A long-gone western from the silent film era John Ford was rediscovered after more than a century, reviving a previously forgotten piece of cinematic history. Entitled The scarlet dropThe 1918 film stars Harry Carey and is one of Ford’s early works, long considered lost. Ford is considered one of America’s greatest filmmakers, and his early films often emphasized sweeping landscapes, robust characters, and emotional drama, qualities that shaped the Western genre. Many of his early silent films are lost, making this discovery a monumental moment for fans of classic cinema.
The National reported that a complete copy of The scarlet drop was discovered in a warehouse in Santiago, Chilejust one day before the scheduled demolition date. It was the warehouse owner who found a trove of films originally owned by a local collector, which remained untouched for 40 years after his death, and then contacted Jaime Cordova, the director of the Valparaiso Recovered Film Festival and an academic at the University of Viña del Mar, who then rescued the films from disposal. Talking to CinentrânsitoCordova spoke of the film’s rediscovery:
The film was very damaged, which indicates that it was a very popular film at the time. It was shown a lot. The film is 106 years old. It was stored in conditions unknown to us. I think there are films that decide to live.
I once found a Richard III starring Laurence Olivier, all the rolls had vinegar disease, they had to throw everything away. This one is from 1955, this one is from 1918. And that survived much better. He decided to make himself known, which I consider a miracle.
Cordova digitized the film to present it at the Valparaiso Recovered Film Festival, cleaning and restoring what he could, keeping in mind that it still needs a full restoration and that his material may be missing parts of the film. Cordova showed the digitized version at its festival in Chile in September. However, plans for a wider release of The scarlet drop have not yet been announced.
What does this mean for scarlet drop
Shedding light on film preservation
The scarlet drop was one of 26 Westerns made by Ford starring Carey, considered the most prolific partnership of the six-time Oscar-winning director’s illustrious career. The recovery of The scarlet drop highlights the importance of film preservationas films from the silent era were often discarded or destroyed after their initial release, leaving both historians and film enthusiasts with only remnants of the period. The Chilean discovery is particularly notable because the film was thought to be lost forever, with no known copy elsewhere except the 30 minutes of footage that exists in the Getty Archive.
The discovery of the film highlights the need for continued preservation efforts. For film scholars, this is an opportunity to better understand Ford’s development as a filmmaker and his early contributions to the Western genre. Additionally, This discovery also serves as a stark warning about the fragility of cinematic history. Silent films, especially those produced in the early 20th century, face the constant risk of deterioration or permanent loss. The recovery of The scarlet drop it could now be the example the world needs to start valuing and preserving cultural artefacts, making them available for future generations to study and enjoy.
Our opinion on this discovery
A cinematic miracle
The rediscovery of The scarlet drop is nothing short of a cinematic miracle. Ford’s work has long been praised for its artistic value, and this film now offers a rare glimpse into the roots of his narrative genius. If one day the film is widely released, could be an excellent opportunity for fans of classic cinema to experience a once-lost piece of film history and gain a deeper appreciation of the silent film era that built the film scene we know today.
Source: The National