The monumental achievements of the classic film Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) require no introduction. In its latest project, the San Francisco Film Preserve (SFFP) has sourced multiple film elements from archives worldwide, restoring three uniquely valuable versions of the masterpiece:
– The US Premiere Movietone Sound Version: Features a 1.19:1 aspect ratio, which is closer to a square format.
– The Czechoslovakian Export Version: Printed from an alternate camera negative; believed to have been shot simultaneously with a second camera alongside the US version.
– The Dutch Silent Version: Preserves the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, as it did not require the extra space reserved for an audio track like the Movietone version.
Beyond the feature film itself, SFFP has partnered with the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center to restore the film’s original theatrical trailer, alongside never-before-seen deleted scenes. The newly restored version of Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans will have its world premiere at Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy. For further details: https://filmpreserve.org/restoration/sunrise-a-song-of-two-humans/
