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Posted by: Stacie Seifrit-Griffin
If you get the chance to speak with the legendary Al Bell, take it! You will meet a man full of passion for the artists he works with and the communities he supports. The former co-owner of Stax Records is one of the visionaries behind the “Wattstax” concert and film documentary. Bringing people together …
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
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
In this excerpt from “Cinema Journal,” Marsha Gordon and Allyson Nadia Field access the 16mm short film, and Registry title, “Felicia.” “Felicia,” an approximately thirteen–minute documentary marketed as an educational film starting in the mid–1960s, is one of many thousands of nontheatrical films shot and distributed on 16mm during the greater part of the twentieth century …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
For the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, it is not just big studio blockbusters and learned documentaries that populate its esteemed list. Any type of film–as long as it has had a profound artistic or cultural or historical impact on the nation–is open to being added. A case in point: even a home movie. …
Posted in: Film Essay, Motion Pictures, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Not surprisingly, the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry is well populated with animated works. Along with such vintage Disney classics as “Snow White” and more recent Disney classics like “Beauty & the Beast,” the work of other legendary animators (working in both long and short forms) are recognized. Additionally, while many of the animated …
Posted in: Film Essay, National Film Registry, World War II
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
Has it really been half a century? Yes, 50 years ago TODAY–June 30, 1971–actor Gene Wilder put on his top hat and we all made our first trip to the world’s most beloved candy factory. In 2014, this version of “Willy” was added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. In the original essay …
Posted in: Film Essay, Motion Pictures, National Film Registry
Posted by: Cary O’Dell
It’s the good ole’ summer time and that means a trip to the fair–even in the movies. One of Will Rogers’ great cinema achievements as this 1933 State Fair-set fan fave. Though remade a couple of times and even brought to television, the original “Fair,” with its homespun humor, is the best known and best …
Posted in: Film Essay, Motion Pictures, National Film Registry