The Library of Congress National Film Registry is a treasure trove of excellence in filmmaking. It has everything from silent films to animated shorts, avant-garde fare to Hollywood blockbusters, documentaries to old-time serials. To be eligible for inclusion, a film must be at least ten years old and meet the simple threshold of being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. As of 2012, 575 films have been preserved. 25 more will join them at the end of the year. But there are literally dozens of classic films out there that are long overdue for inclusion. Whether we grew up with them as kids or discovered them at some point along our film-watching odyssey, they deserve to be placed among the very best of American cinema. Here are ten of what I consider to be likely contenders for inclusion in the registry. They represent a wide variety of genres and filmmaking techniques.
10. Mary Poppins
The registry includes a handful of Disneys animated features but so far has not deemed any of its live-action output worthy of consideration. I dont think Ill get any arguments when I say that Disneys record when it comes to live-action movies has been uneven over the years. But in 1964, they outdid themselves with a sumptuous film version of P.L. Travers book series about a magical nanny. With memorable performances by Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and unforgettable songs by the Sherman brothers, this childhood favorite may be excessively sentimental at times but it remains one of Disneys proudest achievements. And where else in the history of film can you see dancing chimney sweeps?