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The Art of Preservation: Rick Schmidlin's Cinematic Legacy

An exploration of a dedicated film preservationist, silent film scholar, and producer-director.

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About Rick Schmidlin

A Dedicated Scholar

Rick Schmidlin, born October 22, 1954, is an American film preservationist and silent film scholar. His career, spanning from 1982 to the present, has been dedicated to the meticulous restoration, reconstruction, and documentation of cinematic history, particularly focusing on lost and significant films.

Academic Contributions

Until 2010, Schmidlin served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of British Columbia. He contributed his expertise to the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies, shaping the next generation of information professionals and archivists with his insights into film preservation and scholarship.

Early Influences

Raised in Maywood, New Jersey, Schmidlin's passion for film was ignited by frequent visits to a local theater in nearby Hackensack. This early exposure to the magic of cinema laid the foundation for his lifelong career in film preservation and scholarship.

Notable Film Contributions

Restorations & Reconstructions

Schmidlin is renowned for his work on significant film restorations and reconstructions, breathing new life into cinematic treasures. His efforts ensure that these vital pieces of film history remain accessible and appreciated.

Title Year Role Notes
The Doors: Live at the Hollywood Bowl N/A Producer Concert Film
The Doors: The Soft Parade - A Retrospective 1991 Producer Retrospective Documentary
The Fly 1986 Assistant Producer David Cronenberg Film
Elvis Presley: That's the Way It Is N/A Producer (Special Edition) Concert Film Restoration
Greed 1924 (Re-edit 1999) Producer Reconstruction of lost original
Touch of Evil 1958 (Re-edit 1998) Producer Reconstruction of Orson Welles' version
London After Midnight 1927 (Restoration 2000) Producer, Restorer Reconstruction of lost silent horror film
The Dickson Experimental Sound Film 1894 (Restoration 2000) Producer, Restorer Early sound film
The Grim Game 1919 (Restoration 2015) Producer, Restorer Lost Houdini film

Pioneering Preservation Efforts

Reconstructing Lost Films

Schmidlin's dedication to film preservation is exemplified by his work on films considered lost. For London After Midnight (1927), he meticulously reconstructed the film from surviving stills and shooting continuity scripts, offering a glimpse into Tod Browning's lost horror masterpiece.

Illuminating Silent Cinema

His expertise extends to reconstructing director's intended versions of films. For Erich von Stroheim's Greed (1924) and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil (1958), Schmidlin produced re-edited versions that aimed to capture the original artistic vision, often differing significantly from studio-released cuts.

Early Sound and Houdini

Schmidlin also produced the restoration of The Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1894), a landmark in early sound cinema. Furthermore, he produced and restored the 1919 Houdini film The Grim Game, which premiered at the TCM Classic Film Festival in 2015.

Critical Acclaim & Awards

Recognition for Visionary Work

Schmidlin's significant contributions to film restoration and preservation have been widely recognized by prestigious film critics' organizations and industry bodies.

  • For Touch of Evil (1958 Reconstruction):
    • Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle.
    • Special Citation from the National Society of Film Critics.
    • Special Citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
  • For Greed (1924 Reconstruction):
    • Special Citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (shared with Roger Mayer and Turner Classic Movies).
  • For London After Midnight (1927 Restoration):
    • Rondo Award (2001) from the Classic Horror Film Board (produced for TCM).

Academic Engagement

University of British Columbia

From 1982 until 2010, Rick Schmidlin shared his extensive knowledge as an adjunct faculty member at the University of British Columbia. He taught within the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies, shaping the next generation of information professionals and archivists with his insights into film preservation and scholarship.

Current Endeavors

The Queen Theatre

As of 2018, Rick Schmidlin was actively involved with the restored Queen Theatre in Bryan, Texas. He served as the house manager and programmer, continuing his dedication to showcasing and preserving cinematic experiences for contemporary audiences.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Rick Schmidlin Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation regarding film history, archival practices, or cinematic analysis. Always refer to official documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.