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Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928)
Lost Part-Talkie Remake
The O. Henry story "A Retrieved Reformation" was already an old hat at the start of the talkie era. Filmed most famously in 1915 with Maurice Tourneur at the helm, this MGM adaptation starred the charming Billy Haines as Jimmy Valentine, safe-cracker.
The story is as follows: Jimmy Valentine is a top bank robber but he gets caught and sent to prison. Convincing the higher-ups that he was framed and deserves a pardon, Jimmy begins to lead an honest life. But the law has not forgotten and a certain policeman is determined to see Jimmy Valentine jailed once and for all.
This film is lost. No known copies exist. Any review that does not describe the time, place and circumstances of a modern screening must be suspect.
Update: Rejoice! A 9.5mm four-reel abridgement survives! This does NOT contain the talkie sequences and is presented as a silent with French intertitles. It was recently screened (2017) at the Cinema Museum in London.
Rubber Heels (1927)
This is a lost film, more's the pity
Famous for his wonderful, wavering voice, Ed Wynn tried his hand at silent film in this Chester Conklin comedy. How good is it? We may never know. Despite what other reviewers claim, this is a lost film and no copies are known to exist. It's a shame as it would be a valuable piece of movie history.
From the description in the AFI catalog, the plot involves Wynn as an amateur detective who is hired by jewel thief Conklin as the gang's patsy. It seems it's one of those "accidentally heroic" plots and it all ends up on the ice floes over Niagra Falls. Pretty standard stuff for comedy of the day but I am quite curious as to how Wynn came across without his famous voice.
Once again, the world may never know. Check those attics, film fans!
Four Thirteen (1914)
Missing and Presumed Lost
This film is missing and presumed lost. This means that no copy is known to exist either in archives or in the hands of private collectors.
This is a very obscure movie from the Vitagraph motion picture company. Anita Stewart was one of the top stars of American cinema when this film was released in 1914 and crime adventures were stylish the world over.
It's a pity that no known copy of this movie exists as it looks like it was probably a fun little mini-serial in the "Hazards of Helen" manner. Plus, it features Anders Randolf and Julia Swayne Gordon, to veterans of the early film industry whom I like very much.
Once again, this is a lost film. Any review claiming to have seen a copy but does not state the time, place or circumstances under which the viewing occurred must be treated with suspicion.
Merton of the Movies (1924)
Another Lost Film
This film is missing and presumed lost, please check your attics.
"Merton of the Movies" is a spoof of the scores of actors who flooded Hollywood, acting correspondence courses in hand, hoping to make it big. Merton's problem is that he is a bad actor-- but so bad he is funny! Viola Dana plays his stunt-woman love interest.
It's a shame this movie is lost as it looks delightful. On a side note, any reviews that purport to have seen "Merton of the Movies" should be looked on with suspicion unless the reviewer is able to state the place, time and circumstances under which the film was viewed. Sadly, all too many silent films have disappeared and "Merton" is one of the more tragic cases.
Check those attics!
Taxi! Taxi! (1927)
Sadly, this one is lost
This film is considered missing and presumed lost, which means that no copy is known to exist in either archives or private collections.
Edward Everett Horton is famous for his voice. He is beloved by several generations of children for his wry narration in the classic "Fractured Fairy Tales" series. Not a lot of people realize that Horton started out in the silents.
This Universal Jewel release (in other words, high budget and high prestige) features Horton as well as silent stalwarts Lucien Littlefield and Burr McIntosh. Our befuddled Horton is trying to win the girl of his dreams, chaos ensues... Hey, we want to see this for the cast.
This is a lost film. Any review claiming to be based on first-hand viewing must be treated with suspicion unless the reviewer supplies the time, place and circumstances of the viewing.
Broadway Jones (1917)
Lost Film: George M. Cohan in the silents
This is a lost film. No known copies exist in archives or private collections.
George M. Cohan was the biggest name on Broadway in the 1910s so it was only natural that the movies would come calling. he plot concerns a young fellow who tries to make it big on Broadway... but things are never that simple, now are they? This was one of three silent films that starred Cohan. Of the three, only one survives, "The Seven Keys to Baldpate"
As this is a lost film, please be cautious about putting credence in reviews that claim to be based on an actual viewing but do not offer to share the time, place or circumstances of the viewing.
Hit-the-Trail Holliday (1918)
A Lost Film: George M. Cohan's last silent film
This is a lost film. No known copy exists in archives or private collections.
George M. Cohan made a trio of silent films before returning to Broadway, where he ruled as king. This film is interesting in that it touches on one of the hottest issues of the day: Prohibition.
Religion, alcohol and George M. Cohan? Sounds like a mighty powerful combination. A pity it is considered a missing film.
As this movie is missing and presumed lost, all reviews that purport to be based on a modern viewing must be looked upon with suspicion unless the place, time and circumstances of the viewing is shared.
Into Her Kingdom (1926)
A lost film, check those attics
One of many missing and presumed lost films from the lovely Corinne Griffith. "Into Her Kingdom" was also part of the then-stylish wave of Russia-themed pictures. Griffith is assisted by the handsome Einar Hanson, who would die tragically in a automobile accident.
The film purports to tell the story of the real-life Grand Duchess Tatiana, daughter of Czar Nicholas II. Tatiana was executed along with her parents and siblings but that fact was not popularly known when "Into Her Kingdom" was made. However, it does give the story a rather ghoulish quality and making a film about a young woman whose fate was unknown shows a distinct lack of good taste. While Tatiana has not endured nearly the nonsense that became attached to her younger sister, Anastasia, it is still a pity that the movie makers chose to go this route.
Note: This film is considered missing and presumed lost and any reviews claiming to have viewed it should be looked upon with a wary eye unless the whens, wheres and hows of the screening are shared.
A Man's Past (1927)
A lost film, check those attics
This is one of four films Conrad Veidt made during his first stint in Hollywood and it is the only one that is missing and presumed lost.
According to the New York Times review, the plot involves a doctor who is sentenced to prison for the crime of administering euthanasia on a suffering patient. An incredibly timely story that is controversial even today, the acting was said to be over-the-top but Veidt was often accused of same and I think he is marvelous in most anything so I think we can take the review with a gain of salt. George "The Sheik" Melford directs and Arthur Edmund Carewe (The Persian in "The Phantom of the Opera") has a supporting role. I would very much have liked to have seen Carewe and Veidt sharing the screen.
Note: This film is considered to be lost and any reviews claiming to have viewed it should be looked upon with suspicion unless the time, place and circumstances of the screening are revealed.