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‘Gates-Crashing’ the Library of Congress

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Diane Kruger, Nicolas Cage and Justin Bartha climb the steps at the Library of CongressI blogged briefly a few months ago about our experience over the course of several nights with some movie stars and a couple of hundred members of the crew who were shooting “National Treasure: Book of Secrets.”

I was at the movie’s official website earlier today, and what did my eyes behold after clicking “enter site,” but Nicolas Cage, reprising the role of treasure-hunter Ben Gates, in an extremely familiar setting?

The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress (as well as other areas of the Thomas Jefferson Building) provides Cage’s backdrop on the site, and not so coincidentally shares a starring “role” in the film itself, slated for a Dec. 21 release.

In coming days and weeks, we at the Library of Congress will have a lot more to say–and show–about this interesting intersection between fact and fiction. From our perspective, it’s a great opportunity to point out that this place is a living, vibrant and, yes, fun institution, and perhaps also to turn some wide-eyed, young moviegoers into lifelong patrons of their national (or local) library.

(Image of the heroes coming up the steps of the Thomas Jefferson Building from Disney’s “NT:BOS” Web site)

Comments (6)

  1. In 2004, I organized a private screening for the first National Treasure at the Gallery Place movie theaters. I am doing it again for number two.

    I am planning on an outing for Saturday December 22, likely at the Gallery Place Cinemas again. Contact me if you want to sign up you LOC buddies to hang out with your NARA buddies who got all the buzz in the first film.

    [email protected]

  2. I think its great when a stupid movie can inspire interest in something that’s great. These National Treasure movies seem really dumb, but they do get one excited about things like the library of congress!

  3. It is fiction, indeed, but what I have found intriguing about this movie series is how it has tried to establish a fairly solid and accurate historical basis for their fantastical stories and treasure hunts.

    The sequel probably won’t be that much different from the first one in that respect. When I read the script (don’t worry, no spoilers), I was surprised at how many historical facts I actually learned. There were some aspects of history NT2 brings out that I was unaware of and then found to be factual by checking other sources.

  4. I watched this movie and was quite entertained. And I agree that it is great when movies inspire interests in something.

  5. Whenever I’m trying to convince the kids to visit a place thats new it helps to be able to pull out some sort of “cool” reference point. I’m sure some parents will be able to use the movie for the purpose after its release.

  6. I’m with Peter. The movie was’nt good but at least helped to raise some interest.

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