Page 1 of 1

Lewis Milestone's feature film debut has been found

Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 2:05 pm
by Rollo Treadway
(via Flicker Alley!)

http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertain ... 7334638790

Image

A SILENT film star who died young of alcoholism, a dashing leading man who starred with Marlene Dietrich, a millionaire backer and a director who went on to win two Academy Awards. These are the secrets of the film Seven Sinners, which was thought by Hollywood to be lost.

Until now. The silent film was recently discovered in Queensland by two film enthusiasts, and it has now been returned to Hollywood — which is thrilled with the rare find.

Made in 1925, the crime caper is the much-sought-after first feature by acclaimed director Lewis Milestone, who was awarded an Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front. It was produced by multimillionaire businessman, producer, director and aviator Howard Hughes.

Joel Archer, 27, from Brisbane, who runs Golden Oldies, a service that screens old movies for seniors, discovered the film in the collection of silent film lover Ron West, former owner of the Majestic Theatre in Pomona on the Sunshine Coast.

“The reason it’s so exciting is Milestone went on to become a very well-known Hollywood director,” Archer said.

“The majority of his films have survived, but his first film never has, so we’ve got the only access in the world to that film.”

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Mon May 04, 2015 5:21 pm
by Gagman 66
:o Wow! They had better see if this collector has Lubitsch KISS ME AGAIN as well? Or how about a complete 35 millimeter print of THE SEA BEAST? Now can we get an update on NAUGHTY BUT NICE?

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 1:20 pm
by _Devoid_
OUTSTANDING news! It looks well-preserved too

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 12:28 am
by Changsham
According to the article, Seven Sinners will be restored by Warner's and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science for a premiere next year and then to be released on DVD. Glad this film did not fall into the hands of hoarders and exclusionists.

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 5:15 am
by R Michael Pyle
I'm in line for the DVD! Love the 1936 version with Edmund Lowe. And I'm a Clive Brook fan, besides!

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 9:44 am
by Gaucho
Brilliant news!

Who knew there was a Pomona down-under?!

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 1:48 pm
by sepiatone
hey Rollo thanks, I love that still of Marie disappearing into the grandfather clock. There's a similar still of Barrymore doing the same thing in "Raffles"(1917), but no such scene is in that film. A little correction it would seem that "Seven Sinners" is LM's first directorial effort for Warner Brothers. He seems to have directed earlier films in 1918.

Re: Lewis Milestone's debut film has been found

Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 6:14 am
by Rollo Treadway
sepiatone wrote:A little correction it would seem that "Seven Sinners" is LM's first directorial effort for Warner Brothers. He seems to have directed earlier films in 1918.
Yes, but the press release correctly states that Seven Sinners is his feature film debut. Those earlier films were all short subjects.

PS. But I see the heading of my post was slightly misleading ... Duly amended!