on their tablets, and scrubbed their brains for odd bits of early 20th century cultural history. Every frame had the potential to unlock a secret.
posted by jason's_planet (7 comments total) 19 users marked this as a favorite
 
Did he really have the film negative of "The Day the Clown Cried," an unreleased Holocaust comedy that Lewis regretted making? Yes, Stone said, but the library agreed to not show the film for at least 10 years.

Burying the lede here, aren't we?
posted by the sobsister at 10:46 AM on January 30, 2016 [6 favorites]


This sounds so incredibly fun.
posted by Think_Long at 10:57 AM on January 30, 2016


The Day the Clown Cried? Lemme just make a reservation for 2026...
posted by Etrigan at 11:01 AM on January 30, 2016 [2 favorites]


Mostly Lost previously.
posted by Etrigan at 11:04 AM on January 30, 2016


This was cool. Many thanks!
In my next life, I want to be a film restorer.
posted by Thorzdad at 11:31 AM on January 30, 2016 [1 favorite]


This sounds like some kind of elaborate trap designed specifically to lure my dad
posted by theodolite at 11:51 AM on January 30, 2016 [7 favorites]


This sounds like an absolute blast.

"Chimpanzees show up often in silent movies, as do men in bowler hats." But of course.
posted by praemunire at 3:54 PM on January 30, 2016 [2 favorites]


« Older Tattooed Ceramic Ladies   |   Oh, Seattle! in comic form Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments