Martin Scorsese Presents Republic Rediscovered: New Restorations from Paramount Pictures is a two-part series organized in association with The Film Foundation and Paramount Pictures. The 30-film program begins with Alfred Santell’s seldom-seen masterwork *That Brennan Girl* (1946). (Part two of the series screens August 9–August 23, 2018.) Curated by Martin Scorsese, the program celebrates a new beginning for the Republic library, which is currently being restored and returned to wide distribution by Paramount.
“From the ’30s through the ’50s, the different studio logos at the head of every picture carried their own associations and expectations,” said Scorsese. “And for me, the name Republic over the eagle on the mountain peak meant something special. Republic Pictures was what was known as a ‘poverty row’ studio, but what their pictures lacked in resources and prestige they made up for in inventiveness, surprise, and, in certain cases, true innovation. Among the many ‘B’ pictures produced at Republic in the studio’s heyday, there are so many titles that have been overlooked or forgotten; waiting for decades to be seen again. I’m truly excited that MoMA will be presenting 30 of these films, some in newly restored versions courtesy of Paramount Pictures and The Film Foundation. For two weeks this February and two weeks in August, you need to go to MoMA. I can promise you that you have some discoveries in store.”
Organized by Dave Kehr, Curator, Department of Film.
The exhibition is supported by the Annual Film Fund.