Universal Studios, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012 by restoring many of its beloved classics, announced on Thursday that the studio plans on restoring 15 silent films over the next four years.
The studio is teaming up with the Library of Congress, The Film Foundation, George Eastman House, UCLA film & Television Archives, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Hollywood Heritage and the Association of Moving Image Archivists to restore these films.
While the studio didn’t say what the 15 films will be, Universal did produce several horror films during the silent days, even before Frankenstein and Dracula burst onto the screen. One of its biggest hits was the 1925 Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney.
“The company understands its responsibility and need to preserve our silent film legacy,” Ron Meyer, NBCUniversal Vice Chairman, said in a statement. “This early art of filmmaking is the foundation on which Universal Pictures was built more than 100 years ago, and it's important we honor our rich history.”
In December 2013, the Library of Congress and National Film Preservation Board found that 70 percent of silent films no longer exist. That’s why it is important for the major Hollywood studios to support restoring them and making sure they will be around for future generations. Each film is an important window into the birth of cinema and, more often than not, they remain entertaining to this day.
In 2012, Universal began restoring its classic library and has completed work on 30 titles so far. They plan to have 25 more titles restored by 2017.
Some of the Universal films that have already been restored include The Birds, All Quiet on the Western Front, Out of Africa, Schindler’s List, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Sting, Jaws and To Kill A Mockingbird.
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