Deadline passed on the information that the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress has announced its annual addition of 25 films to be preserved for posterity as movies that are significant to American culture and times.
The Films:
AIRPLANE! (1980)
ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976)
THE BARGAIN (1914)
CRY OF JAZZ (1959)
Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138-4EB (1967) pictured
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)
MALCOM X (1992)
McCABE AND MRS. MILLER (1971)
NEWARK ATHELET (1891)
OUR LADY OF THE SPHERE (1969)
THE PINK PANTHER (1964)
PRESERVATION OF THE SIGN LANGUAGE (1913)
SATURADY NIGHT FEVER (1977)
STUDY OF A RIVER (1996)
TARENTELLA (1940)
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (1945)
A TRIP DOWN MARKET STREET (1906)
Interesting that George Lucas’s rarely-seen student film for USC, THX 1138-4EB, was chosen, rather than the feature version, THX 1138. Of course, it’s the first sign of his future works. Pleased to see that the late Irvin Kershner’s entry for the STAR WARS saga was selected for the honor.
THE EXORCIST was of course a cultural phenomenon of its time, causing huge controversy, and expanding the boundries of horror cinema.
Tag: Irvin Kershner
Irvin Kershner, R.I.P.
Irvin Kershner, director of perhaps the best of the STAR WARS films, passed away last Friday, November 27th, 2010. He was 87.
Kershner began as a documentary filmmaker, first for the U.S. government, then for the TV series CONFIDENTIAL FILE. In 1958, he made his feature film debut with STAKEOUT ON DOPE STREET, a crime thriller he co-wrote with Andrew J. Fenady, backed by Roger Corman. Produced on a low budget, it was sold for a nice profit to Warner Brothers for distribution.
With Fenaday as producer, Irvin Kershner would shoot multiple episodes of the Nick Adams starring Western THE REBEL.
Equally adept at drama and comedy, Kershner would direct films such as 1966’s A FINE MADNESS (starring Sean Connery), THE FLIM-FLAM MAN, and the Barbara Striesand starring UP THE SANDBOX (1972), which featured surreal fantasy sequences.
In 1978, Irvin Kershner directed the ESP/Horror thriller THE EYES OF LAURA MARS, based on a screenplay by John Carpenter (HALLOWEEN).
George Lucas, who was a student of Kershner’s when he taught at the University of Southern California, chose him to direct the second STAR WARS film, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Irvin Kershner was able to give the film both a sense of continuity with the previous installment and a darker, more sophisticated visual touch.
Kershner was reunited with star Sean Connery again on the non-series James Bond film NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983, an updated remake of THUNDERBALL.
In 1990 he directed ROBOCOP 2, an action-packed sequel to the original, quite competent but not as satisfying as the first in the series.
After directing an episode of SEAQUEST DSV (aka SEAQUEST 2032) in 1993, he retired from the film business.
Picking up the nickname “Kersh” during EMPIRE, Irvin Kershner was apparently a well-liked man among his fellow filmmakers, and certainly a memorable director for genre fans.
With Fenaday as producer, Irvin Kershner would shoot multiple episodes of the Nick Adams starring Western THE REBEL.
Equally adept at drama and comedy, Kershner would direct films such as 1966’s A FINE MADNESS (starring Sean Connery), THE FLIM-FLAM MAN, and the Barbara Striesand starring UP THE SANDBOX (1972), which featured surreal fantasy sequences.
In 1978, Irvin Kershner directed the ESP/Horror thriller THE EYES OF LAURA MARS, based on a screenplay by John Carpenter (HALLOWEEN).
George Lucas, who was a student of Kershner’s when he taught at the University of Southern California, chose him to direct the second STAR WARS film, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Irvin Kershner was able to give the film both a sense of continuity with the previous installment and a darker, more sophisticated visual touch.
Kershner was reunited with star Sean Connery again on the non-series James Bond film NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983, an updated remake of THUNDERBALL.In 1990 he directed ROBOCOP 2, an action-packed sequel to the original, quite competent but not as satisfying as the first in the series.
After directing an episode of SEAQUEST DSV (aka SEAQUEST 2032) in 1993, he retired from the film business.
Picking up the nickname “Kersh” during EMPIRE, Irvin Kershner was apparently a well-liked man among his fellow filmmakers, and certainly a memorable director for genre fans.