Tweet Unavailable Talkies

are there any good looking prints of MEET JOHN DOE?

Sanctuary Visual Entertainment released a really good digital restoration of MEET JOHN DOE in the UK about 10 years ago. Ken Barnes was in charge of the project -- working from a 35mm release print -- and while it's not perfect, it's way, way better than any PD release of the film. It was released by VCI in the US last year (as a 2-disc "70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition"), and I'm told that VCI even improved on it a little bit.

Well, so long as this thread is going further down the "not on home video" lane, does anyone know if there's a (UK?) commercial release of the Lupino Lane opus Lambeth Walk?

On Warner Archive's Facebook page, there was a query last week about Leathernecking, Irene Dunne's film debut and one of a few 1930 RKOs that supposedly are missing. WA replied "LEATHERNECKING isn't lost! We found it not long ago........ :)"

Can anyone here confirm this tidbit and/or the circumstances under which it was found?

-Harold

I've interpreted the title to this thread to mean films that are not available in legally authorized editions.

Actually, I meant films which are completely and totally unavailable for showings in any venue/medium (TV, VHS, DVD, 16mm) due to changes in copyright ownership, or other legal issues.

The Lambeth Walk, Lupino Lane, Me & My Girl) along with the 1931 Ghost Train were lost films. Some items have turned up on both(France?). With Ghost Train they had soundtrack of some footage and silent visuals for other parts of the film and talk about covered in oil. May not be true.

Lambeth Walk(the song) was very popular in England, Europe and USA, not to mention my country of Australia from 1939-.

There is a Lupino Lane 2-sided 78 recorded with his female co-star, Teddie St Denis, recorded in the theatre with audience participation. The Victoria, across from the Thames in London, was used for many years for recording some BBC Radio shows. I went to one such around Oct 1970 and saw an Australia 1930s vocalist conducting a women's magazine panel discussion group about fireworks(being that time of year for Halloween. On the panel was Scots actress Renee Houston(with a bellowing voice like Peggy Mount) who had been married at one time to Pat Aherne, brother of Brian Aherne.

When the musical Me & My Girl was being revived around the world in the mid-1980s the composer's(Noel Gay) son went looking for the film. Supposedly they tracked it to Holland but it was said that the print had been destroyed that year with no other details as to what had been and why it was destroyed. These notes were with the program to the show that I saw in Australia back then. Since then I know something was found but I cannot get a beat on it. I guess the British archives, National Film & Television Archive might have an update. Their site allows for a contact for information and is worth a try and they do usually answer to the best of their information at any given time.

There are a number of British stage musicals that were filmed along with original film musicals that do exists, some shown on TV in UK over the years, that have not made it to DVD or whatever at this time. A lot of existing lesser films have been made available at such labels as Odeon & Renown and Optimum(Associated-British/Studio Canal) in recent times.

The Lambeth Walk, Lupino Lane, Me & My Girl) along with the 1931 Ghost Train were lost films. Some items have turned up on both(France?). With Ghost Train they had soundtrack of some footage and silent visuals for other parts of the film and talk about covered in oil. May not be true.

Lambeth Walk(the song) was very popular in England, Europe and USA, not to mention my country of Australia from 1939-.

There is a Lupino Lane 2-sided 78 recorded with his female co-star, Teddie St Denis, recorded in the theatre with audience participation. The Victoria, across from the Thames in London, was used for many years for recording some BBC Radio shows. I went to one such around Oct 1970 and saw an Australia 1930s vocalist conducting a women's magazine panel discussion group about fireworks(being that time of year for Halloween. On the panel was Scots actress Renee Houston(with a bellowing voice like Peggy Mount) who had been married at one time to Pat Aherne, brother of Brian Aherne.

When the musical Me & My Girl was being revived around the world in the mid-1980s the composer's(Noel Gay) son went looking for the film. Supposedly they tracked it to Holland but it was said that the print had been destroyed that year with no other details as to what had been and why it was destroyed. These notes were with the program to the show that I saw in Australia back then. Since then I know something was found but I cannot get a beat on it. I guess the British archives, National Film & Television Archive might have an update. Their site allows for a contact for information and is worth a try and they do usually answer to the best of their information at any given time.

