NitrateVille.com

I'm wondering if anyone knows the status of an American Film Company one reeler from 1915 called LET THERE BE LIGHT. A nitrate was known to exist in 2004 and I'm hoping it found a good home in an archive(?)

Dana wrote:I'm wondering if anyone knows the status of an American Film Company one reeler from 1915 called LET THERE BE LIGHT. A nitrate was known to exist in 2004 and I'm hoping it found a good home in an archive(?)

Hey Dana,

My information might be wrong but it is listed as a two reeler.

http://www.citwf.com/film196782.htm

This index usually has correct information.

Other pages just list a positive print in a private collection.

Sorry I can not be of more help on this one.

Pookybear

You're so right about the two reels. Wish I had a lead on the private collector.

As of 2009, the film was not listed in the FIAF database.

Dana wrote:You're so right about the two reels. Wish I had a lead on the private collector.

Dana,

Well that is a problem unless the collector just pops up and said I got it
right here there is no telling. It goes back to the root problem of owner
ship of nitrate stock and public safety and such. You know all the reasons
given by large institutions in order to seize collections you know to kindly
preserve under their over stretched and underfunded care. Now of
course these institutions are doing what has to be one of the largest and
hardest of tasks with what they have been given. Furthermore they
have done a pretty good job at it as well. However, they have gotten
into the mode of thinking that we (the institutions) are the only people
who can do this. And that is not right.

Sadly seizures have happened more than once in the past so most collectors
holdings will never be known. And it is sad to say that many titles that
are lost are just sitting there waiting for the day that laws are clear
enough for people to come forward.

Pookybear

Good points all. It's saddening - yet understandable - that some folks will hold back from bringing a film back into the public sphere via an archive. And I do recognize the concerns collectors can have, valid concerns. I suppose I'm just being a bit greedy wanting to share in the delight of seeing films live again, particularly films that aren't part of the standard line up. LET THERE BE LIGHT will never have any commercial appeal so waiting for a DVD release is pointless. I thought I'd just put it out here in hopes that the light would shine;)

Dana wrote:LET THERE BE LIGHT will never have any commercial appeal so waiting for a DVD release is pointless. I thought I'd just put it out here in hopes that the light would shine;)

Well Dana,

You never know about that one can hope. However, some of my run
ins with archives have not been pleasant, and in fact down right rude
on their part. But I tend to remember these things for a long time.
You know were my donation dollars end up going.

So unless the current owner has the cash to make a new viewing
copy. I personally do not hold much hope out for this to happen. As
I recall just materials are around 3.00 dollars a foot and archivest
do not work for free. A costly endevor in these hard times.

Pookybear

Hi,

I can confirm that I own an incomplete version of this film, most likely the copy referred to above, on Nitrate stock. It is currently stored at the British Film Institue (BFI) and I am attempting to get someone interested in rescuing this film but with little success...

Best wishes,

Ed

Ed Marchewicz wrote:Hi,

I can confirm that I own an incomplete version of this film, most likely the copy referred to above, on Nitrate stock. It is currently stored at the British Film Institue (BFI) and I am attempting to get someone interested in rescuing this film but with little success...

Best wishes,

Ed

Oh yes BFI,

Unless the film is on their short list of pet projects they are very hard
to work with(BFI).

And when you say incomplete how much is missing?

Pookybear

There is a LET THERE BE LIGHT, subject matter about Edison, released in Super 8 Sound from Blackhawk - Shorty

Shorty wrote:There is a LET THERE BE LIGHT, subject matter about Edison, released in Super 8 Sound from Blackhawk - Shorty

The Let There Be Light that was sold by Blackhawk was a compilation of Movietone newsreels of Thomas Edison.

John Huston also made a documentary entitled Let There Be Light (1946) about injured WWII soldiers.