Even by 1943, they were realizing that film tears, breaks and corrodes. This short film highlights some of the films and scenes being preserved at the new york museum of modern art, even back in the 1940s. Some of the amazing moments in history were caught on film such as u.s. President mckinley, the day before he was knocked off, in 1901. The aftermath of san francisco's earthquake and fire in 1906. Construction of the panama canal. One pretty rare sight was the funeral of king edward the 7th in 1910, where so many world leaders marched together, just before WW one. This is a fun chapter of john nesbitt's passing parade, directed by sam lee. He was nominated for two oscars for dance direction in the 1930s. Some pretty amazing scenes were captured on film, and this one film showed me some things i wouldn't see anywhere else. There's a little joke vignette right at the end that falls flat, but most of it was fun to watch.
4 Reviews
Passing Parade
Michael_Elliott8 June 2009
Forgotten Treasure (1943)
*** (out of 4)
Another entry in John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series with this one taking a look at early film preservation a the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Earlier in the series Nesbitt and director Lee made THE FILM THAT WAS LOST and it was a little bit better than this one but this film does offer some clips from some early cinema. Whereas the first film actually talked about the work going into saving films, this one here pretty much just shows us clips and talks about how this footage will be used in the future to look back and see how times were. We get footage of President William McKinley just hours before he was assassinated and we also get to see footage from the 1906 San Fran earthquake and then compare that footage to MGM's SAN FRANCISCO.
*** (out of 4)
Another entry in John Nesbitt's Passing Parade series with this one taking a look at early film preservation a the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Earlier in the series Nesbitt and director Lee made THE FILM THAT WAS LOST and it was a little bit better than this one but this film does offer some clips from some early cinema. Whereas the first film actually talked about the work going into saving films, this one here pretty much just shows us clips and talks about how this footage will be used in the future to look back and see how times were. We get footage of President William McKinley just hours before he was assassinated and we also get to see footage from the 1906 San Fran earthquake and then compare that footage to MGM's SAN FRANCISCO.
Film preservation treasures...
Doylenf7 June 2009
Here's a short in the John Nesbitt "Passing Parade" series that hardly does justice to its subject matter--film preservation so that in 1999 people can still view historic newsreel footage of important events captured on nitrate film, and how the Mueum of Modern Art decided to salvage much of the historic footage.
It begins with a glimpse of President McKinley only a short time before being shot and footage of Teddy Roosevelt who followed him as the next president; some actual footage of the 1906 San Francisco quake which helped MGM duplicate the historic quake for its film, SAN FRANCISCO; the death of Edward VII in 1910 wherein there was a meeting of various kings from different countries, including the Duke of Austria who would be shot four years later leading to WWI; the Wright Brothers testing their airplane in footage believed to have been shot in 1908; air power becoming essential during WWII, with a scene of the destruction at Pearl Harbor.
All presented in routine fashion. Nothing special, except that it makes the point that students of history can learn a lot if film preservation keeps history alive.
It begins with a glimpse of President McKinley only a short time before being shot and footage of Teddy Roosevelt who followed him as the next president; some actual footage of the 1906 San Francisco quake which helped MGM duplicate the historic quake for its film, SAN FRANCISCO; the death of Edward VII in 1910 wherein there was a meeting of various kings from different countries, including the Duke of Austria who would be shot four years later leading to WWI; the Wright Brothers testing their airplane in footage believed to have been shot in 1908; air power becoming essential during WWII, with a scene of the destruction at Pearl Harbor.
All presented in routine fashion. Nothing special, except that it makes the point that students of history can learn a lot if film preservation keeps history alive.
No Mention Of Iris Barry
boblipton27 November 2021
As a lover of very old movies and a New Yorker, I am very grateful to the Museum of Modern Art on West 53rd Street, for its pioneering efforts in recognizing, preserving, and making available a vast library of very old films. The idea for the film department was Iris Barry's, and for decades she ruled the department, deciding what would be preserved or restored or made available. I disagree with a lot of her decisions, as I would with anyone's: even mine own, looking back.
This episode of John Nesbitt's long-running series for shorts for MGM chooses to focus instead on what has been preserved, and its educational value. We get long lines of forgotten royalty at a king's funeral instead of a look at Miss Barry at work. It's a choice I disagree with, but then, the only person who could make a choice I would agree with would be.... well, not me, certainly.
This episode of John Nesbitt's long-running series for shorts for MGM chooses to focus instead on what has been preserved, and its educational value. We get long lines of forgotten royalty at a king's funeral instead of a look at Miss Barry at work. It's a choice I disagree with, but then, the only person who could make a choice I would agree with would be.... well, not me, certainly.
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