stuthehistoryguy wrote:
Is there a major effort to locate other lost films that persists with anything approaching the ardor of those lusting for London After Midnight?  
  
NO!

Although there are more than 8000 lost American-made feature films from the silent era alone, only about two dozen are actively sought-after.  LAM is in the #1 spot.  Why?  Who knows.  By all accounts, it's not a particularly good film.  But it was the first American vampire film (even if they were only faux-vampires), starred the always interesting Chaney, was the basis for an atmospheric remake by the same director, and features an interesting set of still photographs.  And that is pretty much why it has been elevated to the spot of honor.  Well, that and Forrest J. Ackerman constantly playing it up to be the classic of classics.

Other American films that repeatedly turn up on the "Most Wanted List" are FOUR DEVILS, THE PATRIOT, HOLLYWOOD, and THE DEVIL'S PASS KEY, all of which got better reviews than LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT.