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Spicoli heads the class
The National Film Preservation Board on Tuesday announced the next 25 films that were being added to the National Film Registry. Here’s the selection that makes us want to jump up and order a pizza in the middle of our posting: Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
No matter how hard he tries to distance himself from the role, Sean Penn’s ultimate surfer-slacker dude Jeff Spicoli has now joined a cast of memorable characters from the 424 other films chosen so far for preservation.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, passed by Congress in 1988, each year the Librarian of Congress names 25 "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant motion pictures to the Registry.
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Other choices this year were more mainstream: A Raisin in the Sun, Cool Hand Luke and The French Connection. But LAist took a jump to the left and a step to the right when we saw another interesting choice on the list: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
This year’s entire list is posted after the jump.
THE NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - 2005 Selections
1) Baby Face (1933)
2) The Buffalo Creek Flood: An Act of Man (1975)
3) The Cameraman (1928)
4) Commandment Keeper Church, Beaufort South Carolina, May 1940 (1940)
5) Cool Hand Luke (1967)
6) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
7) The French Connection (1971)
8) Giant (1956)
9) H2O (1929)
10) Hands Up (1926)
11) Hoop Dreams (1994)
12) House of Usher (1960)
13) Imitation of Life (1934)
14) Jeffries-Johnson World's Championship Boxing Contest (1910)
15) Making of an American (1920)
16) Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
17) Mom and Dad (1944)
18) The Music Man (1962)
19) Power of the Press (1928)
20) A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
21) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
22) San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18, 1906 (1906)
23) The Sting (1973)
24) A Time for Burning (1966)
25) Toy Story (1995)
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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