The Film That Was Lost

In more recent years, film preservation has become super-important. And, fortunately, due to the proliferation of many new preservation groups, tons of old and historically important films are being pieced together and are appearing on DVD. However, "The Film That Was Lost" is a short film that reminds us that film preservation has actually been a concern for some time.

"The Film That Was Lost" focuses specifically on the earliest films that have to do with our history. In other words, the entertainment angle is NOT discussed in the film but the preservation of important historical figures and events. You'll see a variety of old clips of the likes of Czar Nicholas II, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison, William Jennings Bryan and Queen Victoria--all of which are quite rare and fascinating. Naturally, the importance of preserving these clips is discussed as well as the work that is being done by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York in keeping these images for posterity.

By the way, even if you don't care for modern art, a trip to MoMA is well worth your time if you are New York City. A while back, I was able to see an old Laurel & Hardy Short ("Two Tars") and the full-length John Gilbert film "The Cossacks"--all accompanied by an organ in the lovely basement theater at MoMA. And, the two films looked about as nice as if they were brand new--thanks to the preservation work of these folks.

Film That Was Lost, The (1942)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Part of John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series, this entry takes a look at early film preservation. The movie takes a look at what MOMA must do in order to make sure so many parts of history are not lost forever. We get several examples of the films they're trying to save, which including many Edison films from the late 1890s and early 1900s. As someone who loves watching those type of films, this movie offered up a nice glimpse of how those films were looked at in 1942. It was rather funny hearing Nesbitt talking with great wonder about how those movies are still available for viewing and it make me smile considering the work done back then makes these movies available to view today. Footage of Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, King George V and Stalin is available here as well.

This episode of John Nesbitt's long-running PASSING PARADE shorts for MGM concerns a subject close the a filmmaker's heart: the film itself. Nesbitt talks about the fragility of nitrate films, and discusses the work that New York's Museum of Modern Art was doing, of preserving old films.

Of course, he gets some of the details wrong. For many a yer the legend of Edison's singular invention of the motion pictures was accepted, and he misdates some of the actualities -- which he calls 'newsreels' -- and claim date from 1897; the Lumieres had been doing them for longer than that.

But the message given is one that resonates even today. Very few people are like me,interested in these very old movies, but they provide a compelling glimpse into another world.