7. Is it okay to ask whether a certain film still exists? (alt.movies.silent)
Description
This article is from the alt.movies.silent FAQ, by Rick Levinson Rick.Levinson@sympatico.ca and Emily Way emily@vex.net with numerous contributions by others.
7. Is it okay to ask whether a certain film still exists? (alt.movies.silent)
Tragically, about 80% of the films of the silent era no longer
exist. Many were lost in fires because of the volatility of nitrate
film stock; some were destroyed deliberately for their silver
content; some were just allowed to decompose. It's fine to post
and ask if a film survives. Someone will get back to you on it.
Bruce Calvert has pointed out that you can search the UCLA
Film and Television Archives' database online. Here is the
information he posted to the newsgroup:
Telnet to telnet://melvyl.ucop.edu/ . If you don't know how to do
that, just enter "telnet://melvyl.ucop.edu/" (without the quotation
marks) into your Web browser. If you've never used telnet before,
you may need to select the Terminal Menu->Preferences. Click on
local echo. Click on OK, and then enter VT100 for your terminal type.
Press RETURN.
You're in! Now you need to tell the system what you want to search.
Enter SET FORM VIDEO, FILM . This will look at videotapes, discs,
and film.
You can search on titles actors or directors. To search on a title,
type FIND TW . TW stands for title words. You don't have to put
every word in the title, but it helps. For example FIND TW DREAM
LOVE . (You can use lower case.)
I didn't find "Dream of Love" in the archive. Here's an example of
a film that does exist...
FIND TW PATHS TO PARADISE
Search request: FIND TW PATHS TO PARADISE (AND SETTING: FORMS
VIDEORECORDINGS, MOTION PICTURES) Search result: 1 record at all
libraries
Type HELP for other display options.
1. MOTION PICTURE
Paths to paradise / Famous Players-Lasky ; presented by Adolph
Zukor, Jesse L. Lasky ; director, Clarence Badger ; screenplay,
Keene Thompson. 1925. UCLA Film TV A1-3-1 Research Copy. Viewing
on premises only. Type EXP FTV ARCHIVE for viewing details
1 reel of 1 (ca. 2000 ft.) : si. ; 16 mm.$3safety
print.
This tells me that they have a 16mm print of the film. Other films
will have 35mm prints or negatives, VHS video tapes, or laserdiscs.
If you want to view the film, you'll have to go to Los Angeles.
If multiple entries are found, you can press D to start displaying
them, and RETURN to go to the next page.
To search on a directors name use "PA" for personal author. For example,
FIND PA KING VIDOR
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