The Horse's Head

#412) Freaks (1932)

OR “Sideshow Hell”

Directed by Tod Browning

Written by Willis Goldbeck & Leon Gordon. Suggested by the short story “Spurs” by Tod Robbins.

Class of 1994

The Plot: Hurr-ay hurr-ay hurr-ay! Step right up, folks, see the movie that had audiences running out of the theaters! Yes, ladies and gents, it’s the one and only “Freaks”! Meet Hans (Harry Earles), the little person with a big inheritance! Witness as Cleopatra the trapeze artist (Olga Baclonova) cons Hans for his fortune with the greatest of ease! But there’s so much more to behold under this big top! See the Siamese Twins! The Human Torso! The Bearded Lady! The Pinheads! And many more who finally get their moment in the center ring! Do you dare peek at what’s inside this movie? Hurr-ay hurr-ay hurr-ay!

Why It Matters: The NFR gives a brief rundown of the film’s content, controversy, cuts and cult. Sorry; still trying to shake off the barker talk.

But Does It Really?: It’s crude and at times difficult to watch, but “Freaks” achieves what every classic film on this list does: it stands on its own piece of ground. For better or worse, there is no other movie like “Freaks”. The film’s bizarre subject matter and unforgettable imagery more than ensure the film’s longevity, though this may be an instance where one viewing is definitely enough. My question: if you’re going to include an oddity like “Freaks” in the NFR, why not also include “Reefer Madness” or the films of Ed Wood?

Everybody Gets One: Most of the cast were real-life sideshow performers who resigned themselves to the reality that the exploitation of their abnormalities were their only source of income. The primary exceptions were Daisy & Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who managed to avoid the sideshow circuit, instead playing vaudeville and burlesque (they were tap dancers and eventually jazz musicians).

Wow, That’s Dated: Circuses in general, sideshows specifically. Once a showcase for the differently abled, sideshows declined in popularity around the early ‘50s; a combination of television’s rise and the passage of laws forbidding such public exploitation.

Other notes

• Believe it or not, “Freaks” was a passion project for director Tod Browning. At age 16, Browning ran away from home to join the circus (honest!), performing as a clown and occasionally in the sideshow as “The Living Corpse”. Years later, Browning was a successful film director at MGM, and convinced the studio to buy the rights to the short story “Spurs”. “Freaks” was not greenlit until after Browning directed “Dracula” on loan to Universal, and MGM wanted their talent to make them an equally successful horror movie. “Freaks” is not what any of the higher-ups had in mind.
• The original plan was to cast bigger names like Victor McLaglen, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow as the other, non-sideshow characters. Producer Irving Thalberg, who did not want the film to have any stars, nixed this idea. The only one of the eventual leads to continue their film career was Wallace Ford, who spent the next 30 years playing wisecracking tough guys.
• For the record, the couple Hans and Frieda are played by real life siblings Harry and Daisy Earles. For obvious reasons, their characters’ romance was downplayed. Still, what a weird, unnecessary choice.
• If “Freaks” seems a little disjointed (and its 62 minute runtime seems a bit odd), you’re not alone. The film was originally 90 minutes, but disastrous test screenings led to MGM cutting a third of the film. As best I can tell, most of these cuts were dialogue that sympathized more with the sideshow performers and vilified the “normal” characters. Some of that commentary comes across, but it is definitely muted.
• This whole post could be highlighting each cast member. I do, however, want to single out Josephine Waas, aka Josephine Joseph, the Half-Woman Half-Man. Waas highlighted her hermaphrodite biology by splitting her appearance down the middle: male clothing and a hairy leg on one side of her body, female clothing and a shaved leg on the other. There is no evidence to support Waas was a hermaphrodite, and just prior to “Freaks”, her act was prosecuted in England for fraud, with Waas pleading guilty to avoid a trial and medical examination.

• Today in pre-Code era profanity: upon learning about Cleopatra’s ruse with Hans, Venus refers to Cleopatra as “that big horse”, as opposed to…something else.
• The acting in this movie is quite stilted. I suspect it’s a 50/50 split of non-professional acting from the sideshow personalities and ‘30s professional acting that seems wooden under a modern lens.
• Ah, the wedding feast. The sideshow’s initiation of Cleopatra (“We accept her, one of us!”) is a disturbing moment in a movie filled with them.

