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Posted by: Cary O’Dell
On the 115th anniversary of its star's birth, the Library of Congress looks back at Bette Davis in one of her signature roles, "Jezebel" from 1938.
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
What is the Spanish word for “terror”? You’ll find out if you watch George Melford’s 1931 US-made but Spanish-language adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel. Filmed concurrently with the US/Bela Lugosi-version, “Drácula” is considered by many film scholars to be better than the English version. This version was added to the Library of Congress’ National …
Posted in: Film Essay, Motion Pictures, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Eighty-three years ago, on October 19, 1939, the Capra classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” had its debut in–where else?–Washington, DC. Named by the Librarian of Congress to the Library’s National Film Registry in 1989, “Mr. Smith” is, for better or worse, as timely today as it ever was. In the essay below, the late …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Recording Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Thirty-five years ago this month, the legendary pop artist Andy Warhol passed away at the age of 58. Understand him and his art or not, love his art or not, Warhol nevertheless left a distinct mark on the American culture. Along with works of his hanging in museums all over the world, his work is …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Frederick Wiseman’s powerful documentary “Hospital,” added to the Library’s National Registry in 1994, is recalled here by film professor Barry Keith Grant. Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman has said that he is interested in how the institutions he films are “cultural spoors” that reflect the larger cultural hues,” and “Hospital,” his fourth documentary, is a perfect example …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Today, on the anniversary of his untimely passing (in 1926), author Donna Hill looks back at the legend of Rudolph Valentino and one of his most iconic role, that is “The Son of the Sheik,” which was added to the Library’s National Film Registry in 2003. If Metro’s “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” made …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
One of the cartoon world’s greatest and most timeless achievements, “Duck Amuck” (as well as “One Froggy Evening” and “What’s Opera, Doc?”) is recalled by Craig Kausen, grandson of the film’s animator Chuck Jones. “Duck” was added to the Library’s National Film Registry in 1999. When people ask what it was like growing up …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Forty-seven years ago today, President Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal. A story worth retelling and exploring, Hollywood of course took it on in 1976’s seminal journalism film, “All the President’s Men.” “Men” was added to the Library’s National Film Registry in 2010. Below, film reviewer Mike Canning looks …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry, Uncategorized
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
In this excerpt from the National Film Preservation Foundation’s “Treasures of the American Archives” DVD set, author Scott Simmon takes a look at the film “A Bronx Morning,” a “city symphony” of a film added to the Library’s National Film Registry in 2004. “A Bronx Morning” is a portrait of a place and time. It …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry