Place on registry means films will be saved

Here are the film industry's tragic statistics: More than 90 percent of the movies made before 1920 have been lost forever. More than half the movies made before 1950 are gone. Each day, more films disappear, victims of poor storage, unstable film stock and, often, apathy.

In recent years, a concerted effort has been made to salvage and save America's cinematic heritage. Perhaps the most significant step has been the National Film Preservation Act of 1988. Under it, 25 films a year are added to a National Film Registry, maintained by the Library of Congress, ensuring their preservation. Many of the movies are fine, but quality does not necessarily ensure a spot in the registry. Instead, spots are filled by movies deemed by the National Film Preservation Board as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. Here are some favorites from the Class of 2004:

THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1963): Jerry Lewis has always suffered from a love-him-or-hate-him polarity. Still, there's a sense of comic genius at work in The Nutty Professor. Sure, there are moments of over-the-top physical slapstick typical of Mr. Lewis, but his sleek and slimy Buddy Love is a subtle villain and a sure-footed piece of acting.

SWING TIME (1936): Although this Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers pairing never strays from their established formula - boy meets, loses and regains girl and then they dance - it's the most lavish of their outings. Plot was never important in these films. What is important is the pair's ability to turn a simple foxtrot into a unique, breathtaking work of art.

ENTER THE DRAGON (1973): Cynics point to the death of martial arts icon Bruce Lee shortly before this film's release as the reason for its enduring success and, in truth, it probably doesn't hurt. But Enter the Dragon is a remarkable film in its own right. One of the finest amalgamations of Chinese and American cinema aesthetics, this brutal film elevates violence to art and, yes, made Mr. Lee an enduring star. Careful eyes might spy a very young Jackie Chan getting kicked around.

UNFORGIVEN (1992): Perhaps if actor/director Clint Eastwood had not spent such a disproportionate part of his career on horseback, his rough-hewn eulogy for the Western would not have resonated so fully. Mr. Eastwood is best remembered for his steel-eyed gunfighter roles, however, which makes his examination of the price paid for a killer's lifestyle such an emotionally engaging work.

JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957): Although Elvis Presley's rockabilly rebel image was toned down in later films, this rags-to-riches story about an angry ex-con who becomes a singing sensation is Elvis at full sneer. It's also one of his better films, a thoughtful, if somewhat clumsy, look at the price paid for fame punctuated with a few rockin' tunes.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.