Rescue the Hitchcock 9

Be part of the challenge to bring these rare films back from the brink and into the digital age to be enjoyed by everyone.

Alfred Hitchcock: pioneer, legend and master of suspense.

Curators of the BFI National Archive have identified a collection of films in desperate need of restoration with Alfred Hitchcock's silent films being the first to seek rescue through the Support the BFI campaign.

Hitchcock's 9 surviving silent films are a vital part of British cinematic history. Decades of wear and tear have left them in urgent need of restoration.

The BFI needs you to bring these rare films back from the brink and into the digital age.

Every penny counts. So please give whatever you can, and help bring a cinematic masterpiece back to life - for you, for everyone, forever.

Donate online now at http://www.bfi.org.uk/saveafilm.html

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• Alfred Hitchcock
• film restoration
• classic
• National
• Archive
• donate
• donation
• Silent cinema
• silent
• The Pleasure Garden
• The Lodger
• The Ring
• Donwhill
• Easy Virtue
• The Farmers Wife
• Champagne
• The Manxman
• Blackmail
• British Museum

[Notterrancehill]

But there are already out on dvd in good condition.They did a huge botch job releasing The Lodger with no Sound

[BFIfilms]

If you think the DVD releases are in good condition you ain't seen nothing yet! Restoration techniques developed in the last few years can make a remarkable difference to the clarity of the image, bringing the films up to cinema standard. We will also be researching and sourcing materials to restore missing footage and original colour tints as well as cleaning up and improving overall picture quality. Our greatest filmmaker deserves nothing less.

[doubledeckers]

@BFIfilms I would be interested to read more about these techniques.

[BFIfilms]

@doubledeckers - there's a film on the BFI's website that shows how we recently restored Anthony Asquith's Underground (1928). Many of the techniques and approaches used in this restoration - as well as the challenges we faced - will be employed when restoring the Hitchcock silents. You can see the film at bfi dot org dot uk slash live slash video slash 326

[latham29]

@Notterrancehill - mate, assume you must have the US release. The box set available in the UK (includes some sound titles too) looks terrible and the soundtracks are even worse!!! and just cos a film looks OK on DVD dosn't mean it would be good enough for the cinema.

[JoeMC7]

Yes, I have Alfred Hitchcock "The Early Years" I think 1926 - 1936 or so, on DVDs, and you can tell they need some work although I was still impressed with the originals.

[lapislazuli7]

Yes, yes, please restore every Hitchcock!

If I ever won the lottery, you will be on top on my list! :-)

[doubledeckers]

@BFIfilms thanks that was interesting. 

[fordlandau]

IT'S PERFECTLY TRUE...I am a huge Hitch fan. I have the silents on DVD..but they are from old prints..yes the DVD image will always be around..BUT the original prints are the key...most of the DVDs are full of jumps, blurry images, missed scenes and worse...Hitch was a title writer for silents before he was a Director and I am sure he would want all the housekeeping done well on all these films...good luck BFI !!

[frasierfreak92]

@Notterrancehill THEY'RE