• The film’s ending also suffered from cuts. The fate of Hercules the strongman was deleted (hint: he now sings falsetto), and a “happier” alternate ending was shot and inserted into the final cut. Despite their best efforts, these alterations still muddle a movie whose message is seemingly, “freaks are people too, but do not mess with them”.

Legacy

• “Freaks” was a critical disaster and a box office flop. MGM pulled the film from theaters before it had completed its run (the only film to receive this distinction) and quickly sold the distribution rights to exploitation filmmaker Dwain Esper. Esper re-released the film under such titles as “Forbidden Love” and “Natures [sic] Mistakes”.
• Following the film’s failure, MGM assigned Tod Browning to B-pictures and never greenlit any of his choices again. Browning only made four films after “Freaks”, retiring after 1939’s “Miracles for Sale”.

• “Freaks” was rediscovered in the early ‘60s when it played at the 1962 Venice Film Festival, and had its 30-year ban in the UK lifted. The film had several “midnight movie” screenings throughout the ‘70s, and has enjoyed a cult following ever since.
• Most of the film’s cast disowned their involvement in “Freaks”, the notable exception being Johnny Eck (“The Amazing Half Boy”), who spoke fondly of his experience. Researching what happened to the cast post-“Freaks” (as well as post-freakshows in general) is thoroughly depressing, so let’s focus instead on “Side Show”, the Broadway musical that celebrates the Hilton sisters. Also depressing, but at least there are songs!

• Easily the most referenced moment from the film is the chant of “One of us! One of us!” Like many classic film moments, this line is so commonplace most people don’t even realize that they’re referencing “Freaks”.

#411) A Night at the Opera (1935)

OR “Don Grouchovanni”

Directed by Sam Wood

Written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. Based on a story by James Kevin McGuinness.

Class of 1993

The film’s re-release trailer. See “Other notes” to learn why it’s important.

The Plot: While in Milan, business manager Otis B. Driftwood (Groucho Marx) convinces dowager Mrs. Claypool (Margaret DuMont) to invest in the New York Opera Company. Driftwood attempts to sign up international tenor Rudolpho Lassparri (Walter Woolf King), but due to a mixup with an agent named Fiorello (Chico Marx), accidentally signs a contract for Fiorello’s friend Ricardo Baroni (Allan Jones). There’s a love story between Baroni and Rosa Castaldi (Kitty Carlisle), the silent antics of Lassparri’s dresser Tomasso (Harpo Marx), a stateroom with 15 people crammed into it, plenty of musical interludes, a sanity clause, and two hard-boiled eggs. [Honk] Make that three hard-boiled eggs.

Why It Matters: The NFR covers the film’s behind-the-scenes story (see “Other notes”) and admits that although this film “signaled [the Marx Brothers’] artistic decline”, it still has “plenty of frenetic fun”, singling out the stateroom scene.

But Does It Really?: Apparently I’m the only person who prefers this movie over “Duck Soup”. Yes, the Ricardo/Rosa subplot slows things down, but ultimately “Night at the Opera” is a more polished, funnier outing for the boys. That being said, both films are laugh-out-loud funny and iconic enough that there is no need to choose one over the other for NFR consideration.

Shout Outs: Groucho quotes another MGM classic by telling Sergeant Henderson “I vant to be alone”.

Everybody Gets One: Director Sam Wood was one of MGM’s workman directors, specializing in dramas like “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” and “The Pride of the Yankees”. Despite directing this and “A Day at the Races”, Wood didn’t get along with the Marx Brothers, who detested his penchant for numerous retakes. After failing to get Groucho to deliver a line his way, Wood allegedly commented “You can’t make an actor out of clay”, to which Groucho retorted “Nor a director out of Wood”.

Wow, That’s Dated: We get such ‘30s things as smelling salts, pageboys in restaurants, and opera as a thing people still go to. And when adjusted for inflation, Groucho’s outrageous $9.40 dinner bill comes to roughly $176.

