Today's post is decorated with ads for the Noble
Theatre's March 1926 engagement of The Lost World. The Noble sat 1,100 and was
located in Anniston, Alabama. There were six theatres along Noble Street, for
which the house was named. The Lost World stayed in Anniston for three days, and a fresh ad was
prepared for each, proof again that showmanship thrived beyond urban sites (Anniston's
population in 1926 approximately 20,000). I'd be stating the obvious to say that silent
movie retrieval has become like archaeology, but where it comes to bones of The Lost World, the point just won't be overstated. Seems no sooner do they
put it out again that someone turns up yet more footage to bring The Lost World
closer to what crowds got in 1925. Fifty-four years is gone since I first got
glimpse of those dinosaurs on 8mm, versions to follow on 16mm, video cassettes,
laserdisc, DVD, and now Blu-Ray. Should they bury me with all this stuff, it'll
take a bigger hole, all of which raises question, how much is enough? No
complaint, of course, over what's dug up lately by Flicker Alley and
round-world archives, their Lost World longer and sharper than anything so far found.
How much more? Four nitrate reels to start, these surfaced since a last DVD (2004),
plus snips to flesh out dinosaur doings we can't get enough of. Add topping of High-Def
and it's wake-up for anyone who thought the book was closed on The Lost World, among
most essential silent era releases of a past several years.
A job like this shows nothing is impossible
along lost, then found, lines. For archivists devoted enough, there could be no
Lost World as a truly done project, so long as parts of its jigsaw still dot
the globe. We'd no more dismiss those than back off interior of an Egypt tomb
after finding its entrance. The Lost World is endorsement for co-op among
archives. Booklet essay by Serge Bromberg tells how disparate parts came
together, a purchase's worth by itself. Flicker Alley whetted flame of
anticipation with preview of its dinosaur gnawing a stark red
torch thrown by Lost World intruders, this application of the "Handschiegl"
hand-tint process. Not
just more narrative, but plenty more monsters, are here, Flicker Alley's the
Cambrian Explosion of fossil footage (highlight is a post-volcanic screenful of
dinos in panicked retreat, something we had but glimpse of before). There is no
better boost for silents excavation than this Blu-Ray. Flicker Alley has made fresh
sensation of elements long buried and forgot, proving finds from far back can seem
new again. If a next generation of silent era enthusiasm is to be birthed, here
may be its conception point. More of The Lost World at Greenbriar Archive:Two Lost Worlds --- Part One,A Lost Cleveland Theatre Presents The Lost World in 1925,Bronto-Socko Selling Of The Lost World in Oklahoma City.
Like you I can't get enough of THE LOST WORLD. I bought this immediately it became available and, yes, I too have all the rest. That's fine as I support people going the distance to retrieve stuff only a handful of us want. It is gorgeous.
This is where all the giant monster pictures loose in a city started. It's a genre that still reaps box office rewards when properly done. Bought the 3D version of JURASSIC PARK as well. Now there's a picture where the 2D to 3D conversion has been done right.
I have that. It is not only that this version is longer it is that it is also much better. The score for this version also hits the mark. The score on that version is fine if you want something that just barely will do.
6 Comments:
Like you I can't get enough of THE LOST WORLD. I bought this immediately it became available and, yes, I too have all the rest. That's fine as I support people going the distance to retrieve stuff only a handful of us want. It is gorgeous.
This is where all the giant monster pictures loose in a city started. It's a genre that still reaps box office rewards when properly done. Bought the 3D version of JURASSIC PARK as well. Now there's a picture where the 2D to 3D conversion has been done right.
Like all kids young and old I love dinosaurs.
I still have the version that came with Fox's remake (Jill St. John! Frosty the Poodle!). Ballpark, about how much longer is this one?
I have that. It is not only that this version is longer it is that it is also much better. The score for this version also hits the mark. The score on that version is fine if you want something that just barely will do.
Here is the trailer from FLICKER ALLEY plus more coverage on the restoration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw95217WFUs
https://www.flickeralley.com/how-the-lost-world-was-found/ .
The score has a wonderful Max Steiner full throttle feel to it. Not quite Steiner but exceptional in its own way. Lots of juice.
https://cinapse.co/the-lost-world-1925-the-lost-film-returns-on-a-stellar-new-blu-ray-from-flicker-alley-f09a624c0941.
Runtime is 110 minutes which is twice the length of the first version I saw.
Between this and Flicker Alley's Mack Sennett set, my principled resistance to blu-ray is fraying.
So it should. Best, Reg
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