List_of_films_preserved_in_the_United_States_National_Film_Registry

National Film Registry

National Film Registry

Selection of films for preservation in the US Library of Congress


The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation, each selected for its historical, cultural, and aesthetic contributions since the NFPB's inception in 1988.[1][2]

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History

Throughout the 1980s, several prominent filmmakers and industry personalities in the United States, such as Frank Capra and Martin Scorsese, advocated for Congress to enact a film preservation bill in order to avoid commercial modifications (such as pan and scan and editing for TV) of classic films, which they saw as negative. In response to the controversy over the colorization of originally black and white films in the decade specifically, Representatives Robert J. Mrazek and Sidney R. Yates introduced the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, which established the National Film Registry, its purpose, and the criteria for selecting films for preservation.[3] The Act was passed and the NFR's mission was subsequently reauthorized by further acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, 2008, and 2016.[4][5][6][7] The National Film Preservation Board's mission, to which the NFR contributes, is to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America's film heritage.[8] The 1996 law also created the non-profit National Film Preservation Foundation which, although affiliated with the NFPB, raises money from the private sector.[9]

Selection criteria

"Taken together, the ... films in the National Film Registry represent a stunning range of American filmmaking—including Hollywood features, documentaries, avant-garde and amateur productions, films of regional interest, ethnic, animated, and short film subjects—all deserving recognition, preservation and access by future generations. As we begin this new millennium, the registry stands among the finest summations of American cinema's wondrous first century."

—Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress.[10]

The NFPB adds to the NFR up to 25 "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films" each year, showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation.[10] A film becomes eligible for inclusion ten years after its original release.[11] For the first selection in 1989, the public nominated almost 1,000 films for consideration. Members of the NFPB then developed individual ballots of possible films for inclusion. The ballots were tabulated into a list of 25 films that was then modified by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and his staff at the Library for the final selection.[10] Since 1997, members of the public have been able to nominate up to 50 films a year for the NFPB and Librarian to consider.[12]

The NFR includes films ranging from Hollywood classics to orphan films.[13] A film is not required to be feature-length, nor is it required to have been theatrically released in the traditional sense. The Registry contains newsreels, silent films, student films, experimental films, short films, music videos, films out of copyright protection or in the public domain, film serials, home movies, documentaries, animation, and independent films. As of the 2023 listing, there are 875 films in the Registry.

Films

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Notes

  1. Numbers 1–5, 7, and 10
  2. A serial of fourteen short films
  3. A serial of thirteen short films
  4. Remade at least 25 times; the NFR entry encompasses all versions
  5. Heretic, Frontier, Lamentation, and Appalachian Spring
  6. A series of seven short films
  7. A serial of twenty short films
  8. A series of eight short films
  9. Not released until 1952
  10. A collection of twenty-one short films
  11. A series of seven feature films

Number of films by release year

As of the 2023 induction there are 875 total films. For purposes of this list, multi-year serials are counted only once (as they are in the Registry) by year of completion.

More information Year of release, Number of films ...

Age of Registry selections

The oldest film in the registry, Newark Athlete, was released in 1891, while the most recent, 12 Years a Slave and 20 Feet from Stardom, were each released in 2013.

Timespan from release to selection

Released in 1898, and selected in December 2022, Mardi Gras Carnival experienced the longest wait, at 124 years (considering the fact that the film was already almost a century old before the Registry was even established, the "wait" was technically only 33 years), while Raging Bull, released theatrically in the United States on December 19, 1980, and inducted in October 1990, holds the record for the shortest delay, having been inducted slightly shy of the 10-year minimum.[29] Only eight other films have been inducted at the 10-year mark: Do the Right Thing,[52] Goodfellas,[53] Toy Story,[54] Fargo,[55] 13 Lakes,[56] Freedom Riders,[57] 12 Years a Slave and 20 Feet from Stardom.[58]

Directors with multiple entries (2 or more)

Academy Award-winning director John Ford has the most entries with 11 films.
Orson Welles, acclaimed filmmaker behind inductees Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1948) and Touch of Evil (1958).
Stanley Kubrick, master auteur responsible for inductees ranging from 1957's Paths of Glory to his 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining.

[59]

See also


References

  1. Eagan, Daniel (2010). America's film legacy : the authoritative guide to the landmark movies in the National Film Registry. New York: Continuum. p. x. ISBN 978-1-4411-1647-5. OCLC 676697377.
  2. "Reagan Signs Law on Film". The New York Times. September 28, 1988. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  3. "Legislative Authorization". National Film Preservation Board. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  4. "Public Law 110–336—Oct. 2, 2008" (PDF). United States Government Printing Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2009.
  5. Fox, Michael (May 28, 2003). "Running Around San Francisco for an Education". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  6. "National Film Registry Adds 25 Films". Millimeter. December 17, 2002. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  7. Molotsky, Irvin (September 20, 1989). "25 Films Chosen for the National Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  8. Keogh, Jim (March 25, 1999). "Public gets ticket to put favorite flicks in registry" (Fee required). Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  9. Andrews, Roberts M. (October 11, 1991). "25 Films Designated For Preservation" (Fee required). St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  10. Truitt, Brian (December 19, 2012). "'Dirty Harry,' 'Matrix' added to National Film Registry". USA Today. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  11. "2017 Additions to the National Film Registry". CBS News. CBS. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  12. "2008 Entries to National Film Registry Announced" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 30, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  13. "Librarian of Congress Announces 2007 Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 27, 2007. Retrieved March 26, 2013.
  14. Saperstein, Pat (December 13, 2023). "'Home Alone,Terminator 2,12 Years a Slave' Among 25 Titles Joining National Film Registry". Variety. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  15. "25 movies chosen for the National Film Registry". The Washington Post. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  16. Rainey, James (December 14, 2016). "'The Birds,' 'The Lion King,' 'Thelma & Louise' Join National Film Registry". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  17. "Librarian of Congress Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 18, 2001. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009.
  18. "25 Films Added to National Registry". The New York Times. November 15, 1994. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  19. "Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 17, 2002. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  20. Gamarekian, Barbara (October 19, 1990). "Library of Congress Adds 25 Titles to National Film Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  21. Potts, Kimberly (December 28, 2011). "'Forrest Gump,' 'Airplane' Among 25 Movies Added to National Film Registry". Reuters. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  22. "25 Films Added to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 16, 2003. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  23. "Librarian of Congress Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 27, 2000. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  24. "Films Added to National Film Registry for 2006" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 27, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  25. Ulaby, Neda (December 14, 2022). "'Iron Man', 'Super Fly' and 'Carrie' are inducted into the National Film Registry". NPR. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  26. "Librarian of Congress Adds 25 Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 20, 2005. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  27. |Morgan, David (December 16, 2015). ""Shawshank Redemption," "Ghostbusters" added to National Film Registry". CBS News. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  28. "Librarian of Congress Names 25 New Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. November 18, 1997. Archived from the original on August 11, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  29. "Films Added to National Film Registry for 2004" (Press release). Library of Congress. December 28, 2004. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  30. "Library of Congress announces 2013 National Film Registry selections". The Washington Post (Press release). December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  31. Library of Congress (December 14, 2021). "'Return of the Jedi' Among 25 Eclectic Films Joining National Film Registry". Library of Congress. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  32. "Librarian of Congress Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry" (Press release). Library of Congress. November 16, 1999. Archived from the original on September 4, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  33. "Personnel Credits". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 28, 2021.

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