TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

It is only fitting to celebrate our independence by going BEYOND THE MASK! With people out and about and ready to gather, July 4th may be the biggest spectacle we've seen in years. But we recommend you also celebrate our nation's independence and take a break from the heat and crowds by watching  TheArchive 's, BEYOND THE MASK . Beyond the Mask , in beautiful 4K, is an action-packed adventure set in 1776 during the turmoil of the Revolutionary war, bringing history to life in a story filled with liberty, freedom, and faith. Based on true events, the film features action, battles, and suspense, leading up to the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Cheney stars as William Reynolds, Kara Kilmer as Charlotte Holloway, Alan Madlane as Benjamin Franklin, and John Rhys-Davies as the corrupt Charles Kemp in a performance Variety praised as, "bellicose, two dimensional villainy that makes for undeniably enjoyable viewing." Yes, he's indeed enj

When streaking becomes professional, does that mean it's serious business or just for laughs? Can't it be both? TheArchive decided to undress this conceit. Sports are back - let the streaking commence! Streaking rose to popularity in the early 1970s, as disruption to sporting events to demonstrate rebellion.  As the phenomenon grew in prominence across live sporting events, security and event handlers would do their best to diffuse the situation and discourage the daring and baring.  But alas, the streaking continued. Providing a sense of comedic flare to the otherwise tension-filled dynamic of the game, spectators seem to enjoy  both and have come to expect if not demand some nude diversion during the big game. In STREAKER , our favorite streaker movie we've acquired yet, t his Swiss film spotlights the high stakes competitive world of streaking; money and pride are on the line, and bets are placed to see who can stay on the field the

Frederick Douglass wrote a letter to Harriet Tubman and said the following:  "The midnight sky and the silent stars have been the witnesses of your devotion to freedom and of your heroism…I know of no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people than you have."  We are spotlighting the true story of an incredible American hero who changed the world and whose influence continues to do so today. TheArchive proudly presents A Woman Called Moses , the seminal miniseries honoring the life of Harriett Tubman who summoned the strength and indomitable will to defy and overcome a tyrannous system.  Debuting in 1978, A Woman Called Moses was produced as a television miniseries and based on the life of Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who organized the infamous Underground Railroad, ultimately leading scores from enslavement to freedom.  Emmy, Tony, and Oscar-Winning Cicely Tyson delivers a tour de force performance as Tubman. The legendary

During #PrideMonth, we thought it only fitting to celebrate some of our very best content spotlighting the LGBTQ+ experience. RuPaul is widely regarded globally as a bold voice of change and authenticity, and we are sharing a bit more on his film from the 90's Red Ribbon Blues . If you are hoping for a full drag, over the top dance sequence starring RuPaul in all his fabulousness, please watch his eight time Emmy winning Rupaul's Drag Race or To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, which incidentally came out the same year. No pun. Red Ribbon Blues is an action dramedy about four friends who take to ripping off pharmacies so they can procure impossibly expensive HIV medication in an attempt to distribute it to those who can't afford it. Like most people! RuPaul is Duke, an L.A. art gallery owner whose partner is starting to slip in to dementia due to complications around HIV. They start contemplating all kinds of illegal activity in order to get the drugs they ne

We recently visited with Harry Eskin, one of our 4K restoration team members, to find out what it takes to restore a film to 4K. Harry is a member of a four-person restoration team headed by Sarah Smith, our Media Archive Manager, and supported by assistant Nicole Bajorek, and 4K film editor Meni Phillip. With over 100 hours and counting, and available to be streamed in 4K anytime, anywhere, on any device, TheArchive offers the most extensive independent library of rare films that have been restored to their original magnificence. Q: Thank you for taking some time to speak with us today about restoring films in 4K. I will jump right in. How did you get started on a career as a film archivist and restorationist?  Harry: I have always been a film buff with a particular interest in rare films; the rarer the film, the better. I was introduced to film archiving in college and decided it was something I wanted to pursue. After receiving a Master's Degre

The Whole Wide World is a true story of Novalyne Price Ellis (Renée Zellweger) one of the greatest pulp fiction writers of all time.  Based on her acclaimed autobiography, Ellis is a feisty West Texas schoolteacher who has a torrid and turbulent affair with Robert. E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio), the great pulp writer of the 1930s.  However, their conflicting personalities along with Howard’s emotional baggage,  including his sickly mother and absent father, puts a strain on their relationship.  The two struggle to carry on the romance  but it devolves to tumult, resulting in an unrequited love story. Howard becomes more immersed in his own struggles and deeply dis connected from the real world pushing his love further and further away.    No one said love is easy, but at least you can suffer through it in beautiful, free, 4K. You can stream it free on Roku now. Love hurts here at TheArchive .  TheArchive  channel is dedicated to

There are so many interesting stories embedded in TheArchive ’s deep archive. With a vast library of content and a rich history, we continue to distribute surprises every day.  For example, streaming on TheArchive now are all 39 episodes of 1956’s The Buccaneers starring the inimitable Robert Shaw, possibly best known for his iconic performance as Quint the shark hunter in Jaws, but an Oscar-nominee and Hollywood stalwart nonetheless, and a damn solid Buccaneer as well.  Talk about difficult schedules. 39 episodes shot over a single season, nearly a record, and only one number shy of Tom Brady’s record last year of passing touchdowns in a single season. That’s a reach in comparable statistics, but we  are  talking about the Buccaneers.  If you watch the series, one can see how amazingly, nearly 65 years later, art and life do continue to imitate one another. The plot centers around Captain Dan Tempest who as an ex-pirate, received a pardon from the King and turned privateer after his

To commemorate the beginning of Black History Month,  we are celebrating two remarkable American heroes who are forever and inextricably linked in film history. A Woman Called Moses  stars the late, legendary Cicely Tyson in a miniseries honoring the life of Harriett Tubman who summoned the strength and indomitable will to defy and overcome a tyrannous system.  In her near 70 year career on screen, the Emmy, Tony, and Academy Honorary Award winner explored a broad and deep mix of roles in film, television and theater, many that worked to lift and amplify the black experience. "Whatever good I have accomplished as an actress I believe came in direct proportion to my efforts to portray Black women who have made positive contributions to my heritage." A Woman Called Moses  was produced as a television miniseries and based on the life of Harriet Tubman, the escaped slave who organized the infamous Underground Railroad, ultimately leading scores from enslavement to freedom.  "