Every year, the National Film Registry adds twenty five film films to their archives that are deemed to be “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and in 2010, the organization has tipped their hat to pictures from Oscar favorites to geek treasures, and films featuring talent that have recently passed away.
Nerds everywhere are getting a late Christmas present as George Lucas is honored twice by the National Film Registry as “The Empire Strikes Back” (directed by Irvin Kershner, but obviously Lucas was heavily involved) and his short “Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB” (his student film which eventually served as the basis for “THX 1138“) have been selected. Some of the best of 1970s American cinema are highlighted this year as well, as “The Exorcist,” “All The President’s Men,” “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grey Gardens” and “McCabe And Mrs. Miller” have been highlighted. Classic cinema isn’t ignored either as Leo McCarey‘s “Make Way For Tomorrow,” Elia Kazan‘s “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn,” the newspaper comedy “The Front Page” and the W.C. Fields starring “It’s A Gift” receive their due. Blake Edwards and Leslie Nielsen are given their due respect as well as “Airplane!” and “The Pink Panther” will be preserved for the ages. The most recent feature film to get recognized from the organization is Spike Lee‘s electric “Malcolm X.”
Check out the full list of films after the jump. [Deadline]
National Film Registry 2010 Inductees
Airplane! (1980)
All the President’s Men (1976)
The Bargain (1914)
Cry of Jazz (1959)
Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB (1967)
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Front Page (1931)
Grey Gardens (1976)
I Am Joaquin (1969)
It’s a Gift (1934)
Let There Be Light (1946)
Lonesome (1928)
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
Malcolm X (1992)
McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
Newark Athlete (1891)
Our Lady of the Sphere (1969)
The Pink Panther (1964)
Preservation of the Sign Language (1913)
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Study of a River (1996)
Tarantella (1940)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945)
A Trip Down Market Street (1906)
