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'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Iron Man' added to film registry

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This image released by the Library of Congress shows Meg Ryan, left, and Billy Crystal in a scene from "When Harry Met Sally." (MGM/Library of Congress via AP)

Theyā€™ll have what sheā€™s having.

The 1989 rom-com ā€œWhen Harry Met Sallyā€ is one of 25 films chosen this year to enter the National Film Registry, a list that ranges from Disneyā€™s ā€œThe Little Mermaidā€ to an 1898 silent documentary, long thought lost, about the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

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Also chosen this year for preservation: Marvelā€™s ā€œIron Man,ā€ John Watersā€™ ā€œHairspray,ā€ Brian de Palmaā€™s ā€œCarrieā€ and the 1950 ā€œCyrano de Bergeracā€ starring Jose Ferrer, whose performance made him the first Hispanic actor to win a best actor Oscar.

The registry is housed at the Library of Congress, which since 1988 has selected movies for preservation based on their cultural and historic importance. This yearā€™s picks bring the total number of films in the registry to 850 ā€” many of which are among the 1.7 million films in the libraryā€™s collections.

The oldest film selected this year is the 1898 ā€œMardi Gras Carnival,ā€ a silent-era documentary with the earliest known footage of the carnival in New Orleans. A copy was recently found at the Eye Filmmuseum in the Netherlands. Showing floats, spectators and marchers at a parade, the film is one of nine documentaries chosen, covering topics like the Attica prison rebellion, female union workers, mental health treatment, LGBTQ history and others.

And the most recent film on this yearā€™s list is the 2011 ā€œPariah,ā€ by Dee Rees, a coming-out story about a lesbian teen in Brooklyn that's considered a prominent film in modern queer cinema.

Among a number of other LGBTQ-themed films chosen this year is the 1967 student short film ā€œBehind Every Good Manā€ by Nikolai Ursin, a look at Black gender fluidity in Los Angeles. Another: the 1977 ā€œWord is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives," which interviewed over two dozen gay people about their lives, becoming a landmark of the early gay rights movement.

ā€œWe are proud to add 25 more films by a group of vibrant and diverse filmmakers to the National Film Registry as we preserve our cinematic heritage,ā€ said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

Among the films entering the registry:

ā€” "When Harry Met Sallyā€ (1989), Rob Reinerā€™s much-loved rom-com starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan with a script by Nora Ephron, and one of the best scenes ever filmed in a deli.

ā€” "Iron Manā€ (2008), the Marvel superhero film starring Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, directed by Jon Favreau.

ā€” "Carrieā€ (1976), the Brian de Palma horror classic about a teen outcast (Sissy Spacek) with telekinetic powers.

ā€” "Hairsprayā€ (1988), the John Waters version of the story about teenagers in Baltimore, starring Ricki Lake, Debbie Harry, Jerry Stiller, Sonny Bono and Divine. The film would go on to become a successful Broadway musical.

ā€” "Charadeā€ (1963) by Stanley Donen, the only movie to pair Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.

ā€” "Cyrano de Bergeracā€ (1950) directed by Michael Gordon, the first U.S. film version of Rostandā€™s 1897 French play. Ferrer won the best actor Oscar.

ā€” "The Little Mermaid (1989), the classic Disney production with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs (ā€œPart of Your Worldā€ and ā€œUnder the Sea,ā€ for example) about Ariel, who lives under the sea but wishes she were human.

The library said that Turner Classic Movies would host a TV special on Dec. 27, screening a selection of this yearā€™s movies entering the registry.

Also being preserved: ā€œCab Calloway Home Moviesā€ (1948-1951), Scorpio Rising (1963), ā€œTiticut Folliesā€ (1967), ā€œMingusā€ (1968), ā€œManzanarā€ (1971), ā€œBetty Tells Her Storyā€ (1972), ā€œSuper Flyā€ (1972), ā€œAtticaā€ (1974), ā€œUnion Maidsā€ (1076), ā€œBush Mamaā€ (1999), ā€œThe Ballad of Gregorio Cortezā€ (1982), ā€œItam Hakim, Hoplitā€ (1984), ā€œTongues Untiedā€ (1989), and ā€œHouse Partyā€ (1990).

Online: https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/


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