Comments on: National Film Registry 2008 http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/ thinking film Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:41:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: David Binger http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-467003 David Binger Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:55:49 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-467003 Considering the fact that over half the films made before 1950 are lost, shouldn't the registry concentrate on preserving as many as they can of those that are left? Are films made just 9 years ago really in need of preservation? What about newsreel footage of famous events? I mean really, "Free Radicals," a film of scratches on film that become lines and shapes dancing to the music of the Bagirmi tribe in Africa! Geez. Let's forget about footage of Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, the First World War. etc. so that we can preserve some idiotic experimental film and a family's home movie of their trip to Disneyland. The NFR is a joke. Considering the fact that over half the films made before 1950 are lost, shouldn’t the registry concentrate on preserving as many as they can of those that are left? Are films made just 9 years ago really in need of preservation? What about newsreel footage of famous events? I mean really, “Free Radicals,” a film of scratches on film that become lines and shapes dancing to the music of the Bagirmi tribe in Africa! Geez. Let’s forget about footage of Teddy Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, the First World War. etc. so that we can preserve some idiotic experimental film and a family’s home movie of their trip to Disneyland. The NFR is a joke.

]]> By: Andre Soares http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466720 Andre Soares Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:32:12 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466720 "The Cheat" is available on DVD, and three more Sessue Hayakawa films were released on DVD last year (I believe). An online search should yield some results. And "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is available as well. “The Cheat” is available on DVD, and three more Sessue Hayakawa films were released on DVD last year (I believe). An online search should yield some results.
And “The Bridge on the River Kwai” is available as well.

]]> By: amu http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466716 amu Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:24:42 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466716 Are there any Hayakawa movies available? Are there any Hayakawa movies available?

]]> By: Andre Soares http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466223 Andre Soares Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:11:12 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466223 My complaint about Sessue Hayakawa is not incorrect. I mentioned him within the context of what the Registry's press release says about "Flower Drum Song." If you chose to misrepresent my comment, that's not my fault. As for pre-1910s movies, I must admit that I misread info found in the press release (this year's list alone included films made from 1910-1989). Adding insult to injury, I failed to look at the Registry list instead of taking (my misreading of) their own release at face value. (I was going to, but forgot.) There are, in fact, a dozen pre-1910 titles, most of which are newsreel bits or five-minute-long documentaries. Wow. Our cultural heritage has been saved for the ages. Now, you imply that there are two pre-1910 Mary Pickford shorts in the list. That's wrong. Thank you for contributing to the ocean of cultural... Oh, never mind. That would be an infantile way to make a point about nothing. What truly matters is that hundreds of film reels are deteriorating while we argue over the Registry's inclusion of one or two pre-1910 Florence Lawrence shorts. My complaint about Sessue Hayakawa is not incorrect. I mentioned him within the context of what the Registry’s press release says about “Flower Drum Song.” If you chose to misrepresent my comment, that’s not my fault.

As for pre-1910s movies, I must admit that I misread info found in the press release (this year’s list alone included films made from 1910-1989). Adding insult to injury, I failed to look at the Registry list instead of taking (my misreading of) their own release at face value. (I was going to, but forgot.) There are, in fact, a dozen pre-1910 titles, most of which are newsreel bits or five-minute-long documentaries.

Wow. Our cultural heritage has been saved for the ages.

Now, you imply that there are two pre-1910 Mary Pickford shorts in the list. That’s wrong. Thank you for contributing to the ocean of cultural… Oh, never mind. That would be an infantile way to make a point about nothing. What truly matters is that hundreds of film reels are deteriorating while we argue over the Registry’s inclusion of one or two pre-1910 Florence Lawrence shorts.

]]> By: Daniel Eagan http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466220 Daniel Eagan Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:57:14 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466220 Since the Registry includes The Cheat (selected in 1993), your complaint about Sessue Hayakawa et al. is incorrect. Furthermore, the Registry includes over a dozen titles made during or before 1910, making your snarky complaint about D.W. Griffith (represented by two 1909 films), Edwin S. Porter (also with two titles), Mary Pickford (ditto), and Florence Lawrence incorrect as well. Thanks for contributing to the ocean of cultural deterioration. Great job copying the LOC press release, though. Since the Registry includes The Cheat (selected in 1993), your complaint about Sessue Hayakawa et al. is incorrect. Furthermore, the Registry includes over a dozen titles made during or before 1910, making your snarky complaint about D.W. Griffith (represented by two 1909 films), Edwin S. Porter (also with two titles), Mary Pickford (ditto), and Florence Lawrence incorrect as well. Thanks for contributing to the ocean of cultural deterioration. Great job copying the LOC press release, though.

]]> By: Samuel Lund http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466132 Samuel Lund Thu, 01 Jan 2009 19:42:01 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466132 I'm not sure if Johnny Guitar is in dire need of preservation, but I'm glad it's part of the list. At the very least, some of those listed movies are receiving some good publicity at the moment and that can't be bad. I’m not sure if Johnny Guitar is in dire need of preservation, but I’m glad it’s part of the list. At the very least, some of those listed movies are receiving some good publicity at the moment and that can’t be bad.

]]> By: John Simmes http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466033 John Simmes Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:09:17 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466033 Aren't there other Gary Cooper movies they should preserve? how many Gary Cooper silents survive? How many Gary Cooper silents are in dire need of restoration before they disappear forever? How many Gary Cooper silents are available for viewing on TV/DVD/Video? Aren’t there other Gary Cooper movies they should preserve? how many Gary Cooper silents survive? How many Gary Cooper silents are in dire need of restoration before they disappear forever? How many Gary Cooper silents are available for viewing on TV/DVD/Video?

]]> By: simplyfuzz http://www.altfg.com/blog/classics/national-film-registry-2008/#comment-466030 simplyfuzz Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:03:32 +0000 http://www.altfg.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-466030 I have some old home movies the LoC might be willing to preserve for all eternity. I probably should contact them. I have some old home movies the LoC might be willing to preserve for all eternity. I probably should contact them.

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