| FORGOTTEN SILVER
 
Directed and written by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes. Produced by Sue Rogers. No
distributor set. Running time: 52 min.
New Zealand film pioneer Colin McKenzie receives his due from two of his
countrymen in this documentary that unearths his "lost" 1917 silent film
"Salome" and shines a light on a remarkable career that saw McKenzie pioneer the
use of sound and color in motion pictures years before Hollywood did the same. The only
problem is that McKenzie never existed, a "fact" that allows
co-directors/co-scripters Peter Jackson ("The Frighteners") and Costa Botes to
spoof the whole craze for discovering obscure films and restoring the reputation of
neglected filmmakers.
With the usual experts dutifully trotted out to pay homage to McKenzie,
including film historian Leonard Maltin and Miramax head Harvey Weinstein, "Forgotten
Silver" emerges as an uncanny deadpan take on the typical PBS or A&E biography.
Utilizing wonderful "faked" footage from McKenzie's life, it's the flip
"serious" side of "This is Spinal Tap"--and just as entertaining. -Shlomo
Schwartzberg |