Seriously, Oscars?: “A Night at the Opera” was completely shut out of the 1935 Oscars. MGM did, however, produce the Best Picture winner; another movie that takes place on a boat: “Mutiny on the Bounty”.

Other notes

• During production of “Duck Soup”, Chico was playing bridge with his friend, MGM producer Irving Thalberg. Chico expressed the Marx Brothers’ dissatisfaction with working for Paramount, and over the course of the game, Thalberg successfully lured the act to MGM. Thalberg was the Marx Brothers’ key cheerleader at MGM, and got them to reign in their anarchic comedy to something that would appeal to a wider audience. The Marx Brothers (as well as future generations of fans) disapproved of this pseudo-censoring, but Thalberg was vindicated when “A Night at the Opera” became the most successful Marx Brothers movie of their career.
• You may notice several abrupt cuts throughout the film, including one at the very beginning. At some point after the film’s release, the original negative was trimmed to delete all references to Italy (possibly done in the late ‘30s to appease Mussolini). This included an opening musical sequence establishing the film’s Milan setting, and, for some reason, the original credits which included the Marx Brothers replacing Leo the Lion. While most of this footage has been deemed lost forever, the Leo shots resurfaced in the film’s re-release trailer.
• Right from the start Groucho is a relentless joke machine. Yes, it’s all scripted, but unlike a Jack Benny or a Bob Hope, Groucho makes it sound spontaneous.

• Kitty Carlisle looks so familiar. Is she known for her work in the theater? Is she bigger than a breadbox? That’s two down, eight to go…
• Both Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle were trained opera singers, and successfully lobbied to do their own singing. Walter Woolf King was also an opera singer, but because his character was a tenor, his natural baritone was dubbed.
• Once the brothers start interacting with each other on screen, the movie really gets going, as evident in the contract scene between Groucho and Chico. Their timing is flawless.

• Surprise guest stars ZZ Top as the aviators!
• Ah, the stateroom sequence. Only the mirror scene in “Duck Soup” rivals it as the Marx Brothers’ signature piece. As always with the boys, the mix of physical slapstick and Groucho’s one-liners gives the scene an “everything but the kitchen sink” quality.

• This was the first Marx Brothers movie without Zeppo, who quit acting and became a successful agent. Allan Jones makes an acceptable substitute straight man for the group; he’s basically Zeppo with a better singing voice.
• Things come to a grinding halt for Chico’s piano solo and Harpo’s harp solo, but if nothing else it shows off their versatility.

• Apparently Harpo did most of his own stunts in this movie, including the several instances where he swings from a rope. Harpo later admitted that at age 47, this was a bad idea.
• The sequence in which the boys pose as the aviators goes on a bit too long, but it has my favorite line in the movie: “I’m going out to arrange your bail.”

• Margaret Dumont does not get a lot to do in this one, but at least it’s another classic for her resume.
• The finale (the actual night at the opera) is worth the wait, with an inspired lunacy that never lets up. It helps that I’m a sucker for any scene where a vendor starts hawking food at a random non-sports related venue.

Legacy

• As previously stated “A Night at the Opera” was a huge success, and the Marx Brothers followed-up with their very similar 1937 outing, “A Day at the Races”. After Irving Thalberg’s death, the boys lost their main support at the studio, and while they made three more pictures for MGM, even Groucho admitted they weren’t very good. The Marx Brothers ended their act in the late ‘40s, but continued to reunite and reminisce for the rest of their lives.

• “A Night at the Opera” has been referenced throughout pop culture in the last 85 years. “MST3K” often referenced Groucho’s “make that three hard boiled eggs” line, and Cyndi Lauper (among countless others) paid homage to the stateroom scene in her “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” music video.

• The band Queen’s fourth studio album “A Night at the Opera” is named in honor of the film. It’s the one with “Bohemian Rhapsody”!

