Each year the National Film Preservation Board and the public suggest films to preserve, and 25 are selected as culturally significant to be preserved in the US Library of Congress.
The reason for this?
“The National Film Registry is a reminder to the nation that the preservation of our cinematic creativity must be a priority because about half of the films produced before 1950 and as much as 90% of those made before 1920 have been lost to future generations.”
— Librarian of Congress James H. Billington
I entirely agree with the sentiment. Films serve a cultural importance and mirror certain times in history that makes them relevant.
One of the films selected this year for the US Library of Congress? Star Wars sequel Empire Strikes Back. I’m surprised it took this long for the film to be preserved, but I’m glad the movie made its way there. The only question now is which version of Empire Strikes Back is entering the Library.
I hope its the original version and not the special edition. Lets preserve how it was first presented to audiences.
I concur, good sir.