Lost Fellini film discovered...

International Press (IP) - Recently discovered in the estate of renowned director Federico Fellini were several unused scripts and reels of undeveloped footage thought to be from the auteur's most widely praised work 8 1/2 (1963). Believed to be alternate takes composed for international markets, the undeveloped film stock languished in a vault for decades. Labeled 8 3/4 on canisters, the unassembled footage turned out to be sequences shot for an intended sequel in development in 1964.

8 1/2 focused on the trials and tribulations of a director, a very personal and introspective film for Fellini. From the existing footage, 8 3/4 appears to focus on the struggles of actors and the realities of life on a working stage set. There is no way of knowing where the director intended to take this delightful story, but an ongoing search of other scripts in the late director's estate may turn up clues.

Although the undeveloped film remains a mystery at least the stored B&W footage has survived the ravages of time. Filmed with unidentified actors, existing sequences have the unmistakeable flair of the maestro's nuanced story-telling, but with little evidence as to why the film wasn't finished. Was the director pulled into another project? Did the funding evaporate? No complete script of 8 3/4 was found with the footage so it's doubtful that any reconstruction will be attempted.

IP reporting: 4/1/15

 

I was always hoping they'd turn up the rare work print, 4 1/4.

 

That'll probably be found next year.


Cat

 

Is everyone that worked on the film dead?

 

Often film shot and then not developed becomes unuseable after such a long period of time.

There is no mention of the development processing of the reels which is very odd.

Is this an April Fools joke

 

It also presumes that h e could work on a sequel without anyone in the press or any actor mentioning it in over 50 years.

Plus his estate would have catalogued everything in his collection decades ago.

 

Not to my knowledge, certainly the actors in the staircase scene aren't.


Cat

If you figure out who the actors are in the scene above it should provide clues.


Cat

 

I wish there really were a lost Fellini film, but with Mina Mazzini and Toto'.

 

Well, it probably wouldn't be AVATAR! Then again, who knows?


Cat

 

I'm game for it!