TOO MUCH JOHNSON (1936)

Try to imagine this. CITIZEN KANE was NOT Orson Welles film debut(!) In 1936 ORSON WELLES made a weird, *silent* film with JOSEPH COTTON, MARY WICKES, ARLENE FRANCIS and JOHN HOUSEMAN. The third remake of a silent film TOO MUCH JOHNSON. 

Imagine JOSEPH COTTON as a HAROLD LLOYD-esque guy bumbling around some fantastic New York locations. (some scenes almost remind one of ERASERHEAD!!!) It was intended to be part of a live and film ON-STAGE presentation. 

Then the film was NEVER FINISHED. Was thought to be LOST FOR THIRTY YEARS. Then found by WELLES in a TRUNK IN HIS HOME in the 1970s. Still never finished. Then In August 1970, a fire broke out at Welles's villa and the only known complete print of Too Much Johnson was destroyed. 

THEN... in 2013 a COPY/WORKPRINT was found in SPAIN. That print was edited into this AMAZING thirty minute presentation. The film is so pristine- it had only been run thru a projector 2 or 3 times before it was preserved in this print!

National Film Preservation Foundation: "Too Much Johnson": The Films Reimagined (2014)

Be sure to go FULL SCREEN

Prepare to have your mind blown!!!!!