There are a number of British stage musicals that were filmed along with original film musicals that do exists, some shown on TV in UK over the years, that have not made it to DVD or whatever at this time. A lot of existing lesser films have been made available at such labels as Odeon & Renown and Optimum(Associated-British/Studio Canal) in recent times.

THE LAMBETH WALK survives in material that belonged to Wallace Lupino and now resides in the BFI. It was run at the Syracuse Cinefest a few years ago. There is no legit video release of the title, but there are copies of it circulating among collectors. As i recall, the print has french subtitles, and there may be a musical number or two missing.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

THE LAMBETH WALK survives in material that belonged to Wallace Lupino and now resides in the BFI. It was run at the Syracuse Cinefest a few years ago. There is no legit video release of the title, but there are copies of it circulating among collectors. As i recall, the print has french subtitles, and there may be a musical number or two missing.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

Thanks, Richard. I *thought* the film survived and was only hard to see.

Now, if I could sweettalk you into sharing your cover recording of "The Whip" from Golden Dawn at this year's Cinecon...

Here is the LA Times review for HELLZAPOPPIN, which they really liked. Gave high marks to Hugh Herbert, Mischa Auer, and Martha Raye, and the projectionist, whom they don't name.

http://ladailymirror.com/2012/02/10/hel ... mment-5330

THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED (1972) Jerry Lewis, never released, or edited supposedly but exists.

The Lambeth Walk is occasionally for sale on Ioffer.com by a collector in UK. Whether it's complete or not or what the quality is, I have no idea.

Hi,
Re, "Lambeth Walk," anyone Wanting Same, Need ONLY eMail ME, &, I'll 'Trade,' for VHS (ONLY). NO DVD's. I DON'T Have a
DVD Player, nor, do I Want one (1)
Sid Bloomberg
movies1935@hotmail.com

Wouldn't you think that some organisation such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the U.S., and/or the British Film Institute in the U.K. might instigate some department to sort out all this rights and copyright mess? It seems quite ridiculous to me that pictures made in the early 1930's are still caught up in all this bureaucratic red tape - especially if the issue is over a play that is never again going to be put on the stage. By keeping many interesting films - that have survived - locked up on shelves gathering dust does nobody any favours, and nobody can make any money out of them either!

I have always wanted to see the 1943 version of "The Desert Song" and have no idea why it is not available when the 1929 and 1953 versions are?

Donald,
Irene Manning's Rendition of, "Romance," IS, 'Glorious!' Email Me: movies1935@hotmail.com
Sid Bloomberg

Here is the LA Times review for HELLZAPOPPIN, which they really liked. Gave high marks to Hugh Herbert, Mischa Auer, and Martha Raye, and the projectionist, whom they don't name.

http://ladailymirror.com/2012/02/10/hel ... mment-5330" target="_blank

The unnamed projectionist is Shemp Howard, mentioned in one of the comments to the review. Universal has an official dvd version out on region 2 and available from Amazon.co.uk. Until the rights issue is cleared up in the U.S., this is at least one way to see this krazy klassic. Universal could issue CRAZY HOUSE and GHOST CATCHERS, which are very good Olsen & Johnson films too.

It's probably not legally unavailable but one of my "holy grail" films is Maurice Chevalier's American debut INNOCENTS OF PARIS. I know it's not supposed to be be a very good film but it was Chevalier's big introduction to the American movie public and introduced the iconic song "Louise." I recall my mother telling me how she remembered seeing this movie when she was a teenager and how much she enjoyed it.
.

It's probably not legally unavailable but one of my "holy grail" films is Maurice Chevalier's American debut INNOCENTS OF PARIS. I know it's not supposed to be be a very good film but it was Chevalier's big introduction to the American movie public and introduced the iconic song "Louise." I recall my mother telling me how she remembered seeing this movie when she was a teenager and how much she enjoyed it.
.

For as early a talkie as it is, INNOCENTS OF PARIS is amazingly pretty good. Chevalier definitely clicks with the camera drom the get-go, and as I recall, the kid subplot is less nauseating than it would be if it was a Jolson picture. A bit creaky, but certainly less so than many other early talkies. I'm beginning to think Paramount really did the best in converting over to sound.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

I, for one, would love to see a restored and remastered, or even just at least a better copy of Letty Lynton than the umpteenth-generation barely watchable VHS dub I've got. While its reputation is better than the actual film itself, it's still a nice entertaining little pre-code gem with Joan Crawford looking stunning in practically every shot.

