Upstream(film)
| Upstream | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | John Ford |
| Written by | Randall Faye Wallace Smith |
| Starring | Nancy Nash Earle Foxe |
| Cinematography | Charles G. Clarke |
| Distributed by | Fox Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent English intertitles |
Upstreamis a 1927 Americancomedy filmdirected byJohn Ford.A "backstage drama",[1]the film is about a Shakespearean actor and a woman from a knife-throwing act. The film was considered to be alost film,[2]but in 2009 a print was discovered in theNew Zealand Film Archive.[1]
It is considered to be the first Ford film to show some influence of German directorF. W. Murnau,who began working at Fox Studios in 1926. From Murnau, Ford learned how to use forced perspectives andchiaroscurolighting, which the American director then integrated into his own more naturalistic and direct filmmaking style.[1]
Cast
[edit]- Nancy Nashas Gertie Ryan
- Earle Foxeas Eric Brasingham
- Grant Withersas Jack La Velle
- Lydia Yeamans Titusas Miss Hattie Breckenbridge
- Raymond Hitchcockas Star Boarder
- Emile Chautardas Campbell Mandare
- Ted McNamaraas Callahan and Callahan
- Sammy Cohenas Callahan and Callahan
- Judy Kingas Sister Team
- Lillian Worthas Sister Team
- Jane Wintonas Soubrette
- Harry A. Bailey as Gus Hoffman (as Harry Bailey)
- Francis Fordas Juggler
Recovery
[edit]In 2009 at the invitation of theNew Zealand Film Archive,theNational Film Preservation Foundationsent consultants Brian Meacham and Leslie Ann Lewis to assess its holdings of long unseennitrate filmprints of American silent films. The cache was found to include astonishing treasures of at least 75 American silent films unknown to exist in the United States, including a complete tinted nitrate print ofUpstreamand a trailer for another lostJohn Fordfeature,Strong Boy(1929).[3]
The New Zealand Film Archive turned out to have many American films that had never been shipped back to the United States after they ran in theaters.[1]The films were supposed to be destroyed at the end of their distribution run, but some were stashed away instead.[4]Upstreamwas considered so important that, unlike other films discovered in the New Zealand archive, it was restored in New Zealand.[4]
20th Century Fox,a descendant company of the studio that made the movie, supported the preservation of the film in collaboration with the National Film Preservation Foundation and theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencesfilm archive.Upstreamreceived a "repremiere" at theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciencesin September 2010.[1]and a European screening at Le Giornate del Cinema Muto in Pordenone Italy in October 2010. Michael Mortilla wrote music for the AMPAS screening, and Donald Sosin for the Pordenone event.
Only 15% of Ford's silent films are known to have survived as of 2010.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdeKehr, Dave (June 7, 2010)."Trove of Long-Lost Silent Films Returns to America".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 6,2010.
- ^"Progressive Silent Film List: Upstream".Silent Era.RetrievedMarch 23,2008.
- ^http://www.cinetecadelfriuli.org/gcm/allegati/GCM10_07R&R.pdf2010 Pordenone Silent Film Festival catalog--retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^abcKing, Susan,"Silent film treasures to be preserved",June 7, 2010,Los Angeles Times,retrieved same day