Accidentally Preserved: notes on the films

With the recent news from the Library of Congress that 75% of our silent film heritage has been scattered to the winds (the victim of the ravages of time and neglect), the efforts of film historian-silent movie accompanist Ben Model to retrieve classic comedies (that often constitute the only remaining prints of these films) and feature them in the DVD collection ACCIDENTALLY PRESERVED are greatly appreciated more than ever. Fans of these films can also take solace that a second DVD volume of ACCIDENTALLY PRESERVED is in the works as well.So it only logically follows that you will want a copy of ACCIDENTALLY PRESERVED: NOTES ON THE FILMS—a 54-page companion guide written by Model and silent comedy historian Steve Massa that chronicles the content on the two DVDs; presenting a fascinating account of many of the players in these shorts in one section and a “how-these-films-came-to-light” history in the other. The splendid feature to this book is that is tucks right inside the DVD case, so if you need to access the information it’s at the ready. (Some of us have a tendency to misplace things, you know.) If you’ve been searching high and low for the perfect gift for the classic movie cinephile in your family…your quest is complete!

The perfect companion to the ACCIDENTALLY PRESERVED DVD with notes on the films by Steve Massa and notes on the history and condition of the prints (which were transferred to make the DVD) by producer and accompanist Ben Model. And since this small book also contains the same types of notes on the soon to be released ACCIDENTALLY PRESERVED Vol. 2 disc, it's a great appeteaser for more rare short films (mostly silent comedies) to come.Steve's notes are entertainingly written little min-film-history lessons that put the films and their creators in perspective and enlighten on some once big names now nearly forgotten. In addition, they highlight some folk who were not known by the average movie goer of time past, and explain the role they played in bringing these mini-entertainments to life.If you ever wondered how people collected movies before there was VHS and Betamax, Ben's notes on the trials and tribulations of collecting on actual film (not sparing the reader the horror of "vinegar syndrome") will add to your appreciation of this effort in getting otherwise lost films out to folks who may not have known they wanted to see them until they did!If you don't already have AP1, check out the description and reviews elsewhere on Amazon. If you order the DVD and book together, you'll find the book fits nicely under the clips on the inside cover of the DVD, Bravo, Ben and Steve.

This is an excellent companion piece to the similarly excellent DVD collections. These wonderful early short films take you back to a day when you would go to the theater to see movies, not a single movie. Besides a feature, you would have a newsreel, a cartoon and if you were very lucky, a one or two reel comedy. Now this book gives you not only the historical background of the productions, but of the stars and those behind the camera. An added bonus, which the film collector in me loves, are title by title notes on the actual prints used in the production of the DVDs. Steve, Ben and their associates have done not only an excellent job, but a great service to fans of early film.

A nice little book that is required reading for anyone who owns the accompanying DVD. Even if you don't, this tome stands on its own as an interesting and informative history of the unsung films, actors and technicians of the silent era who have, unfortunately, fallen under the radar of most current studies. I really enjoyed the films on the 'Accidentally Preserved' DVD when I first viewed them. Now that I have a greater understanding of the effort that went into making / preserving them, I suspect it's time to visit them again, with what I'm sure will be a heightened sense of appreciation. Congratulations to both Steve Massa and Ben Model !

This is a great little companion piece to the fine Accidentally Preserved DVD and the forthcoming Volume Two DVD. There are very informative essays about the films and stars by Steve Massa, plus notes about the physical prints by Ben Model. It's all highly entertaining, very readable stuff and a treat for lovers of cinema history. It's also nicely produced and designed to fit in one of the DVD cases. Well worth the modest asking price!

great stuff

Very Good

It's a MUST for owners of the 2 Accidentally Preserved collections. What a great idea. I'm not a film collector, but I just ate up the info on the 16 mm prints and the condition some of these films were in before they made their way to DVD.