A 1912 movie version of Shakespeare's "Richard III" has been found in a collector's basement and is believed to be the oldest complete U.S. feature film.
"This is considered one of the most important film finds of the last half-century," Seth Oster, spokesman for the American Film Institute, said Monday night.Long thought to be lost, the film is in excellent shape despite being shelved for more than 30 years, he said.
The 55-minute film, which stars Frederick Warde, a popular Shake-spear-ean actor of the time, was the second feature produced in the United States. The first was a version of "Oliver Twist," released in May 1912. A surviving copy of "Oliver Twist" is incomplete, with one reel missing.
Until 1951, films were made on fragile nitrate film stock, which decays unless carefully stored in a cool, dry place, and can catch fire spontaneously.
"It's rare for any nitrate release print to be in near-mint condition," Oster said. "It's extraordinary, let alone one dating from 1912."
"Richard III" will be shown on Oct. 29 in Los Angeles and will then be taken to New York and other cities, Oster said.
The movie was kept in the Portland, Ore., basement of former theater projectionist William Buffum, who acquired it three decades ago in a trade of other silent films.
Buffum, 77, didn't realize the significance of the film until he recently gave it to the institute.
"He is very proud to get the film in the right hands where it will be preserved and showcased to the right audience," Oster said.
Buffum, a retired flour mill manager, had worked as a projectionist at various Portland theaters before World War II. With a love for old movies, he recognized the importance of preservation and rewound and forwarded his films by hand once a year to keep the film from sticking together.
Kevin Brownlow, a silent-film historian, said the film's survival "complete in its original print is really astounding."
Made by the M.B. Dudley Amuse-ment Co. of New York City, the five-reel epic was made for about $30,000 and includes battle scenes with casts of hundreds.
"It makes you wonder what other historic finds could be made in people's basements," he added.