Attention all Trekkies: The Library of Congress is doing its part to ensure that “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” will live long and prosper.
The 1982 movie, which chronicles an epic battle between Kirk and Khan and is often considered the best of the six original-cast “Star Trek” theatrical movies, is among the 25 films selected for preservation this year in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry, the library announced on Tuesday.
Also being added are “Invaders From Mars” (1953), an indie film about a boy who discovers that space aliens are taking over the minds of earthlings, and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), the horror film that developed a cultlike following but was initially condemned by many for its brutal and gory depictions. “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), starring Eddie Murphy as a Detroit police officer navigating Los Angeles in search of his childhood friend’s killer, was also selected.
The films, dating from 1895 to 2010, were chosen for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance, said Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress.
They include an array of genres, filmmakers and Hollywood landmarks, and were chosen in consultation with experts. The number of titles in the registry is now at 900.
“Films reflect our nation’s history and culture and must be preserved in our national library for generations to come,” Hayden said in a statement. “We’re honored by the responsibility to add 25 diverse new films to the National Film Registry each year as we work to preserve our cultural heritage.”
The library also allows the public to make nominations on its website, and this year more than 6,700 films were nominated for consideration. Several titles that received strong public support have now been added to the list, including “Dirty Dancing” (1987), the Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey-led film that, between the dance moves, explores topics like abortion, classism and anti-Semitism; “No Country for Old Men” (2007), the Coen Brothers’ neo-western that won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2008; and “The Social Network” (2010), about the creation of Facebook.
Five works by Black directors, who have historically been overlooked in film archives, were selected for this year’s list, including “Ganja & Hess” (1973), directed by Bill Gunn; “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974), directed by Sidney Poitier; “Zora Lathan Student Films” (1975-1976), directed by Adaora Lathan; “Will” (1981), considered the first independent feature-length film directed by a Black woman, Jessie Maple; and “Compensation” (1999), directed by Zeinabu irene Davis.
The selection committee also chose five films that included prominent Hispanic artists or themes. Two of those films, “American Me” (1992) and “Mi Familia” (1995), are the work of Edward James Olmos, the American-born Latino actor who has been outspoken on representation in Hollywood. With those additions, Olmos now has eight films on the registry as an actor and “American Me” is his first appearance as a director.
“Up in Smoke” (1978) features Cheech Marin and so does “Spy Kids” (2001), which also stars Antonio Banderas. “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982) stars Ricardo Montalbán, one of Hollywood’s first Latino leading men, as Khan.
Hayden said that the selection process was a collective effort in the film community and included contributions from the National Film Preservation Board, led by Jacqueline Stewart.
“What’s remarkable to me is that every year when the board talks about films and their significance, we find new titles to consider,” Stewart said in a statement. “I’m thrilled that we recognize student films and independent films, animation, documentary and experimental works, as well as feature-length narrative drama, comedy, horror and science fiction on the registry this year.”
A television special, featuring many of these films along with a conversation between Hayden and Stewart, will be shown on Wednesday on Turner Classic Movies.
Below are the 25 new additions to the National Film Registry, in chronological order:
1. “Annabelle Serpentine Dance” (1895)
2. “KoKo’s Earth Control” (1928)
3. “Angels With Dirty Faces” (1938)
4. “Pride of the Yankees” (1942)
5. “Invaders From Mars” (1953)
6. “The Miracle Worker” (1962)
7. “The Chelsea Girls” (1966)
8. “Ganja & Hess” (1973)
9. “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
10. “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974)
11. “Zora Lathan Student Films” (1975-76)
12. “Up in Smoke” (1978)
13. “Will” (1981)
14. “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (1982)
15. “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)
16. “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
17. “Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt” (1989)
18. “Powwow Highway” (1989)
19. “My Own Private Idaho” (1991)
20. “American Me” (1992)
21. “Mi Familia” (1995)
22. “Compensation” (1999)
23. “Spy Kids” (2001)
24. “No Country for Old Men” (2007)
25. “The Social Network” (2010)
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