Which Films Have Been Added to the National Film Registry?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the films that have been added to the National Film Registry, focusing on the criteria for selection and notable omissions. Participants explore the significance of certain films and question the eligibility of foreign films versus American productions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note the omission of Fritz Lang's Metropolis from the registry and question whether the selection criteria favor American films.
  • Others mention that Nosferatu is also absent, raising similar concerns about the inclusion of foreign films.
  • One participant recalls seeing a foreign film, The March of Time inside Nazi Germany, but later clarifies it was a US production, suggesting a possible bias towards American films.
  • A participant suggests that Schindler's List should be included, but questions its eligibility as a local film.
  • Another participant points out that many films, including Schindler's List, may already be included in the registry due to the annual selection process that has been ongoing since 1989.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the criteria for film selection, particularly concerning the inclusion of foreign films. There is no consensus on whether the registry is limited to American films or if it includes a broader range.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference the eligibility requirements for films to be considered for the registry, noting that they must be at least 10 years old and can include non-feature-length films. However, the implications of these criteria on the selection process remain unclear.

Ivan Seeking
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
8,252
Reaction score
2,664
... The Library of Congress announced the [25] selections early Tuesday. The goal of the registry, which began in 1989, isn’t to identify the best movies ever made but to preserve films with artistic, cultural or historical significance...
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/dec/29/registry-selects-25-films/

•Airplane (1980)
•All the President’s Men (1976)
•The Bargain (1914)
•Cry of Jazz (1959)
•Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967)
•The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
•The Exorcist (1973)
•The Front Page (1931)
•Grey Gardens (1976)
•I Am Joaquin (1969)
•It’s a Gift (1934)
•Let There Be Light (1946)
•Lonesome (1928)
•Make Way For Tomorrow (1937)
•Malcolm X (1992)
•McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
•Newark Athlete (1891)
•Our Lady of the Sphere (1969)
•The Pink Panther (1964)
•Preservation of the Sign language (1913)
•Saturday Night Fever (1977)
•Study of a River (1996)
•Tarantella (1940)
•A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
•A Trip Down Market Street (1906)

What would you add and is it already included? One glaring omission that I noticed is Fritz Lang's, Metropolis.
http://www.loc.gov/film/titles.html

◦The Librarian/Board will continue to select up to 25 “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films” each year for the National Film Registry. To be eligible, films must be at least 10 years old, though they need not be feature-length or have had a theatrical release in order to be considered. The legislation’s intent is that the broadest possible range of films be eligible for consideration.
http://www.loc.gov/film/filmabou.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Interesting that Metropolis is not on the list... I wonder if the films must be "American", because 'Nosferatu' is not on the list, either.
 
Andy Resnick said:
Interesting that Metropolis is not on the list... I wonder if the films must be "American", because 'Nosferatu' is not on the list, either.

I thought I saw a couple of foreign films, such as The March of Time inside Nazi Germany, but it turns out that was a US production, so perhaps this is US only.
 
I would have added Schindler's List but seems like it is not local.