Lost for 20 years due to a "paperwork error" by Paramount Pictures. Was tracked down in 1992.
Roman Polanski was present during the entire filming of A Day at the Beach. He was editing the picture and shooting inserts with the director, Simon Hesera, when news came of his wife's murder in California. He left England that night. The film was hastily finished without him, put on the shelf and has only recently been rediscovered.
In a manner of speaking, this is the film that saved Roman Polanski's life. He was working on it when Charles Manson's Family killed Sharon Tate and others at their home. In fact, Sharon was unhappy that Roman was still not home, meaning that his working on the film kept him unexpectedly longer than anticipated, and he was supposed to be home during the slayings.