Customer Reviews

Keepers of the Frame [VHS]

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This story offers a heartbreaking view of what has happened to the precious films from the early days. These films, which started the industry, are cast aside, rotting. A passionate lover of the early film period, silent films especially, this documentary hit especially close to home for me. In fact, it is heartbreaking for anyone who has ever loved silent films. The film consists mostly of just showing what has become of these treasured items, essentially they have been all but destroyed, and those few that are left are so near-death that they really aren't survivors. A treasure for anyone who loves film and the silent era of film, but be prepared to be shocked and horrified at the treatment of these classics.

Nitrate won't wait. It is the mantra of film preservationists everywhere. But why should you care if a bunch of hundred year old movies vanish, never to be seen again? Not only are these movies entertaining, but they're an important part of our culture. And it isn't just old movies that are deteriorating. Technicolor movies fade too, and the bleeding color sometimes takes the image with it. And safety film might be more stable than nitrate, but it deteriorates too.

As a film enthusiast, I find this documentary to be powerful and important. Most people do not realize that their favorite movies are at risk, that even movies made a year ago might not survive forever. We take many things for granted as a culture, including the preservation of our time. We laugh at elderly people who attempt to recreate their past through stories, but if our visual representation of our past is gone, all we will have are stories too.

I was disappointed not to see Kevin Brownlow or David Shepard (although Shepard is mentioned), because both men have done a lot to preserve and restore films. However, the people that do appear like AFI's Jean Firstenberg, film star Roddy McDowall, and author Leonard Maltin all provide interesting stories and sound arguements. They are obviously passionate about their work.