#410) Salt of the Earth (1954)

OR “Black & White and Red All Over”

Directed by Herbert J. Biberman

Written by Michael Wilson

Class of 1992

The Plot: Based on a true story, “Salt of the Earth” is a fictional retelling of the zinc miner’s strike of New Mexico in the early ‘50s. Fed up with their unsafe working conditions and prejudiced treatment by their white or “Anglo” counterparts, the Mexican-American members of the miners union go on strike. The union leader Ramon (Juan Chacón) is met with hostility from his management as well as city officials, and an impasse is reached. As the months drag on Ramon’s wife Esperanza (Rosaura Revueltas) starts to take more of a leadership position, and joins her fellow housewives at the picket line. It’s a progressive tale of the struggles of women, minorities, and blue-collar workers in America, but unfortunately this is the height of the Red Scare, and this movie smells like a big Commie rat.

Why It Matters: The NFR gives a rundown of the film’s troubled history, and mentions “its influence on independent filmmakers”.

But Does It Really?: I knew nothing about “Salt of the Earth” before this viewing, so imagine my surprise when I learned that I was watching the only blacklisted movie in film history. As a historical document, “Salt of the Earth” is not to be ignored. As a film, it’s alright. Yes, its pro-union message can be quite preachy at times, but the earnest performances by the film’s non-actors help make it much more palatable. “Salt of the Earth” is a representation of the times and circumstances that forged this movie into being, with a message that still rings true almost 70 years later. No argument here for “Salt of the Earth” joining the NFR.

Every Independent Film Company Gets One: The Hollywood Blacklist of the 1950s is far too grand a topic to cover here, but suffice to say that a lot of very talented individuals in the entertainment industry were denied work because they may or not have been involved with America’s Communist Party two decades earlier. Independent Productions Corporation was founded by Herbert J. Biberman (one of the Hollywood Ten) and Paul Jarrico to create job opportunities for blacklisted filmmakers. “Salt of the Earth” was the only film produced by the company amidst a lot of backlash. The House Un-American Activities Committee deemed the film “a new weapon for Russia”, New Mexican citizens protested by setting local union halls on fire, and lead actress Rosaura Revueltas was deported back to Mexico during production. An anti-trust suit against various company’s “illegal conspiracy” against the film dragged out for a decade, and IPC folded shortly thereafter.

Wow, That’s Dated: Why everything, obviously. There’s nothing timeless at all about the systemic oppression of women and minorities, or the threats that workers face from management while unionizing. Nope, all relics of the past. [Nervous laughter]

Title Track: Esperanza says the title once at the end of the film. Turns out the “salt of the earth” are the children who will one day inherit the world their parents have made for them. At long last, someone is thinking of the children.

Seriously, Oscars?: Surprise, surprise, a pro-union movie released at the height of McCarthyism and ignored by Hollywood was completely shut-out of the Oscars. The 1954 Best Picture winner was “On the Waterfront”, a movie in which the union is the corrupt force and the man who testifies against them is the hero. Nice try, Kazan.

Other notes

• The real life Empire Zinc strike of 1951 served as this film’s inspiration. Many of the details are the same, but the film is still a fictionalized account of the strike. “Salt of the Earth” was filmed on location in Grant County, New Mexico (site of the actual strike), and the film’s cast is made up mostly of local, non-professional actors.
• Not only were many of the creatives involved in production victims of the blacklist, but so was the film’s sponsor. The International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers had ties to the Communist party that it refused to denounce, causing the union to be expelled from the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1950. The IUMMSW’s involvement was more fuel for the fire of those in Washington and Hollywood trying to prevent “Salt of the Earth” from being made.
• Herbert Biberman originally planned on casting his wife, the definitely-not-Mexican Gale Sondergaard, as Esperanza, as well as a white actor as Ramon. Once he realized his own subconscious prejudice against Mexican actors in leading roles, Biberman cast Rosaura Revueltas and Juan Chacón. Revueltas was an up-and-coming star in Mexican cinema, while Chacón was a union local president involved with the real strike.
• If the town’s sheriff looks familiar, that’s Will Geer, aka Grandpa Walton. Like his fellow cast and crew, Geer was deemed a “hostile witness” by HUAC and blacklisted from Hollywood for a time.
• As previously mentioned, Rosaura Revueltas was deported during production, allegedly because her passport had not been stamped properly upon arrival. The remainder of her close-ups (as well as her narration) were recorded separately in Mexico City.
• I don’t have much to say about the film itself; the behind-the-scenes story is infinitely more fascinating than the on-screen one. That being said, Rosaura Revueltas is your MVP, giving Esperanza a very powerful character arc. Her non-professional co-stars more than hold their own, though it helps that they are telling their own story.

