Lewis Milestone's Seven Sinners found in Queensland.That link may or may not work -- here's the text:
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A SILENT film star who died young of alcoholism, a dashing leading man who starred with Marlene Dietrich, a millionaire backer and a director who went on to win two Academy Awards. These are the secrets of the film Seven Sinners, which was thought by Hollywood to be lost.
Until now. The silent film was recently discovered in Queensland by two film enthusiasts, and it has now been returned to Hollywood — which is thrilled with the rare find.
Made in 1925, the crime caper is the much-sought-after first feature by acclaimed director Lewis Milestone, who was awarded an Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front. It was produced by multimillionaire businessman, producer, director and aviator Howard Hughes.
Joel Archer, 27, from Brisbane, who runs Golden Oldies, a service that screens old movies for seniors, discovered the film in the collection of silent film lover Ron West, former owner of the Majestic Theatre in Pomona on the Sunshine Coast.
“The reason it’s so exciting is Milestone went on to become a very well-known Hollywood director,” Archer said.
“The majority of his films have survived, but his first film never has, so we’ve got the only access in the world to that film.”
While they may be generations apart, Arch and West share a love of old films.
At first the pair thought they had a different film on their hands until Archer was able to send footage to Warner Brothers in the US, which confirmed it was the long-lost film by Milestone. The film reels originally came from a cinema that had closed down in Melbourne.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was shocked to learn of the film’s existence said Archer.
“They said there was a strong desire to preserve it ASAP,” Archer said.
Warner Brothers and the academy will be doing a full restoration of the film, which will be released to DVD and premiered at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival next year. Archer and West, who together received $5000, have been invited to attend.
A story about multiple crooks who try to rob the same upmarket house in Long Island, New York, Seven Sinners starred suave British actor Clive Brook, a big name in his day, who went on to make Shanghai Express with Marlene Dietrich. Opposite him was leading lady Marie Prevost, known for her comic timing but who died of acute alcoholism alone in her apartment in Los Angeles at the age of 38, accompanied by her dog.
Director Milestone went on to have an incredible career. The Russian-born US director also won an Oscar for Two Arabian Knights (1927) and directed The Front Page (1930), Of Mice and Men (1939), Ocean’s 11 (1960) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1962).
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