Lost Hitchcock film discovered in New Zealand

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FILM_EARLY_HITCHCOCK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-03-15-15-06

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Alfred Hitchcock is still surprising his fans.

Film preservationists say they've found the first half of "The White Shadow," the earliest known surviving feature film on which Hitchcock has a credit.

The first three reels of the six-reel film made in 1923 were discovered by the National Film Preservation Foundation at the New Zealand Film Archive.

"The White Shadow" was directed by Graham Cutts, and Hitchcock is credited as writer, assistant director, editor and art director. Hitchcock, whose suspense classics include "Psycho," "The Birds," "Rear Window" and "Vertigo," made his own directing debut two years later.

[MinneapolisMatt]

1. Wow, how cool!

There must be lots of hidden treasures stashed around archives yet to be found.

[Dappleganger]

2. How delightful!!

[ceile]

3. So cool!

Love Hitchcock!

[grahamhgreen]

4. Very cool!

[fishwax]

5. cool!

:)

[EFerrari]

6. Awesome!

[John1956PA]

7. Great title, which was also used for the 1978-1981 TV series.

Also, IMDb.com reports that there may be a a 2012 comedy with the same title.

Anyway, it is great that at least three reels of the 1923 movie have been discovered.

[edbermac]

8. He didn't direct it so I don't consider it a 'Hitchcock film'

He did make an early silent called The Mountain Eagle which has no known copies around, only some still pictures. Hitch called it a terrible film in his book with Truffaut and added it was no great loss.