Film experts have described the discovery of the first three reels of The White Shadow, dating from 1923, as "priceless".
Three further reels are still missing.
All copies of The White Shadow had long been given up as lost by Hitchock fans.
It was recognised as archivists were trawling through films in the national collection.
The film, for which Hitchcock wrote the scenario, designed the sets, edited the footage and served as assistant director, was discovered deep in the vaults of the New Zealand Film Archive.
Hitchcock, aged 24 at the time, cut his teeth on what is described as a "wild, atmospheric melodrama" before going on to establish his reputation as a master of suspense in a directing career that lasted five decades.
The White Shadow stars Betty Compson in dual roles as twin sisters, one angelic and the other "without a soul".
That the New Zealand copy survives is owed to Jack Murtagh, for many years a projectionist in the provincial town of Hastings, who was regarded as an eccentric collector of films, cigarette cards, stamps and coins.
After Mr Murtagh's death in 1989, his private collection of highly flammable nitrate film prints was sent for safekeeping to the national archives by Tony Osborne, his grandson.
Other early titles found in his collection have also aroused interest, including a copy of John Ford's 1927 comedy Upstream.
"He would be quietly amused by all the attention now generated by these important film discoveries," Mr Osborne said.
In Los Angeles, David Sterritt, author of The Films of Alfred Hitchcock and chairman of the National Society of Film Critics, said: "This is one of the most significant developments in memory for scholars, critics, and admirers of Hitchcock's extraordinary body of work."
Hitchcock's directorial debut came only two years later, and Mr Sterritt said the discovery offered "a priceless opportunity" to study his evolving technique.
Copies of The White Shadow are now being created and will be made available in the United States.
Hitchcock, who died in 1980 aged 80, went on to direct classic thrillers including The 39 Steps, Dial M For Murder, Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, and The Birds.
By Paul Chapman taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8678748/Lost-Alfred-Hitchcock-film-found-in-New-Zealand.html
The White Shadow stars Betty Compson in dual roles as twin sisters, one angelic and the other "without a soul".
That the New Zealand copy survives is owed to Jack Murtagh, for many years a projectionist in the provincial town of Hastings, who was regarded as an eccentric collector of films, cigarette cards, stamps and coins.
After Mr Murtagh's death in 1989, his private collection of highly flammable nitrate film prints was sent for safekeeping to the national archives by Tony Osborne, his grandson.
Other early titles found in his collection have also aroused interest, including a copy of John Ford's 1927 comedy Upstream.
"He would be quietly amused by all the attention now generated by these important film discoveries," Mr Osborne said.
In Los Angeles, David Sterritt, author of The Films of Alfred Hitchcock and chairman of the National Society of Film Critics, said: "This is one of the most significant developments in memory for scholars, critics, and admirers of Hitchcock's extraordinary body of work."
Hitchcock's directorial debut came only two years later, and Mr Sterritt said the discovery offered "a priceless opportunity" to study his evolving technique.
Copies of The White Shadow are now being created and will be made available in the United States.
Hitchcock, who died in 1980 aged 80, went on to direct classic thrillers including The 39 Steps, Dial M For Murder, Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, and The Birds.
By Paul Chapman taken from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8678748/Lost-Alfred-Hitchcock-film-found-in-New-Zealand.html
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