BACK TO THE FUTURE - FILMS PRESERVED FOR "FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY"

FILMS PRESERVED FOR "FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY"

BACK TO THE FUTURE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND are among films which have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Each year the US Library of Congress selects 25 films to preserve the cultural heritage of America.

Other films which have been selected include 12 ANGRY MEN, OKLAHOMA!, DANCES WITH WOLVES, WUTHERING HEIGHTS and BULLITT.

A less well known film being saved for the future is MERVYN LEROY'S short film, THE HOUSE I LIVE IN.

The 1945 release stars FRANK SINATRA and aims to promote religious diversity.

There are now 475 films stored in the archives, as part of the scheme which began 18 years ago.

According to the Library of Congress, the films are selected as they are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".

Congress Librarian, James Billington, revealed that over half the movies produced in the US prior to 1950 and 90 per cent of those made before 1920 have disappeared due to "vinegar syndrome".

This is a chemical reaction which attacks the acetates of old film stock.