[Danny Burk]

Warner Archive's Facebook page dropped a hint a few days ago that a "never before on video" Crawford title is coming soon....and didn't deny that it's LETTY. I suspect that it is; they've already said previously that they're working on clearing it up.

Two more talkies which have legal entanglements preventing them from being released are
The Wiser Sex (1932 with Claudette Colbert) and Two Kinds Of Women (1932 with Miriam Hopkins).
The Wiser Sex also includes Melvyn Douglas, Lilyan Tashman and Franchot Tone in his film debut.
I was lucky enough to see Two Kinds Of Women at Film Forum in 2005 and it was a great pre code.
Both movies are from Paramount.

Warner Archive's Facebook page dropped a hint a few days ago that a "never before on video" Crawford title is coming soon....and didn't deny that it's LETTY. I suspect that it is; they've already said previously that they're working on clearing it up.

If this is true, I may just have to make my first ever WAC purchases very soon and/or hope it turns up on the web until I can secure a copy. It'll pretty much make my day.

While we're on the subject, this isn't quite what the OP meant, but I for one would love a good restored and remastered disc of Of Human Bondage from the WAC. Hell, if not restored or remastered, at least a direct transfer from the best print they have, as opposed to these overly soft VHS copies taken from 16MM prints that look like they were backed over with a truck a few times. I managed to find a better-than-average PD copy, but I'd buy a WAC remastered disc so fast.

HELLZAPOPPIN

This film was freely available in Australia on an early DVD label here that was also into VHS previously. A name like RBC Films or something. Their DVD is not bad and I have it somewhere and I got the UK version in more recent times. RBC maintain they have the rights etc and say they are experts and go around buying and restoring original 35mm prints. Usual hype , I guess. There was a guy selling serials here that I have not heard of for a few years who said he had the rights for this one and that exclusively but when a serial came out legit in USA he suddenly had it as one of his own saying he got it from his own 16mms that he bought, legally, at estate auctions or found in attics. I never bought from him.

The Lambeth Walk is one of a number of films on You Tube that are not regularly available, may from UK, but the quality is only so so and n idea if anything is missing. I had no idea that Wallace Lupino had whatever the BFI has but it was supposed ound in France(hence the talk of French subtitles). When it was revived as a stage show world-wide the music composer's son and others tracked it to the Netherlands that year, according to the program issued in Australia, and stated that it had been destroyed there that year but with no other reason for this action.

At least Warner Archive have given us two otherwise unavailable titles this past year, Night Flight & The Constant Nymph. There are so many others, particularly earlier versions of films remade at other studios. The Paramount Stu Erwin version of Merton of the Movies(Make Me A Star) is superb in video & audio. A few cue marks are not worth worrying about.

I have heard tell, but no confirmation, that the Gershwin Estate is going to allow Porgy & Bess to be shown again.

We had a situation in Australia of a rights problem with stage musicals. One now late actor had a theater group that put on revivals and bought up rights for a period of time altering the plans of many amateur groups who put on limited performances each year. Many a group has had their rights cancelled and advanced plans sunk as a result. The guy was a thorn in the side of these popular amateur groups. The actor, by the way, often did not produce the plays he held the performance rights to for any length of time. A bad situation all round.

Warner Archive's Facebook page dropped a hint a few days ago that a "never before on video" Crawford title is coming soon....and didn't deny that it's LETTY. I suspect that it is; they've already said previously that they're working on clearing it up.

That's how the teases at WAC promoted their imminent release of UNTAMED (1929), Joan Crawford's first (starring) talkie.

Looks like we'll have to wait a little longer for LETTY . . .

One that takes us right outside the nitrate era but is worthy of inclusion simply because it's one of the most peculiar movies I've ever seen - Tom Schiller's `Nothing Lasts Forever' (1984).

Actually, it does have a tangental relation to our favourite era - the opening titles and shooting style are a very good 1930s pastiche - but from there on in, what can I say. The IMDB capsule summary is as good as any: `An artist fails a test and is required to direct traffic in New York City's Holland Tunnel. He winds up falling in love with a beautiful woman, who takes him to the moon on a Lunar Cruiser'. Picture Andy Hardy, Brazil, The Forbidden Planet and the Wizard of Oz all smooshed together and you're about a quarter of the way there.

