Live Q&As

Hi there! I don't really have any major issues with this year's National Registry choices -- I was particularly happy to see George Lucas's student film included, because he's made such a huge contribution to movie sound, and it's important for people to realize that these things don't emerge from out of nowhere...And I think the "Empire" choice reminds us that sequels don't have to be lazy, phoned-in franchise extenders -- which, ironically, the later "Star Wars" sequels pretty much were.

What a great question! I think it would be a toss-up between "Cry of Jazz," a 1959 film exploring the jazz scene and African American life in Chicago at that time, and Peter Hutton's "Study of a River." I'm hoping that both will be on view next year either at the Library of Congress's Packard campus in Culpeper, or here in D.C.

True, but think of it: Literally thousands of movies are 'nominated' every year, many of them by the public at large! And only 25 can make the cut. When I spoke to Librarian of Congress James Billington, he said that often suggested films will come up from year to year until they're finally selected. So for achievements like "Empire Strikes Back," it most likely is only a matter of time.

Oh, that's a tough one. I'm sure I'll forget someone. Off the top, I'd say Dennis Hopper, Arthur Penn -- and my beloved Tony Curtis, who I got to interview years ago when I wrote a story about "Sweet Smell of Success." I actually heard him spontaneously tell someone, "The cat's in the bag and the bag's in the river." When I asked if it was for my benefit, he said, "Oh no, I end every conversation that way. It's my favorite line in the world." A lovely man and he'll be missed!

Chatters, who am I missing?

Hmmm are they talking about "Episode IV," which is the first movie? Or "Phantom Menace," the fourth installment? If the latter, I take your point!

As for "Airplane!" I'm pretty sure the board voted before Leslie Nielsen's death in late November -- and I was heartened to see it included as the beginning of self-referential Hollywood satires that we now take for granted. At the time, it was an arguably subversive -- and let's face it, hilariously funny -- take on the industry's addiction to disaster spectacles. So I'm with the Library on this one!

So,  so true! RIP Shirley!

I completely agree with you and I think that's absolutely the primary mission of the Library of Congress -- they take their mandate to preserve America's cultural patrimony very, very seriously. Here's a thought: By including movies that most people remember easily and hold dear, they help bring attention to lesser-known films, thereby raising all boats. Maybe "Star Wars" fans drawn by the inclusion of "Empire" will have their interest piqued by the Thomas Edison film or "Tarantella," a 1940 color and sound abstraction. We can hope!

No we really only talked about "Sweet Smell of Success" -- which, as it happens, is on the National Film Registry! I will check out "Goodbye Charlie," thanks for reminding us!

Do you know what, considering Russ Meyer's influence on filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, you never know!

Yes we'll link to the list of films selected from 1989 to 2009. And yes, "Citizen Kane" is on the list, as well as my favorite, "Touch of Evil" and "The Magnificent Ambersons." I'm sure it's only a matter of time until the flawless "Third Man" makes the cut! (Speaking of the great Carol Reed, who directed, let's also praise "The Fallen Idol," an amazing and often overlooked film!)

Ah yes, thank you. She was magnificent. Everyone should see "A Face in the Crowd" if they haven't lately -- one of those films that turned out to be surprisingly (and depressingly) prescient. I also loved her in "Hud."

We're happy to link to the complete list of films. Alas, no "Animal House" or "Blues Brothers," but hang in there, they might make it one of these years!

That's right, we lost Barbara Billingsley and Peter Graves! Sad. All great.

I think copyright is a much more tangled issue than we realize. When I asked officials at the Library of Congress about public viewings of these films, they said that copyright does come into play. (Although I believe all the Thomas Edison films are now in the public domain, making it possible for the Library to stream them from their site.) I agree that it would be a great boon to have these more readily available for viewing once people learn that they exist.

You've brought up an excellent point that gets to what distinguishes this list from, say, the American Film Institute's "best" lists (Westerns, musicals, comedies, etc.). What the Library is honoring here isn't the "best" movies, but films that in some way expressed American culture and identity, and/or moved the cinematic medium forward in some way. So "Saturday Night Fever" is included, not on the basis of its overall quality (although I'm sure that was a factor), but in how it integrated music into the dramatic narrative in a realist way. I think for "movies we love" the AFI lists are more in that vein.

Again, my impression is that they chose "McCabe" for how Robert Altman re-defined the classic Western genre, in this case making it of-its-time in the 1970s, with naturalistic dialogue and the Leonard Cohen soundtrack. Again, a title chosen for the innovation it introduced to an otherwise convention-bound genre.

Well said! Obviously I was in the minority on this one, so I'll just have to claim my annual get-out-of-jail-free card! Thank you for your insights --- maybe one day I'll see the film in a new light!

What a delicious question! It would have to be a toss-up between Gru in "Despicable Me" and Megamind.

All good ideas! Keep watching the list, maybe one or all will make it one day!

Heck she's just having  a baby, not retiring! I still can't banish the adorable kid she played in "Beautiful Girls." A hugely gifted young woman, and I'm sure she'll be back!

Oh I *totally* agree with you on "Sideways"! I did not understand the love that movie go. I completely agree with you on that protagonist -- another person I really resented following through a whole movie, then was asked to care when everything went okay for him. Bleh.

As for "Fargo": You're right, we'll call that one a push!