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Britflicks - The British Film Portal > British Film News > BFI Launches Nation-Wide Film Hunt  

British Film News: BFI Launches Nation-Wide Film Hunt

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BFI Launches Nation-Wide Film Hunt 

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BFI Long LIve Film 

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The BFI is launching a nation-wide hunt for 75 of its Most Wanted ‘lost’ films and offers audiences a rare opportunity to see a selection of the BFI National Archive’s recent discoveries.

 

Missing films have an aura about them, a mystery they accrue due to being unavailable and sought after. Lost titles such as Alfred Hitchcock’s The Mountain Eagle (1926) have become holy grails for film enthusiasts the world over. In 1992, the BFI compiled a list of titles called Missing Believed Lost, in a bid to track down elusive British films. Since then, 16 of them have found their way to the BFI National Archive; while not every discovery is a candidate for ‘masterpiece’ status, they nevertheless enable greater understanding of our film history and fill important gaps in the filmographies of some of our best directors.

 

We are very keen to find these films for the national collection. Some may exist in private collections, others might turn up in foreign archives, but the aim is to find as many as possible so it can continue to preserve and make available the nation’s film heritage.

 

The new project will take the form of an online resource at the BFI website, which describes the lost films using reviews, stills and original publicity materials. www.bfi.org.uk/mostwanted

 

In July and August, all the titles that have been unearthed since 1992 will be screened at BFI Southbank, plus some other rare films not seen in the UK for many years including Michael Powell’s His Lordship (1932) and Bella Donna (1934) directed by Robert Milton. In August, part two of the season will include new prints of The Constant Nymph (1928) and Emil and the Detectives (1935).

 

The Ten Most Wanted

 

The Mountain Eagle (Alfred Hitchcock, 1926)

Hitchcock's second film as director: the Most Wanted's most wanted

 

Two Crowded Hours (Michael Powell, 1931)

Michael Powell's first film: a "very good little murder drama"

Squadron Leader X (d. Lance Comfort, 1943)

Thrilling war escape drama directed by the recently re-evaluated Lance Comfort

 

Sleep is Lovely (d. David Hart, 1968)

Intriguing late-60s London-set kidnap-and-ransom drama from a director hailed as an 'English Godard'

 

Symptoms (d. Joseph Larraz, 1968)

Stylish cult 1970s horror about a disturbed female killer

 

Somewhere in Politics (d. John E Blakeley, 1948)

Knockabout comedy with madcap music hall star Frank Randle

 

The Last Post (d. Dinah Shurey, 1929)

The directorial debut of Britain's only 1920s female filmmaker

 

Linda (d. Don Sharp, 1960)

Teen drama from cult director Don Sharp, with Cathy Come Home's Carol White

 

A Study in Scarlet (d. George Pearson, 1914)

The immortal Sherlock Holmes takes his first bow in a British feature

 

Maria Marten or the Mystery of the Red Barn (d. Maurice Elvey, 1913)

True crime thriller - an early staging-post in British horror.

 

The 75 Most Wanted

 

The Mountain Eagle (Alfred Hitchcock, 1926)

Hitchcock's second film as director: the Most Wanted's most wanted

 

Two Crowded Hours (Michael Powell, 1931)

Michael Powell's first film: a "very good little murder drama"

 

Squadron Leader X (d. Lance Comfort, 1943)

Thrilling war escape drama directed by the recently re-evaluated Lance Comfort

 

Sleep is Lovely (d. David Hart, 1968)

Intriguing late-60s London-set kidnap-and-ransom drama from a director hailed as an 'English Godard'

 

Symptoms (d. Joseph Larraz, 1968)

Stylish cult 1970s horror about a disturbed female killer

 

Somewhere in Politics (d. John E Blakeley, 1948)

Knockabout comedy with madcap music hall star Frank Randle

 

The Last Post (d. Dinah Shurey, 1929)

The directorial debut of Britain's only 1920s female filmmaker

 

Linda (d. Don Sharp, 1960)

Teen drama from cult director Don Sharp, with Cathy Come Home's Carol White

 

A Study in Scarlet (d. George Pearson, 1914)

The immortal Sherlock Holmes takes his first bow in a British feature

 

Maria Marten or the Mystery of the Red Barn (d. Maurice Elvey, 1913)

True crime thriller - an early staging-post in British horror

 

Milestones (d. Thomas Bentley, 1916)

Ambitious family saga about several generations of shipbuilders

 

The First Men in the Moon (d. J.L.V. Leigh, 1919)

The first H.G. Wells film: pioneering sci-fi or campy nonsense?

