Today, it seems impossible that a movie would ever be entirely lost or forgotten; with the internet, films and media seem to live on forever in the depths of the web. Yet, films of the past haven’t been so lucky, with many movies vanishing from the public eye, never to be seen again. Entire reels may have been destroyed while others simply corroded due to poor preservation, but whatever the reason, lost movies captivate historians and film buffs alike for their unsolved mystery.
But sometimes, lost films are only one search away from being discovered. Some have been found in attics, libraries, or hidden under the bed of a personal collector. These finds are exciting for lost media enthusiasts and give hope that one day, all lost films can be miraculously recovered.
Today, we look at a few rare cases where once-lost films were discovered and restored for public viewing.
12The Amusement Park (1975)
The Amusement Parkis one of the more recently produced films on this list. The original film wasproduced in 1975but was stowed away by renowned director George Romero after being deemed too disturbing for its intended audience; the film was meant to be shown only atLutheran Society Community Centersthough it has since become an intriguing piece of cinematic history for fans of lost media and film-fanatics alike.
The psychological thriller follows an elderly man named Maazel as he struggles to live happily in his old age. The movie opens with Maazel speaking directly to audiences, and clarifies that the film itself is meant to be a metaphor for how the elderly are shunned by society. The film was found by chance in 2017 and is now available for viewing on a variety of streaming platforms.
11Shadows (1959)
1959’sShadowsis another film that looks to tackle societal issues like race relations and prejudice. Here, we see three black siblings as their varying skin tones decide their interactions and reception in the community; one of the siblings has darker skin than the others and struggles to live out his dream as a jazz musician while his light-skinned sister seems to thrive.
The film was independently directed by John Cassavetes with two separate edits of the film being produced. The original edit for the film, however, was considered lost until the early 2000s when the first version wasrecovered by a professorafter an intensive decades-long search.
10The Portage Trail (1915)
The Portage Trailis a story that was discovered by chance and tells a story of romance set in Akron, Ohio. The 16-minute-long film is over 100 hundred years old and features clips of local landmarks and depictions of day-to-day life in the Ohio city. The film also features a cast of prominent locals including Akron businessmen, child stars, and socialites.
It is thought that onlyone printof the original film currently exists, however,The Portage Trailwas uploaded to YouTube by a Los Angeles company called Periscope Film LLC and can now be freely enjoyed by the public.
9Their First Misunderstanding (1911)
Silent films are some of the rarest lost media discoveries; due to poor preservation methods, its thought that nearly75%of silent films are considered completely lost. When the silent drama,Their First Misunderstanding, was miraculously uncovered in aNew Hampshire barn in 2006, historians and film buffs were rightfully excited.
The film stars beloved actress Mary Pickford, who was one of theoriginal foundersof the Motion Picture Academy, as well as actor Owen Moore; the two portray a married couple who frequently argue with one another. The film is now preserved at theLibrary of Congressand is available for free online.
8The Flying Doctor (1936)
The Flying Doctoris a 1936Australian filmthat takes place at the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the Australian outback. Here, a man named Sandy leaves his soon-to-be-wife, Jenny, at the altar in order to pursue his true passion as an artist. Soon, he decides to become a pilot after befriending a man named John.
Eventually, John, Jenny, and Sandy find themselves in the middle of a complex love triangle. The story is full of twists and turns, with a dramatic and heartbreaking ending. The film was rescued by chance before it was set to betaken to a junkyard; it is said that an office worker chased down the movie by car when he noticed it being taken away and was able to save it at the last minute!
Related:8 Completed Movies That Will Never See the Light of Day
7Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)
As James Pierce’s only known appearance as the titular hero,Tarzan and the Golden Lionis a 1927 film based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. James Pierce was also known for his football career, making his role as Tarzan an interesting addition to his overall repertoire. Here, we see Tarzan as he embarks on a dangerous quest to save a woman from being sacrificed to a beastly lion god.
The film was discovered in the 1990s in aFrench asylumalong with a collection of other lost films, concluding a decades-long search.
6Outside the Law (1920)
1920’sOutside the Lawis a crime film that stars one of the most prolific actors of the era, Lon Chaney. The story follows actress Priscilla Dean as a woman named Molly, a former gangster who re-enters a life of crime after her father is framed for murder by Chaney’s character, Black Mike Sylva. Chaney also plays a character called Ah Wing, who interacts on-screen with Black Mike Sylva through clever editing.
Outside the Lawis one of the many lost films that wasdiscovered in a barnafter years of being stowed away. The film has since been donated to the American Film Institute which has been preserving the film since its rediscovery in the 1970s.
5Zepped (1916)
Charlie Chaplinis one of the most well-known and respected artists of the silent film era; famous for his visual comedy and signature bowler hat, Charlie Chaplin was a comedian and actor who not only defined an entire era but made great contributions to filmmaking that persist even today. His 1916 film,Zepped, is one of the few entries on this list that was completely unknown before its discovery in the late 2000s.
The film is a World War I propaganda piece that sees Chaplin as his famous character, the Little Tramp. Found at athrift storeand being sold for a mere 5 dollars,Zeppedis an extremely rare find despite its short runtime of only 7 minutes.
4Frankenstein (1910)
As the oldest edition to this list, 1910’sFrankensteinwas believed to have been lost forever. Based on Mary Shelley’s original novel, the film is considered to be one of the firstfilm adaptationsof the beloved story. Here, a mad scientist named Dr. Frankenstein is able to create and bring a monster to life. Though the film’s plot certainly strays from the novel, the characters, for the most part, remain true to the original.
Frankensteinwas found in the possession of a private collector and eventually made its way to theLibrary of Congress in 2014, where it is now preserved for decades to come.
3Deranged (1974)
LikeThe Amusement Park,Derangedwas another lost horror-thriller film of the 1970s.Derangedwas rediscovered in the1990sand has become a fan favorite for lovers of horror. The film is known to be gruesome and extremely disturbing, depicting a slew of unspeakable crimes.
The film pulls from the real-life case of serial killerEd Gein; here, the main character, Ezra Cobb, is shown carrying out a series of brutal murders and grave robberies, including exhuming his own deceased mother from her casket. ThoughDerangedwas only lost for a short period of time, its discovery was exciting nonetheless and can be viewed today on streaming services.
