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In December 2023, researcher Michael Organ made a short search about where the film
had got to. It was discovered it had been screened at the Karlovy Vary International
Film Festival in the Czechoslovakia in April 1952. It had been subtitled in the Czech
language, as a result the print just stayed on there. All this time, it had been sitting in the
Czech Film Archive under the title Capitan Blesk.

Michael advised the National Film and Sound Archive of his discovery. The 35mm
print (presumably nitrate) arrived back in Australia in March 2024. The Archive set to
work digitising it for restoration. An article appeared on the NFSA website in
September. Just what is up to where is not known at present.

Both the Australian Directors Guild and the Australian Cinematographers Society are
keenly interested to get a look at this first film listed by NFSA as ‘Most Wanted’. After
all, their major awards are named for director Cecil Holmes and cameraman Ross Wood
respectively. What an Industry Film Day could be made out of that!

Formerly of Wollongong, Michael Organ had constructed an extensive blog about this
probably-lost film. Michael spoke in webinar to the Friends of the Archive on 25th May
just past. Quite a few “filmy” people called in with a range of points. The whole 97
minutes is now up on YouTube – just search for ‘Organ Thunderbolt’.

Michael deserves much credit for such archival digging and collating. Hold your breath
for the ultimate NFSA restoration, folks.

David Donaldson

REEL DEALS June 2025 9