Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), Julie Dash s
Illusions (1982) and Kathleen Collins Losing Ground (1982). Lupino s
Outrage (1950) and Bigelow s history-making
The Hurt Locker (2008) highlight the selections helmed by women. The National Film Registry is an important record of American history, culture and creativity, captured through one of the great American art forms, our cinematic experience, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement. With the inclusion of diverse filmmakers, we are not trying to set records but rather to set the record straight by spotlighting the astonishing contributions women and people of color have made to American cinema despite facing often-overwhelming hurdles.
The Dark Knight Added To the National Film Registry
The Library of Congress on Monday announced that
The Dark Knight is one of the 25 films chosen for induction in the National Film registry. The Batman movie is part of a class that includes the 1978 musical
Grease, the 1980 comedy
Shrek.
The Dark Knight received strong support in the public vote, according to the announcement from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. This is not only a great honor for all of us who worked on
The Dark Knight, this is also a tribute to all of the amazing artists and writers who have worked on the great mythology of Batman over the decades, said Christopher Nolan, director of
Heath Ledger (left) and Christian Bale in The Dark Knight
Also on this year s list: Grease, The Blues Brothers, The Hurt Locker, Shrek and Sweet Sweetback s Baadasssss Song.
The Dark Knight,
Lilies of the Field,
The Joy Luck Club and films directed by Ida Lupino and Kathryn Bigelow two of a record-breaking nine helmed by women are among the latest cinematic jewels chosen for the Library of Congress National Film Registry, it was announced Monday.
The list of 25 motion pictures picked to be preserved for future generations also includes funny films
The Battle of the Century (1927), a rarely seen Laurel & Hardy release, a 1914 Charlie Chaplin short and
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“The cast and crew of ‘Grease’ have remained close for the past 40 years,” said director Randal Kleiser. “We are all honored to be included in this year’s national registry selection.”
This year’s selection spans nearly 100 years and includes a record number of movies directed by women or filmmakers of color. Nine feature women at the helm:,“Suspense” (1913), codirected by Lois Weber; Ida May Park’s “Bread” (1918); Aloha Wanderwell’s “With Car and Camera Around the World” (1929); Ida Lupino’s “Outrage” (1950); Kathleen Collins’ “Losing Ground” (1982); Julie Dash’s “Illusions” (1982); Lourdes Portillo’s “The Devil Never Sleeps” (1994); Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” (2008); and “Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege” (2006) codirected by Joan Lander.
Library of Congress
Originally published on December 14, 2020 7:26 am
The Library of Congress tries to raise awareness of film conservation every year by adding 25 movies to the National Film Registry to preserve for posterity.
As usual, 2020 s lineup includes attention-grabbing Hollywood blockbusters of relatively recent vintage (
The Dark Knight and
Grease, The Blues Brothers, A Clockwork Orange), respected documentaries (
The Buena Vista Social Club, Wattstax, Freedom Riders), venerable silent films (
Kid Auto Races At Venice, apparently one of the few Charlie Chaplin movies not already inducted) and films from Hollywood s Golden Age, underground movies, influential but lesser-known films and early work from seminal directors.