Celebrate the Centennial Premiere of THE DEVIL (1921), the first George Arliss Film.

Today, January 16, we are holding anĀ online re-premiere for the CentennialĀ of THE DEVIL, the first film starring George Arliss. The original premiere took place on January 16, 1921 in New York City at the Mark Strand Theater. We have been working on this project for well over a year. Thanks are due to Larry Smith of the Library of Congress and to Lewis Schoenbrun who volunteered his professional services to restore the images. We also gave the video a 4K scan and added the music. It can be viewed in HD at https://youtu.be/okiNSuhLB38

Restored – THE DEVIL (1920) – Mr. A’s First Film!

I have been learning my way around new digital video programs and have been able to refresh and restore some films that needed help. At the top of the list is Mr. A’s very first film, THE DEVIL, which until it was posted two years ago had been almost entirely unseen since its original release in 1920-21. Grateful for this significant event, we were aware of some shortcomings: the film speed was too fast, the image was rather faded, the opening titles were out of order, the the climatic ending was chopped up and way too abrupt. At the time there was little I could do to remedy these challenges but I’m pleased to unveil a better looking and sounding (music) version. I’ve beefed up the ending a little but I think Mr. A might approve. Please let me know what you think.

The director and the star of THE DEVIL (respectively):
Arliss in devil

A little bit of imaginative promotion by a theater owner:
The Devil _Theater Display 1921

Original lobby cards with hero Edmund Lowe, who later became a major film star in the 1930s:
The Devil003 copy_edited-Final

The Devil002

The Devil LC 1

and now the motion picture itself!

Published in: on February 19, 2016 at 11:31 PM  Leave a Comment