It does pop up at showings occasionally, and it was on TCM about five years ago, but Warner cites some unspecified rights issue as holding up a DVD release.

There are ways to watch it though...

One that takes us right outside the nitrate era but is worthy of inclusion simply because it's one of the most peculiar movies I've ever seen - Tom Schiller's `Nothing Lasts Forever' (1984).

Actually, it does have a tangental relation to our favourite era - the opening titles and shooting style are a very good 1930s pastiche - but from there on in, what can I say. The IMDB capsule summary is as good as any: `An artist fails a test and is required to direct traffic in New York City's Holland Tunnel. He winds up falling in love with a beautiful woman, who takes him to the moon on a Lunar Cruiser'. Picture Andy Hardy, Brazil, The Forbidden Planet and the Wizard of Oz all smooshed together and you're about a quarter of the way there.

It does pop up at showings occasionally, and it was on TCM about five years ago, but Warner cites some unspecified rights issue as holding up a DVD release.

There are ways to watch it though...

Thank you so much for the link! I had never heard of this film before, but once I started watching, I was hooked every minute of the way. What a strange and wonderful piece of work!

~Roger

Lambeth Walk is a delight. Lupino Lane has the role of his career and is sensational. There may be missing musical numbers but the existing 76 minutes (after a rough start) are just wonderful. The production number of "The Lambeth Walk" is infectious in its glee and good cheer. Co-star Sally Gray is gorgeous, and Norah Howard as the Duchess is hilarious.

In voice, stature, and comic timing, Lane resembles none other than Charlie Chaplin. Had Chaplin made this film, it would be a major classic.

Lambeth Walk is a delight. Lupino Lane has the role of his career and is sensational. There may be missing musical numbers but the existing 76 minutes (after a rough start) are just wonderful. The production number of "The Lambeth Walk" is infectious in its glee and good cheer. Co-star Sally Gray is gorgeous, and Norah Howard as the Duchess is hilarious.

In voice, stature, and comic timing, Lane resembles none other than Charlie Chaplin. Had Chaplin made this film, it would be a major classic.

Lane was shorter than Chaplin (five foot three) and a hell of a lot more athletic as a performer. I never saw Charlie Chaplin do a head roll (though his brother Syd was quite adept at it). Next to Buster Keaton, Lupino Lane was probably the greatest physical comic working.

ME AND MY GIRL (THE LAMBETH WALK) is a major classic without Chaplin thank you very much, certainly in Britain. Lane performed it endlessly on the stage (along with its prequel, TWENTY TO ONE) for nearly twenty years and even brought it to Broadway. I have kinescope fooatge of him performing it live for the BBC at the Victoria Palace in 1952 and he's still doing all of the falls and routines, even though he was rather crippled up by that time and offstage walked with a cane. The show has even been revived successfully on both the British and Broadway stages in the 1980's.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

I didn't say they were the same height and I made no mention of acrobatics. I'm sure the film was basically unknown in the USA even though it was a smash in UK.

It's not the kind of film Chaplin would have ever made. I was merely stating that HAD Chaplin made the film it would be better known.

I didn't say they were the same height and I made no mention of acrobatics. I'm sure the film was basically unknown in the USA even though it was a smash in UK.

The film didn't get a major US release, but the show was certainly well known on both sides of the pond, and "The Lambeth Walk" was a hit song even in the states. A number of folk recorded it, including Duke Ellington!

RICHARD M ROBERTS

I've got a piece of sheet music from the time of the American release- the back cover features Lambeth Walk instructions by Arthur Murray.

The film didn't get a major US release, but the show was certainly well known on both sides of the pond, and "The Lambeth Walk" was a hit song even in the states. A number of folk recorded it, including Duke Ellington!

Fine and dandy. I was only speaking of the film I saw. The show and song are irrelevant to my Chaplin comment.

And Lupino Lane never brought "Me and My Girl" to Broadway. His three credited appearances are "Afgar" in 1920, "Ziegfeld Follies of 1924," and "The Mikado" as Koko in 1925.

I thought it odd that Lambeth Walk would prove to be Lane's final film, although he kept working on stage and in TV, but as Richard mentions, maybe his health kept him from getting film roles.

Apparently there was an unforgettable command performance of this smash hit West End show with King George (of The King's Speech) and Queen Elizabeth joyously gesturing and yelling out "Oi!" at the proper moments of the long production number.