''Final Curtain'' was a 22-minute

television pilot A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie) in United Kingdom and United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television netwo ...

written and directed by

Ed Wood Edward Davis Wood Jr. (October 10, 1924 – December 10, 1978) was an American filmmaker, actor, and pulp novelist. In the 1950s, Wood directed several B movie, low-budget science fiction, crime and horror films that later became cult c ...

in 1957. It starred Duke Moore as an actor wandering an empty theater after dark, where he is haunted by creepy sounds and eerie sights. The film is narrated by

Dudley Manlove Dudley Devere Manlove (June 11, 1914 – April 17, 1996) was an American radio announcer and an actor. His credits include the San Francisco–based radio detective show '' Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209''. Early years In 1921, Manlove was one of ...

. Both Moore and Manlove also appear in Wood's

cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...

Plan 9 from Outer Space ''Plan 9 from Outer Space'' is a 1957 American Independent film, independent science fiction film, science fiction-horror film produced, written, directed, and edited by Ed Wood. The film was shot in black-and-white in November 1956 and had ...

''. Wood had hoped to use the film as the pilot for a television series he intended to produce called ''Portraits of Terror.'' Some scenes where the actor explores the theater were later inserted into Wood's 1959 film, ''

Night of the Ghouls ''Night of the Ghouls'' is an American horror film written and directed by Ed Wood, and shot between April and May 1958. The film features some reoccurring cast members and characters from the 1955 Wood-directed film '' Bride of the Monster'', i ...

'', with a voiceover narration designed to make it fit the story better. For years, the complete version of ''Final Curtain'' was considered a

lost film A lost film is a feature film, feature or short film in which the original negative or copies are not known to exist in any studio archive, private collection, or public archive. Films can be wholly or partially lost for a number of reasons. ...

, until a copy was discovered by Jason Insalaco, great-nephew of actor

Paul Marco Paul Marco (June 10, 1927 – May 14, 2006) was an American actor who often appeared in movies made by Ed Wood, including the "Kelton Trilogy" of '' Bride of the Monster'', '' Night of the Ghouls'' and '' Plan 9 from Outer Space'', in which he pl ...

(who had appeared in several Ed Wood projects). The restored film was premiered at the

Slamdance Film Festival The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. The annual week-long festival is held in Los Angeles in late February and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization. The organization ...

on January 23, 2012 and is now available on DVD.

References

External links

* * 1957 films 1957 television specials Films directed by Ed Wood Films produced by Ed Wood 1950s American television specials 1957 in American television Films with screenplays by Ed Wood Television films as pilots Television pilots not picked up as a series 1950s rediscovered films American television films Rediscovered American films 1950s English-language films {{US-tv-film-stub