When the discovery of the missing Metropolis footage was announced a few weeks ago, my mind turned to one subject only: London After Midnight.
Like many a geek, at some point I saw an image of Lon Chaney Sr. in that freakish, chilling makeup and was instantly mesmerized. The fact that the film itself was lost, and only such images remained, only increased the mystique. I was never a huge horror movie buff, but I like movies period a whole hell of a lot, and the scope of that blank spot in film history has always loomed large in my mind.
Now, apparently, allegedly, it has been found. Click the link; read the story; see if you believe it. I’m equal parts shocked and skeptical.
On one hand, it is odd that the man who allegedly found the print twenty years ago in a vast warehouse never bothered to act on his knowledge in a public way till this point. That shows a remarkable and stupid level of confidence in large entertainment corporations to do the right thing on behalf of film history and film buffs.
On the other hand, there are a lot of remarkable and stupid people in Hollywood, and this guy may just be one of them.
He’s got a truckload of contact info at the end of his story; I’m going to send a few e-mails right now, try to do my part. Do the same, if you’re so inclined. If this is some massive hoax to clog the inboxes of UCLA film historians and entertainment executives, I’m willing to take that risk.
NAME: Sarah
NAME: Matt
NAME: Jeff
NAME: Chris
LoL. If that was true that guy would be making a fortune out of it and making a hole parade out of it. Therefore i think he is just a fame need bastard. I really wish the real film was found.