This film had a tragic history. Orson Welles shot it over three years in disparate locations, often using his own money. By the time The Film Foundation got involved, the original negatives were scattered across Rome, Paris, and Milan. Many reels had been damaged by improper storage. The foundation meticulously sourced the best surviving elements from five different archives. This restoration proved that Welles’ shoestring-budget Shakespeare is as visually rich as any Hollywood epic.
Projects often include both acknowledged classics and overlooked masterpieces. films restored by the film foundation
Working with partners like and Twentieth Century Fox , TFF has overseen the 4K restoration of high-profile titles: The Film Foundation Staff/FAQ - The Film Foundation This film had a tragic history
Aligned with the Directors Guild of America , the Foundation was built on the premise that film is not just entertainment but a primary historical record. By partnering with archives and studios, TFF has helped restore over 1,000 films, ensuring that the visual language of the 20th century remains legible for future generations. These restorations are more than just digital clean-ups; they are painstaking reconstructions that often involve searching the globe for the best surviving film elements to return a work to its original intended glory. Expanding the Map: The World Cinema Project Many reels had been damaged by improper storage