MovieChat Forums > The White Shadow (1924) Discussion > Lost film?

Lost film?

posted 13 years ago by muzilon
17 replies | jump to latest

An incomplete print of this film has just turned up in New Zealand with the local media trumpeting that "no other copy of this movie is known to exist". But IMDB doesn't have it listed as a "lost" film and there's a "User Comment" here from someone who claims to have seen the film. What gives?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1074 2745

[–] rodriguez-julio 13 years ago

And at this time: 22 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 8.0 / 10

I see 3 options:
- the news is kind of sensationalism
- 22 lairs
- 22 Alfred Hitchcock fans, who don't need watching a film to rate it

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015493/ratings

[–] Atte_Peltonen 13 years ago

-I see a fourth one:
22 people of which at least some have actually seen the film when a copy still existed for viewing.

Beautiful women are invisible. We're so dazzled by the outside that we never make it inside.

[–] mr_spenalzo 13 years ago

Or option number 5:
22 people thought they were rating http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077101/

[–] poc-1 13 years ago

One day you will discover that people can actually say and write things that aren't true!

Crazy! Yes! It is called lying and it is lots of fun.

[–] mickeyone 13 years ago

The White Shadow, from 1923, is a melodrama starring Us actor Betty Compson as twin sisters – one good, one evil – and Clive Brook.

But don't you see? There are supposedly 6 reels in this film, only 3 of which have been found. But Hitchcock, for his very first effort in filmmaking, cleverly created this unrecognized masterpiece so that the first half exactly dramatically/cinematically fits into the 2nd half which is simply the first half in reverse, mirrored left-to-right and with the black and white exchanged. So that Betty Compson playing the good sister becomes Betty Compson playing the evil (and reverse-negative) sister in the 2nd half. Only Hitchcock would have the discipline, creative drive and technical know-how to be able to pull off a script where every actor's actions and words, would mean something not just realistic but meaningful to the plot when all these were played in reverse in the 2nd half (amazing to think what they did in those days to stay under budget). I'd love to see how Alfred makes his classic on screen appearance!

[–] QuarrellaDeVil 13 years ago

I'd love to see how Alfred makes his classic on screen appearance!

Wearing a boater hat, climbing a clock tower in the background.

I'm looking forward to seeing this one when they get the remains cleaned up and released.

[–] muzilon 13 years ago

Now, if they could just find the long-lost Mountain Eagle ...

[–] Zbigniew_Krycsiwiki 13 years ago

Or Mrs. Peabody/ number 13.

[–] muzilon 13 years ago

Number 13 was never completed as I recall.

[–] Zbigniew_Krycsiwiki 13 years ago

Number 13 was never completed as I recall.

That doesn't mean that we can't hope that the few scenes filmed will be located someday.

[–] mr_spenalzo 13 years ago

When I saw the headline "lost Hitchcock film found" my heart jumped, cos I thought they were talking about The Mountain Eagle. Was actually discappointed to find they weren't.

[–] muzilon 13 years ago

Ditto.

[–] Satan2016 13 years ago

Only two (of the 22) voters are over 45 and may have seen it. 7 are "top 1000" voters, likely IMDB trolls. Most voters just mistook this for another movie.

[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

Is it possible that some voters are actually way older than 45 and are honest about seeing this film but lying about their age? I didn't think so.

Anyway, at least the first three reels of this film are now going to be released on DVD, so I suspect the votes and comments in this board will soar soon.

[–] litmustest-648-564237 10 years ago

Available at www.robertsvideos.com

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] muzilon 9 years ago

Is is a complete or incomplete version?