 

The Amazing Quest of Mr Ernest Bliss (serial) (d. Henry Edwards, 1920)

A millionaire accepts a bet that he can't earn his own living

 

The Adventures of Mr Pickwick (d. Thomas Bentley, 1921)

Silent Dickens, described as "exceptionally good"

 

The Narrow Valley (d. Cecil Hepworth, 1921)

Pictorially beautiful romantic melodrama by Cecil M. Hepworth

 

Lily of the Alley (d. Henry Edwards, 1923)

Riotous missing-cash farce with Cockney housewives Gert & Daisy

 

Love, Life and Laughter (d. George Pearson, 1923)

An impoverished writer and aspiring chorus-girl have much in common

 

Woman to Woman (d. Graham Cutts, 1923)

A British dancer and French officer meet during WWI but are accidentally parted

 

Reveille (d. George Pearson, 1924)

Ambitious saga of post-WWI disillusionment from silent master George Pearson

 

Who is the Man? (d. Walter Summers, 1924)

Romantic melodrama with debutant John Gielgud as a tormented artist

 

London (d. Herbert Wilcox, 1926)

Melodrama in which Dorothy Gish's Limehouse waif is adopted by a rich woman

 

Mademoiselle from Armentieres (d. Maurice Elvey, 1926)

A Frenchwoman deceives the German army during WWI

 

The Arcadians (d. Victor Saville, 1927)

Victor Saville's directorial debut: a silent (!) adaptation of a popular stage musical

 

The Story of the Flag (d. Anson Dyer, 1927)

This survey of national symbols was Britain's first animated feature

 

Tiptoes (d. Herbert Wilcox, 1928)

Dorothy Gish and Will Rogers play penniless music-hall artistes

 

The Crooked Billet (d. Adrian Brunel, 1929)

Thriller regarded by Adrian Brunel as his best silent film

 

Lord Richard in the Pantry (d. Walter Forde, 1930)

Knockabout caper from leading comedy director Walter Forde

 

The School for Scandal (d. Maurice Elvey, 1930)

Sheridan classic headlined by Madeleine Carroll

 

Too Many Crooks (d. George King, 1930)

Laurence Olivier's first all-British film, about a playboy safecracker

 

Deadlock (d. George King, 1931)

Murder mystery: the first British talkie with a film-studio setting

 

A murderous twin gets his come-uppance in this twisted thriller

 

Hobson's Choice (d. Thomas Bentley, 1931)

First sound version of Harold Brighouse's stage warhorse

 

Lloyd of the C.I.D. (d. Henry MacRae, 1931)

Talkie serial pitting Scotland Yard's finest against 'The Panther'

 

Two Crowded Hours (d. Michael Powell, 1931)

 

Castle Sinister (d. Widgey R. Newman, 1932)

Mad Devon-based doctor attempts a brain transplant

 

Men of Tomorrow (d. Leontine Sagan, 1932)

Robert Donat's screen debut, by the director of Mädchen in Uniform

 

Counsel's Opinion (d. Alan Dwan, 1933)

A barrister is seduced by a widow posing as a lord's unfaithful wife

 

 

Yes Mr Brown (d. Jack Buchanan, Herbert Wilcox, 1933)

Comedy in which Jack Buchanan has to impress his new boss

 

Badger's Green (d. Adrian Brunel, 1934)

A contentious planning issue is resolved via a village cricket match

 

The Path of Glory (d. Dallas Bower, 1934)

Political satire that might have been Britain's answer to Duck Soup

 

To Be a Lady (d. George King, 1934)

Chili Bouchier's talking debut, as a country girl in the city

 

Murder at Monte Carlo (d. Ralph Ince, 1935)

Errol Flynn's screen debut: rival journalists chase a scoop

 

The Price of a Song (d. Michael Powell, 1935)

Michael Powell thriller with a song-publishing setting

 

The Public Life of Henry the Ninth (d. Bernerd Mainwaring, 1935)

