ARE YOU THERE? (1930)

[drednm]

I know this has been discussed before but it's tough to search for such common words.... Originally a 90-minute film, Fox slashed 30 minutes (4 song numbers) before releasing film in Canada and England. It had a VERY limited release in US. There's a 23-minute (or so) version floating around but also reports of showings in the 60s and 70s at MoMA. Does MoMA then have a "complete" print of the 60-minute version? Or are we still talking about the 23-minute slash job? Anyone know?

[ajabrams]

I saw one of those MOMA screenings and it was the 60 minute version. As I recall, it probably would have played better in the original 90 minute version.

[Javier]

With Beatrice Lillie, time and technology has not been kind to her, I showed Thoroughly Modern Millie to one of my Nieces and ever since has become one of her favourite films, because of Mrs. Meers. Considering her small contribution to film, someone could make an effort to put them in a box set.

Are You There? is one film I have not seen, even in its truncated version, but I assume, something is better than nothing.
And if its a Fox film, it means the kiss of death when it comes to it being released on video.

So glad Paramount released the rights to Criterion for the Joseph Sternberg collection, and Fox releasing the Murnau, Borzage, and Fox Box set. I mention this because classic films tend to get lost when there is no monetary value in them.
Fox and Paramount are two studios I can think are guilty of. And Are You There? could be one of them.

Do you know why the 4 songs were slashed from the film? even "if" MoMA has the complete print why wouldn't they offer an explanation for it being excluded as such in their Archive inventory? Could the limited USA be the uncut version?

I do admit somehow asking the same questions as you, but as the Archives are not obligated to tell the extent of the film available, but it would help, because sometimes folks might have some footage in their personal possession, and donate it to make the film as close to the original as it was intended to be.

This might seem like a rant, but I have always wanted to see this film.

I know this has been discussed before but it's tough to search for such common words.... Originally a 90-minute film, Fox slashed 30 minutes (4 song numbers) before releasing film in Canada and England. It had a VERY limited release in US. There's a 23-minute (or so) version floating around but also reports of showings in the 60s and 70s at MoMA. Does MoMA then have a "complete" print of the 60-minute version? Or are we still talking about the 23-minute slash job? Anyone know?

[drednm]

According to the Barrios book, Fox slashed the 4 songs before release as other studios were likewise slashing musical numbers from films. I would assume those are lost. The 23-minutes remnant might ... MIGHT ... make sense within the context of the 60-minute film. The film may have been conceived as a series of random skits/numbers built around Lillie's private detective character, in which case there might not be any real context.

[ajabrams]

It's been awhile since I've seen it but as I recall, the 60 minute print seemed a bit "choppy" and unsatisfying. I think the extra musical numbers could have helped because the plot itself was on the weak side. My impression of the cut version was that it wasted Bea Lillie's talent and also that of George Grossmith, Jr. who was also a major theatrical star. However, we should be glad that, at least, this cut version exists because any Lillie performance is treasurable. I also recall that the print was in excellent shape.

[drednm]

I'd love to see the 60-minute version.....Lillie was one of a kind.

[Mike Gebert]

Well, I wouldn't count on a Beatrice Lillie box set, but TCM is showing five of her films on Monday, most notably On Approval and Exit Smiling.

[drednm]

The only seller claiming to have Are You There? is Loving the Classics, and yes they claim the 60-minute version. ANY TAKERS?

[Cinemantrap]

Loving the Classics confirmed to me that their DVD is the 23 min version when I challenged what they had. They have now corrected their description on their website. I have it on 16mm.

[drednm]

I wrote, asking them, never got a response.... 16MM of 60 minute version??

[Cinemantrap]

My 16mm is 23 minutes