National Film Registry Names 25 Films for Safeguarding

By Steven Pate in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 28, 2010 8:20PM

The Empire Strikes Back is grabbing much of the attention among the 25 additions to the National Film Registry announced today. Each year, the Library of Congress selects up to 25 "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films" for the registry. Han Solo may have said "Never tell me the odds," but the chances were always favorable that Empire, a box office smash considered by many to be the best of the Star Wars films, would become the second sequel enshrined, following The Godfather Part II (inducted in 1993). It marks George Lucas' fourth title on the list.

Other cultural touchstones selected include Airplane!, The Exorcist, Malcom X, The Pink Panther and Saturday Night Fever. We're particularly happy to see Robert Altman's revisionist western McCabe & Mrs Miller, one of our favorites and a film that Roger Ebert called "perfect," on the list. This year's class includes the most recently-produced entry (1996's Study of a River) and the oldest film preserved so far (Newark Athlete, from 1891).

Films are chosen by the Librarian of Congress from nominations by the public based on recommendations from members of the National Film Preservation Board. The inductees include narrative and documentary works, short subjects and feature-length films, as well as four films from the silent era. One interesting inclusion is A Trip Down Market Street, a rare view of San Francisco from the front of a cable car just before earthquake and fire changed the city forever.

Here is complete list of 2010 National Film Registry additions: Airplane! (1980), All the President’s Men (1976), The Bargain (1914), Cry of Jazz (1959), Electronic Labyrinth: THX 113B 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 (1945), Lonesome (1928), McCabe & Mrs Miller (1971), Make Way for Tomorrow (1936), Malcolm X (1992), 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).