Scanity HDR film scanner with WetGate revives André de Toth`s film Legacy

Project: Restoration of André de Toth`s film Legacy
Customer: National Film Institute Hungary
DFT Products involved: Scanity HDR with WetGate

Each restored film is a bridge connecting past artistic visions with contemporary audiences, proving that cinema is not just entertainment, but a profound method of cultural memory. The story of a film that has been digitally restored, often through the effort of national film archives also tells a story of survival. For each film that has been preserved, many more are lost or in danger of deterioration. Director Martin Scorsese gives a pithy account as to why we need to invest in preserving films for future generations even when other issues seem more urgent: „The cinema gives us something precious: a record of ourselves in time, documented and interpreted“. (1) 

The film archive of the Hungary National Film Institute used DFT Scanity HDR scanner with WetGate to digitize and preserve André De Toth’s early film legacy. DFT’s WetGate process is particularly beneficial for older, potentially damaged nitrate films, as it can effectively "remove" base scratches during scanning, making the restoration process faster and more efficient.
André De Toth, originally named Endre Tóth, was a Hungarian-American film director born in 1913 in southern Hungary. He began his cinematic journey in the late 1930s, directing five films in 1939 alone, including the spy thriller Wedding in Toprin, and the historical biography Semmelweis. These early works showcased his versatility and creativity, establishing him as a significant figure in Hungarian cinema. De Toth fled to England in 1939 due to the rise of Nazism, eventually making his way to Hollywood, where he became renowned for his innovative use of 3D technology in films like House of Wax (1953). Celebrated by directors such as Tavernier, Scorsese, and Tarantino, he was a pioneering figure in film history, known for his adventurous spirit and mastery across genres, from Westerns to film noir.

De Toth collaborated with experienced screenwriter István Mihály to create a script that blended classic genres with innovative visual techniques. The production spared no expense in pursuit of authenticity, consulting experts for cultural accuracy and investing in technical equipment and elaborate sets. This debut work showcases de Toth's signature style of mixing crime and melodrama genres while emphasizing character development. The film's suspenseful elements are balanced with themes of fate and passion, exemplified by a daring scene in a glass-roofed wintergarden that nearly failed to pass censorship.

(1)  Scorsese, Martin. "Film Preservation: A Dire Need". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Mar. 2024,  www.britannica.com/topic/Film-Preservation-A-Dire-Need-2119175  (accessed 27 January 2025)