Legacy

• “Salt of the Earth” was purposefully ignored upon its initial US release (some projectionists flat-out refused to even screen it), and received one screening in New York. The film did, however, have a successful European release, winning the grand prize at the Czech Republic’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
• “Salt” eventually made it back to the states in the mid-60s, playing in union halls and film schools across the country. The film’s reappraisal from Americans was greatly helped in 1982 when the film lapsed into public domain.
• As expected, few of the film’s blacklisted creatives found work in Hollywood after “Salt of the Earth”. Producer Paul Jarrico and Screenwriter Michael Wilson both moved to Europe and continued their film careers there, while Herbert Biberman didn’t work again until 1969’s “Slaves”, shortly before his death.

• The making of “Salt of the Earth” was made into a documentary with 1984’s “A Crime to Fit the Punishment”. Online clips are hard to come by, but you can find it on archive.org! Thanks internet nerds!
• The film’s production is also a major plotline in the 2000 movie “One of the Hollywood Ten”, starring Jeff Goldblum as Herbert Biberman.

#409) Out of the Past (1947)

OR “Won’t You Come Home, Jeff Bailey?”

Directed by Jacques Tourneur

Written by Geoffrey Homes (aka Daniel Mainwaring). Based on his novel “Build My Gallows High”.

Class of 1991

No original trailer, but here’s a re-creation.

The Plot: Jeff Bailey (Robert Mitchum) runs a gas station in the small town of Bridgeport, California, and has settled down with the lovely young Ann (Virginia Huston). When a former business associate (Paul Valentine) arrives in town, Jeff confesses to Ann his past life as a private investigator, specifically the case in which he tracked down Kathie Moffat (Jane Greer), the girlfriend of businessman/gambler Whit Sterling (Kirk Douglas). Jeff and Kathie have an affair, but eventually split up to avoid further trouble with Whit and his associates. Back in the present day, Whit has become aware of Jeff’s past with Kathie, and hires Jeff for one final job. Will Jeff be able to return to his simple life in Bridgeport, or will his relationship with Kathie return…out of the past?

Why It Matters: The NFR calls the film a “classic example of 1940s film noir” and throws superlatives at Tourneur, Homes, Mitchum, Greer, and cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca. An essay by film critic Stephanie Zacharek is equally effusive, and a dissection of the film’s two female leads.

But Does It Really?: “Out of the Past” is one of those movies that I always knew was a designated classic, but couldn’t tell you anything else about it. The film is well-crafted on each front, and has all the hallmarks of the great film noirs, but it’s lacking that extra “je ne sais quoi” that possesses a “Double Indemnity” or a “Touch of Evil”. “Out of the Past” may be reserved for the film buffs nowadays, but it is respected and referenced enough to earn its NFR designation.

Everybody Gets One: Jane Greer’s film career got started when Howard Hughes spotted her modeling in Life Magazine. Greer made a slew of movies for RKO and MGM (“Past” was at the former), but she blamed studio politics for the lack of momentum in her career. And as always, shoutout to Ken Niles as Leonard Eels, aka “the vic”.

Wow, That’s Dated: Standard ‘40s stuff, but this movie got me to wondering: can ridesharing ever replace cabs in the movies? First off, no one can make a quick getaway if your driver isn’t showing up for 6 minutes, and the old “follow that cab” sequence could never happen. And don’t even get started on the huge insurance risk a chase sequence entails.

Title Track: No one says “out of the past”, but Bailey does utter the novel’s title – “Hang My Gallows High” – near the end of the film.

Seriously, Oscars?: “Out of the Past” was successful in its day, but RKO still considered it a B-Picture, and focused their campaigning on two of their A-Pictures: “The Bishop’s Wife” and “Crossfire”, both of which got Best Picture nominations.

