OUATITW makes National Film Registry

December 30, 2009
Michael Jackson, the Muppets and Early Cinema Tapped for Preservation in 2009 Library of Congress National Film Registry

Library of Congress

While Hollywood sets records at the box-office this holiday season, the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today selected 25 motion pictures that will be preserved as cultural, artistic and/or historical treasures for generations to come. Spanning the period 1911-1995, the films named to the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress range from the sci-fi classic "The Incredible Shrinking Man" and Bette Davis’ Oscar-winning performance in "Jezebel" to the Muppets’ movie debut and Michael Jackson’s iconic video "Thriller." This year’s selections bring the number of films in the registry to 525.

Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names 25 films to the registry that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant to be preserved for all time. These films are not selected as the "best" American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring importance to American culture.

"Established by Congress in 1989, the National Film Registry spotlights the importance of protecting America’s matchless film heritage and cinematic creativity," said Billington. "By preserving the nation’s films, we safeguard a significant element of our cultural patrimony and history."

Other selections to this year’s registry include:

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Disdained as "Spaghetti Westerns" when they first appeared in American movie theaters, the best of these films, such as "Once Upon a Time in the West," are now recognized as among the greatest achievements of the Western movie genre. Director Sergio Leone’s operatic visual homage to the American Western legend is a chilling tale of vengeance set against the backdrop of the coming of the railroad. Ennio Morricone’s magnificent score (especially the elegiac "Jill’s Theme") is likewise recognized for its brilliance.