December 31, 2008

White Fawn’s Devotion recognized

25 classics added to film archivesOne of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most famous one-liners will be back for generations to come, now that 1984’s “The Terminator” has been selected for preservation in the nation’s film archive.

The low-budget film directed by James Cameron set a new standard for science-fiction and made Schwarzenegger, now California’s governor, a star. The Library of Congress announced Tuesday morning that it’s one of 25 films being added to the National Film Registry.
And:Some films were selected for their historical value, such as “Hallelujah,” the tale of a cotton sharecropper made by MGM as the studio was transitioning from silent to sound films. The 1910 film “White Fawn’s Devotion,” the oldest film selected this year, was made by James Young Deer. He was the first documented American Indian movie director, a member of the Winnebago tribe.Comment:  For a summary of and images from White Fawn's Devotion, see White Fawn’s Devotion: A Play Acted by a Tribe of Red Indians in America (1910). Definitely worth a look.

For last year's Film Registry picks, see Dances with Wolves in Film Registry. For more on the subject in general, see The Best Indian Movies.

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