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Category: Film Essay

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“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”: National Film Registry #6

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

 In 1994, the National Film Registry welcomed Spielberg’s immortal “ET” to its list.  The beloved film that has forevermore encouraged us to “phone home,” was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas and C. Thomas Howell. The Library of Congress’s own Dave Gibson once wrote of the film: “‘E.T. The Extra Terrestrial’ …

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“King Kong”: National Film Registry #3

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

In 1991, the third year of the National Film Registry, the Registry welcomed that big ape known as “King Kong” to its list.  Though the film has since been remade–three times and counting–to many fans, nothing has surpassed the original in terms of thrills, heart and humanity. Film historian and “Kong” devotee Michael Price said of …

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“Casablanca”: National Film Registry #1

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.  Begun in 1989, the Registry annually recognizes American-made films, encompassing all genres, which are of such aesthetic, historic or cultural importance to the United States that they are worthy of preservation by copyright holders or archives such as the …

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Reading the Film Registry: “Halloween” (1978)

Posted by: Cary O’Dell

With its much-anticipated sequel arriving in theaters October 18th, author Murray Leeder looks back at the original 1978 “Halloween”–added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2006–and how it was a cut above so many other films of its time. See the essay below: https://www.loc.gov/programs/static/national-film-preservation-board/documents/halloween.pdf