Other notes

• The opening credits, shot around Lake Tahoe, made me legitimately wonder if I was watching the wrong movie. Quintessential noir never leaves the dark alleyways of the big city. This movie is already throwing me.
• Wait, Jeff’s girlfriend is named Ann Miller? The Hollywood dancer of the same name was already making movies at that point; wouldn’t this have led to some confusion?
• Kirk Douglas was still a Hollywood newcomer when he was cast as the heavy in “Out of the Past”. This is also your reminder that as of this writing, Kirk Douglas is still alive at 103! He’s lived in 12 different decades!

• Robert Mitchum is one of those stars who has never done it for me. I don’t have anything against him, but I don’t have anything for him either. I try to not let that interfere with my viewings for this blog, but overall Mitchum in this movie is…fine.
• It’s a shame Jane Greer’s career never took off, she’s very good in this. She’s a good match for Mitchum, and hits both aspects of “femme fatale” quite effectively. My favorite shot in the movie is Kathie’s restrained joy while watching Jeff and Fisher fight each other. It’s wonderfully subtle shading to an already dimensional character.

• It’s thoughtful of Jeff to open up to Ann about his past, but he fails to remember one of life’s most important truths: No one wants to hear about your ex.
• “Out of the Past” was filmed partially on location in the cities mentioned throughout the film; either for the full sequence or for background projections. The shot of Jeff’s cab arriving in San Francisco is on Broadway Street, not too far from the North Beach neighborhood Jeff and Kathie briefly lived in. Everyone in this movie could probably recommend a good Italian restaurant.
• “That’s one way to be clever: look like an idiot.” Ooh, that’s a good line, I’ll have to remember that one.
• It’s around the point where Kathie tells Jeff about his set-up that this film started to lose me. Did the plot become too convoluted? Was I not in the right frame of mind for this movie? Who’s to say? The point is I did not take a lot of notes during the third act for fear of missing something.
• Like “Stranger Than Paradise”, “Out of the Past” has enough diverse locales that its black and white cinematography is imperative. A color film set in Tahoe, Mexico, and San Francisco would have been too much of a travelogue.
• Knowing that crime can never pay in a Code-era movie, you can more or less deduce how a film like “Out of the Past” is going to end, but I appreciated that the final few scenes try to subvert expectations and keep things interesting. Points deducted for the obvious model cars used in the climactic crash.

Legacy

• Robert Mitchum’s film persona as the stoic, somewhat cryptic tough guy was cemented in this film. He branched out for such films as “Night of the Hunter”, but he more-or-less played this guy for the rest of his career.

• “Out of the Past” was remade in 1984 as “Against All Odds” with Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward. Worth noting is Jane Greer’s appearance as Kathie’s mother, and the title song by Phil Collins.

• In 1987, Robert Mitchum hosted “Saturday Night Live”, and appeared in a short film called “Out of Gas”, directed by his daughter Trina, and reuniting him with Jane Greer. I can’t find a single clip from this episode that hasn’t been blocked by NBC, so here’s a track from Robert Mitchum’s calypso album instead.

Bonus Clip: Here’s Ann Reinking performing “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” at the Oscars. Phil Collins was not invited to perform his own song at the ceremony, and….just watch.

This week marks the 3rd anniversary of “The Horse’s Head”! Instead of celebrating movies already on the list, let’s look at what it takes for your movie to get inducted into the National Film Registry.

First of all, let’s make sure your film is eligible. To be on the National Film Registry your movie must be:

At Least 10 Years Old: The 10-year waiting period ensures that your film continues to be remembered long after its initial release. Only a handful of movies make the cut after exactly 10 years (“Raging Bull”, “Goodfellas”, other non-Scorsese pictures). As of this writing, the movies of 2010 are freshly eligible, meaning you could legitimately nominate “Despicable Me” if you so choose. Think about it: Haven’t those creepy little Minions proven their cultural endurance?

Culturally, Historically, or Aesthetically Significant: Is your movie quotable and prone to parody years later? Is it an encapsulation of a specific era in American and/or film history?  Did it introduce the world to those unsettling sentient Twinkies known as Minions? If you can prove that your movie stands on a unique piece of ground, that’s half the battle right there.

