[AMIA-L] The Fall of Jerusalem

[Northeast Historic Film <OLDFILM@AOL.COM>]

August 22
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

Historians of early cinema are baffled by a film discovered by Northeast
Historic Film being screened on August 22 in Bucksport, Maine.  The print was
donated to NHF by Alan Kattelle. Preservation by Haghefilm, courtesy George
Eastman House.
    The Fall of Jerusalem, as it was called when it was distributed in the
early 1920s, is a biblical epic from the Old Testament and concerns the
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar's taking of the city.    None of the film
scholars who have seen the  film have been able to identify its national
origin, the original title or any of the actors in the film.  (A clip was
shown at AMIA screenings night in Portland.  Many hmmms and a general
agreement that it was probably produced in the early teens. No answers.)
    The Fall of Jerusalem is a compelling, strange film. It was distributed
by the Wholesome Film Company of Boston, a firm that opened in Boston in 1924
and operated, we think, well latter part of  the 20th century.
    It was probably imported from overseas, when "epic" films were enjoying a
boom in the United States, although even that is uncertain. Historian
Jan-Christopher Horak, who will introduce the film at the Alamo Theatre in
Bucksport, has done an exhaustive search for reviews in contemporary film
journals and trade periodicals, as well as in censorship records in New York
and Pennsylvania, but has found no clues, nor even a list of credits. The
mystery continues...


The beautifully tinted silent film will be shown Thursday, August 22 at 7:30
p.m. at the Alamo Theatre, 85 Main Street, Bucksport. There will be live
piano accompaniment by Sylvia Moskovitz, who played for the National Film
Registry film gala at Northeast Historic Film.  Tickets are $9 and $7 for
Northeast Historic Film members, seniors and students. For more information
call 207 469-0924.

For frame enlarements see
http://www.oldfilm.org/collections/preservationInfoLinks.htm