The U.S. has added 25 movies to the National Film Registry, which seeks to ensure the classics will be preserved for future generations.
The 2007 list, issued Thursday, includes Bullitt, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Grand Hotel, Oklahoma! and 12 Angry Men, Library of Congress head James Billington said in a news release.
Actor Henry Fonda, the star of 12 Angry Men, shown in 1962.
(Evening Standard/Getty)
The Librarian of Congress — Billington's official title — picks the movies on advice from the National Film Preservation Board because they are deemed to be "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant.
Once named, the library moves to preserve them, either through its own preservation program or by collaborating with other archives, studios and independent filmmakers.
The preservation effort is necessary because old movies are deteriorating.
"Up to half the films produced in this country before 1950 — and as much as 90 per cent of those made before 1920 — are lost forever," Billington said.
Among the selection announced Thursday:
- Bullitt, a 1968 crime drama, is famed for an 11-minute car chase over the hills of San Francisco.
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind is Steven Spielberg's 1977 exploration of the search for extraterrestrial life and UFOs.
- Grand Hotel is a multiple-plot movie from 1932 that stars Greta Garbo, Wallace Beery, John and Lionel Barrymore and Joan Crawford.
- Oklahoma! is the 1955 movie of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical hit, including songs like Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'.
- 12 Angry Men is the 1957 adaptation of a stage play that follows a juror (Henry Fonda) who slowly convinces his fellow jurors that the accused is not guilty.
With the 2007 selections, there are now 475 movies in the registry.
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
More Film Headlines »
- Film fest's new address to be named Reitman Square
- The Toronto city block that will house the new headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival Group is to be named Reitman Square.
- Striking writers cancel own awards, make side deal with Weinstein
- Striking Hollywood film and TV writers had a day of highs and lows Thursday, which saw kudos for some, a surprise cancellation and another independent deal with a prominent production house.
- Chinese director arrested on drug allegations
- Chinese director Zhang Yuan, who has won awards at the Venice and Berlin film festivals, has been arrested in Beijing on suspicion of drug offences.
- Judges pan anti-Clinton documentary as campaign advertising
- The early reviews are in, and three U.S. federal judges appeared in agreement Thursday that a movie lambasting Hillary Rodham Clinton seemed an awful lot like a 90-minute campaign advertisement.
- Rossellini to narrate Maddin film at Winnipeg New Music Festival
- Director and actress Isabella Rossellini will narrate Guy Maddin's silent film Brand Upon the Brain as part of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's New Music Festival this February.
More Arts Headlines »
- Letterman turns down N.S. hospitality
- A fiddling demonstration from Premier Rodney MacDonald was not enough to lure David Letterman to Nova Scotia.
- 'I don't think we'll ever see another Oscar Peterson': Oliver Jones
- A weekend of tributes to the late Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson began Friday with a concert in Toronto as part of a conference of jazz artists and educators.
- Publisher to review romance novelist's books for plagiarism
- Publisher Signet Books will review all the romance novels written by Cassie Edwards after allegations of plagiarism in her work.
- O.J. Simpson to return to court; accused of violating bail
- Former football star and actor O.J. Simpson is back in custody after allegedly violating the terms of his bail in relation to his recent armed robbery case, a Las Vegas court official said Friday.
- Food for thought served up at West Coast art show
- A giant asparagus stalk and impaled baked goods are among the appetizing artworks on the menu at a new, food-related exhibit in Vancouver.
Arts Features
Blog Watch
Most Blogged about CBC.ca Articles
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window