Does your movie meet the above qualifications? Excellent, let’s continue (NOTE: I assume you said yes. If the answer is no, please stop reading this).

The first step is to Nominate Your Movie. Since 1997, the public has been able to submit up to 50 film titles for consideration via the Library of Congress website. It’s easy! Their website even gives you a comprehensive guide to movies not yet on the Registry (updated to include “Despicable Me”). Literally thousands of movies are submitted every year, and roughly 75 percent of the final list (18 or 19 movies) will come from these public recommendations.

After the submission deadline has passed (typically mid-September), the proposed films are then compiled and a preliminary ballot with 200-400 of the highest-polling titles is sent to the National Film Preservation Board. The board is comprised of 44 members: filmmakers, historians, critics, industry insiders, and drifters from all walks of life. Every October, these members meet to determine which movies will be seriously considered for inclusion. The first day of these meetings is typically reserved for films that are in serious need of preservation (i.e. your recently discovered silent movies). The following days are an open forum in which anyone can suggest any movie. Movies that receive a strong showing of public support are prioritized for consideration (“Back to the Future”, “Hoosiers”, and “Ghostbusters” all got on the list thanks to devoted fan campaigns). For the more obscure titles, many board members go the extra mile with their presentations, including screenings. On a related note, shoutout to Wendy Shay of the Smithsonian Institution for her tireless yet unsuccessful campaigning to get “Jane Fonda’s Workout” on the list. Keep fighting the good fight, Wendy!

The board’s goal is to create an eclectic roster of movies from a diverse group of filmmakers. In recent years, emphasis has been placed on including films by women and people of color (who collectively make up 11% of the Registry).  On occasion, subcommittees are appointed to find student films worthy of NFR recognition. This is how we got such obscure yet preservation-worthy titles as “Time and Dreams” and “Growing Up Female”.

After much deliberation, each board member votes for their top 25 choices, ranked by preference. A short list of the biggest vote getters is presented to the head Librarian of Congress, who hand picks the final 25 behind closed doors. That’s right: one person is ultimately responsible for inducting your movie into film history. Currently, the Librarian of Congress is Carla Hayden, the first woman and African-American to hold the title. Appointed by President Obama in 2016, Carla is a lifelong librarian, meaning she is presumably more inclined to select films by people who speak quietly and have no outstanding late fees. Hayden’s librarian career was primarily in Chicago, so if you’re looking to sway Carla’s opinion, perhaps a Bears game or a deep-dish pizza will do the trick. Once the Librarian makes their decision, the final 25 are officially announced in mid-December.

Now that your movie has been selected, the Library of Congress will obtain the best possible print of the film for preservation in their vaults at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia. For the better-known titles, it’s most likely that the Library of Congress already has a print from when the film was originally submitted for copyright approval (such is the case with “Star Wars”, despite what the rest of the internet has told you). If that print is not in good condition, a request is made to the copyright holder to donate a better print. For the more obscure titles, archives and private collections are scoured for the best possible print. Registry films must be preserved in their original format and in their original unaltered versions, so the extended Blu-ray cut of “Despicable Me” will be bypassed for the inferior theatrical release.

If you, the filmmaker, are still alive when your movie makes the cut, all you receive are bragging rights, as well as permission to use the official NFR logo when promoting your movie (designed by no less than Saul Bass!).

So there you have it, the quick and easy way to ensure the legacy of your movie. All you have to do is make a technologically innovative or zeitgeist capturing film, add a few Minions, wait 10 years, and presto! You’re on the list! What are you waiting for? Go make your classic I’ll be forced to watch sometime in the 2030s.

Happy Filmmaking,

Tony

Interested in learning more about the process? I found these articles to be incredibly helpful in my research:

Film Comment: Choosing the National Film Registry

Hollywood Reporter: National Film Registry: The Politics Behind It

Refinery29: How to Get Women Directors on the National Film Registry

The New York Times: Which Movies are the Best? The Library of Congress Has a List

Mental Floss: What Happens to Films Selected for Preservation by the Library of Congress?

And don’t forget “These Amazing Shadows”, aka “National Film Registry: The Motion Picture”!