- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,794
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
This is just mearly a teaser for something
in the works....
On Monday, I had the opportunity to spend
an entire day with Film Preservationist
Robert Harris, who has been compiling
missing footage from Stanley Kramer's It's
A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, to present
to MGM in hopes that they will fund a total
new restoration.
I am working on a full-blown story of my visit,
complete with pictures that I think you'll
find very interesting.
One of the most startling photos you will see
is of an entire reel that has been ruined due
to storage neglect. The reel is warped, reaking
of a vinegar-like odor, and easily crumbled to
the touch. 90% of all the extra footage for this
film is close to being forever extinct. If MGM
does not fund a restoration THIS YEAR, it can never
be done and the footage will be lost forever.
Although I am going to save most of the details
of my visit for the upcoming story I am working
on, I do want to say that I heard audio footage
that has not been heard by more than a handful of
people since 1963. This audio footage includes
a sequence where Captain Culpepper (Spencer Tracy)
is talking to Jimmy the Crook (Buster Keaton).
The film portion is missing, but Harris is still
optimistic it will be found.
I also heard the infamous "Radio Calls" sequence
that played in theater lobbies during intermission.
This also has not been heard by anyone since the
film's premier. It's an amazingly funny piece of
audio footage, and if MGM funds this restoration,
all of you will have the opportunity to hear it for
yourselves.
I am in the process of starting this lengthly
article, which includes a Q&A with Robert Harris
on all the aspects of his MAD WORLD quests. I
hope to have the article up by week's end.
in the works....
On Monday, I had the opportunity to spend
an entire day with Film Preservationist
Robert Harris, who has been compiling
missing footage from Stanley Kramer's It's
A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, to present
to MGM in hopes that they will fund a total
new restoration.
I am working on a full-blown story of my visit,
complete with pictures that I think you'll
find very interesting.
One of the most startling photos you will see
is of an entire reel that has been ruined due
to storage neglect. The reel is warped, reaking
of a vinegar-like odor, and easily crumbled to
the touch. 90% of all the extra footage for this
film is close to being forever extinct. If MGM
does not fund a restoration THIS YEAR, it can never
be done and the footage will be lost forever.
Although I am going to save most of the details
of my visit for the upcoming story I am working
on, I do want to say that I heard audio footage
that has not been heard by more than a handful of
people since 1963. This audio footage includes
a sequence where Captain Culpepper (Spencer Tracy)
is talking to Jimmy the Crook (Buster Keaton).
The film portion is missing, but Harris is still
optimistic it will be found.
I also heard the infamous "Radio Calls" sequence
that played in theater lobbies during intermission.
This also has not been heard by anyone since the
film's premier. It's an amazingly funny piece of
audio footage, and if MGM funds this restoration,
all of you will have the opportunity to hear it for
yourselves.
I am in the process of starting this lengthly
article, which includes a Q&A with Robert Harris
on all the aspects of his MAD WORLD quests. I
hope to have the article up by week's end.