Hammer's debut: a feelgood story about a street musician

 

Educated Evans (d. William Beaudine, 1936)

Max Miller comedy about a racing tipster turned social climber

 

The Man Behind the Mask (d. Michael Powell, 1936)

Michael Powell's last quota quickie: another melodramatic thriller

 

The Scarab Murder Case (d. Michael Hankinson, 1936)

Philo Vance proves that an archaeologist killed his brother

 

The Vulture (d. Ralph Ince, 1937)

Slapstick comedy about over-keen amateur detective Cedric Gull

 

The Viper (d. Roy William Neill, 1938)

Bumbling detective Cedric Gull in a sequel to The Vulture

 

Murder Will Out (d. Roy William Neill, 1939)

A rare Chinese jade triggers mysterious disappearances

 

The Good Old Days (d. Roy William Neill, 1939)

Max Miller costume comedy about an 1840s theatrical troupe

 

Dr O'Dowd (d. Herbert Mason, 1940)

Irish melodrama that was the young Peggy Cummins' film debut

 

This Man Is Dangerous (d. Lawrence Huntington, 1941)

A thrilling melodrama starring the dashing young James Mason

 

Deadlock (d. Ronald Haines, 1943)

A murderous twin gets his come-uppance in this twisted thriller

 

It's in the Bag (d. Herbert Mason, 1943)

Riotous missing-cash farce with Cockney housewives Gert & Daisy

 

Kiss the Bride Goodbye (d. Paul Stein, 1944)

Romantic melodrama about a woman with an interfering mother

 

Welcome Mr Washington (d. Leslie Hiscott, 1944)

Wartime caper about US soldiers in a sleepy English village

 

Flight from Folly (d. Herbert Mason, 1945)

Lively musical comedy showcase for stage star Pat Kirkwood

 

For You Alone (d. Geoffrey Faithfull, 1945)

Love-versus-duty romantic melodrama: a huge hit at the time

 

The World Owes Me a Living (d. Vernon Sewell, 1945)

An injured RAF pilot recalls life before and during WWII

 

But Not in Vain (d. Edmond T. Greville, 1948)

Anglo-Dutch WWII drama about a man's terrible moral choice

 

Bless 'Em All (d. Robert Jordan Hill, 1949)

Max Bygraves' screen debut: a boisterous army comedy

 

The Golden Madonna (d. Ladislao Vajda, 1949)

Phyllis Calvert goes to Italy in search of a lost painting

 

Double Confession (d. Ken Annakin, 1950)

Blackmail thriller whose stellar cast includes Peter Lorre

 

Hammer the Toff (d. Maclean Rogers, 1952)

Sequel to Salute the Toff in which our hero foils a master criminal

 

Salute the Toff (d. Maclean Rogers, 1952)

The first of two films showcasing John Creasey's upper-class sleuth

 

Small Town Story (d. Montgomery Tully, 1953)

Football-themed thriller with big-name cameos from the sporting world

 

Three Steps in the Dark (d. Daniel Birt, 1953)

A country-house will-reading is followed by murder

 

The Diamond (d. Montgomery Tully, 1954)

 

Alive on Saturday (d. Alfred Travers, 1957)

Mistaken-identity thriller involving communists and royalty

 

Second Fiddle (d. Maurice Elvey, 1957)

Lively comedy about gender relations in the workplace

 

Crosstrap (d. Robert Hartford-Davis, 1962)

Brutal, claustrophobic thriller from the director of Corruption

 

Farewell Performance (d. Robert Tronson, 1963)

Variety-theatre thriller enlivened by various Joe Meek pop acts

 

The Promise (d. Michael Hayes, 1969)

Three young Russians experience WWII and the space race

 

Nobody Ordered Love (d. Robert Hartford-Davis, 1972)

Filming of a WWI drama is interrupted by star misbehaviour

 

The Cherry Picker (d. Peter Curran, 1974)

Sexploitation comedy with Lulu heading an improbably starry cast

 

Where is Parsifal? (d. Henri Helman, 1983)

Bizarre comedy whose starry cast included Orson Welles

 

 

 

 

 

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BFI Website 
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Created at 11/07/2010 13:24  by John Baker 
Last modified at 11/07/2010 13:24  by John Baker 

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