Library of Congress Announces 2019 Additions to National Film Registry

Among the cinematographers whose work will be preserved are 16 ASC members, including Ernest Dickerson, Robert Richardson and Sandi Sissel.

The Library of Congress has added 25 more movies to its National Film Registry, which brings the number of films deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant in this collection to 775. The program began in 1988.

Thousands of titles are nominated by the public every year, with the final selections then made by the National Film Preservation Board.

Of note, cinematographer Jim Denault, ASC has two films on the list: Boys Don’t Cry (1999) and Real Women Have Curves (2002).

While most of the 25 films added this year are narrative features, others are historical, documentary or experimental by nature. The entire list follows below. Where possible, the cinematographer and director for each is noted: 

Amadeus (1984)
Dir: Miloš Forman
DoP: Miroslav Ondříček, ASC, ACK

Becky Sharp (1935)
Dir: Rouben Mamoulian
DoP: Ray Rennahan, ASC 

Before Stonewall (1984)
Dir: Greta Schiller
DoPs: Jan Kraepelin, Sandi Sissel, ASC; Cathy Zheutlin

Body And Soul (1925)
Dir: Oscar Micheaux

Boys Don’t Cry (1999)
Dir: Kimberly Peirce
DoP: Jim Denault, ASC

Clerks (1994)
Dir: Kevin Smith
DoP: David Klein, ASC

Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
Dir: Michael Apted
DoP: Ralf D. Bode, ASC

Emigrants Landing At Ellis Island (1903)
Dir & DoP: Alfred C. Abadie

Employees Entrance (1933)
Dir: Roy Del Ruth
DoP: Barney McGill, ASC

Fog Of War (2003)
Dir: Errol Morris
DoPs: Robert Chappell, Peter Donahue 

Gaslight (1944)
Dir: George Cukor
DoP: Joseph Ruttenberg, ASC

George Washington Carver At Tuskegee Institute (1937)
Dir & DoP: Dr. C. Allen Alexander

Girlfriends (1978)
Dir: Claudia Weill
DoP: Fred Murphy, ASC

I Am Somebody (1970)
Dir: Madeline Anderson
DoPs: Don Hunstein, Roland Mitchell

The Last Waltz (1978)
Dir: Martin Scorsese
DoP: Michael Chapman, ASC

My Name Is Oona (1969)
Dir & DoP: Gunvor Grundel Nelson 

A New Leaf (1971)
Dir: Elaine May
DoP: Gayne Rescher, ASC 

Old Yeller (1957)
Dir: Robert Stevenson
DoP: Charles P. Boyle, ASC

The Phenix City Story (1955)
Dir: Phil Karlson
DoP: Harry C. Neumann, ASC

Platoon (1986)
Dir: Oliver Stone
DoP: Robert Richardson, ASC

Purple Rain (1984)
Dir: Albert Magnoli
DoP: Donald E. Thorin, ASC

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Dir: Patricia Cardoso
DoP: Jim Denault, ASC

She’s Gotta Have It (1986)
Dir: Spike Lee
DoP: Ernest Dickerson, ASC 

Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Dir: Clyde Geronimi

Zoot Suit (1981)
Dir: Luis Valdez
DoP: David Myers