Library of Congress Adds ‘Forrest Gump,’ ‘Bambi’ and Chaplin’s ‘The Kid’ to National Film Registry
Each year the Library of Congress selects 25 films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant to American culture to add to the National Film Registry. This year, “Forrest Gump,” “Bambi,” “War of the Worlds” and 22 other films were selected to bring the number of films in the registry to 575.
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said:
“These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture. Our film heritage must be protected because these cinematic treasures document our history and culture and reflect our hopes and dreams.”
More than 2000 films were nominated to be included in the National Film Registry this year. The 25 films selected range from 1912 to 1994 and include Oscar winners, silent films, and Disney cartoons.
Here are the 25 films that were added to the National Film Registry this year.
- “The Cry of the Children” (1912)
- “A Cure for Pokeritis” (1912)
- “The Kid” (1921)
- “The Iron Horse” (1924)
- “Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies” (1930s-40s)
- “Twentieth Century” (1934)
- “Bambi” (1942)
- “The Negro Soldier” (1944)
- “The Lost Weekend” (1945)
- “The Big Heat” (1953)
- “War of the Worlds” (1953)
- “Porgy and Bess” (1959)
- “Allures” (1961)
- “Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment” (1963)
- “Faces” (1968)
- “Growing Up Female” (1971)
- “A Computer Animated Hand” (1972)
- “Hester Street” (1975)
- “I, an Actress” (1977)
- “Norma Rae” (1979)
- “Fake Fruit Factory” (1986)
- “Stand and Deliver” (1988)
- “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991)
- “El Mariachi” (1992)
- “Forrest Gump” (1994)
Each title will be preserved by Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation. The films are preserved through the library’s massive motion-picture preservation program or through collaborations with motion picture studios, independent filmmakers, and other archives.
How many movies on this list have you seen?
