TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

TheArchive never ceases to amaze. Upon learning of Dean Stockwell's passing, we immediately dug in to our library to recount how many Stockwell titles we own. It should be of no surprise that we have five titles of which one is a series. But before we share the list, let's celebrate an awesome career that spanned over 70 years and began in childhood in the 1940s if you'll believe it. Perhaps best known for  Quantum Leap,  you may be surprised to learn that Stockwell was also  an Oscar, Golden Globe winning, and Emmy-nominated actor with over 200 credits to his name. His earliest work was on a Broadway stage as a child before he found himself on screen with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Errol Flynn and opposite Katharine Hepburn in  Long Day’s Journey Into Night  which earned him a Best Actor prize at Cannes. Of course it was Wim Wenders’ 1984 film  Paris, Texas t hat led to a reignited career in the 1980s and 90s where he found himself in David Lynch's Blue V

From vampires and werewolves to witches and demons, here's a rundown of movie ideas to keep you watching all Halloween 100 Years of Horror  chronicles the history of movie horror from the earliest experimental chillers through to the unforgettable "golden age of movie monsters," and on to the graphic horror films of today. To get some good ideas on what to watch this month ( or just learn more about how this genre emerged ), start here with these 13 docs: Dracula and his Disciples : Cinematic portrayals of Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, including those of Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, and Christopher Lee. Blood Drinking Beginnings : Blood-drinking beings, most notably inspired by Bram Stoker's novel and how different filmmakers found new ways of reinventing the concept of the vampire. Frankenstein's Friends : Classic films based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein focuses on portrayals of the monster by Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi, and Glenn St

Our team has put together the "Dreamboat Stars of Summer" starring: Don Johnson, Mel Gibson, Bruce Greenwood, and Mark Harmon available for free on TheArchive.com . Here’s the skinny on each summer title: First up is Summer Dreams: The Story of the Beach Boys starring Bruce Greenwood as Dennis Wilson.  This is a definitive tale of the legendary band told from the brotherly relationship of the late Dennis Wilson and his genius but troubled brother, Brian, almost 25 years before Love & Mercy. It features an incredible Beach Boys soundtrack. Long Hot Summer is based on a series of stories by William Faulkner and stars Don Johnson (in the Paul Newman role) and Cybill Shepherd. Two years before his breakout role in Mad Ma x, Mel Gibson stars alongside Phil Avalon in surfer flick  Summer City , his very first film.  Four years before the the series of nearly the same title starring Will Smith, and a year before they starred in the cult hit "Summer School," Mark Harm

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