December 2016: "The Birds" Is Listed on the National Film Registry

From IMdb sources: December 14, 2016:

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With the addition of 25 new films — including “The Birds,” “The Lion King,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Thelma & Louise” — the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress now includes 700 films that span more than a century.

The 2016 inductees into the registry include movies long considered classics, obscure documentaries and films once too racy or avant-garde to be accepted by the mainstream. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden made the selections after consulting with a panel of experts who make up the National Film Preservation Board.

Congress established the registry in 1988 with the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 — requiring the Library of Congress to designate and preserve films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. Films must be at least 10 years old to be chosen.

Director Ridley Scott said he was “honored and proud” to have the 1991 feminist empowerment ode, “Thelma & Louise,” selected, noting it joined another of his films on the list


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Congratulations to The Birds! And...Hitchcock still matters. and I guess now The Birds will have more protection than "Topaz." Hah.

I would be interested in learning how many years ago the "better reviewed classics" in the Hitchcock canon made the registry. I'm thinking/guessing that Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and North by Northwest are already in there, probably Rebecca(a Best Picture winner) and perhaps Notorious.

In any event, The Birds finally made it. I'd say it is the most famous Hitchcock title after Psycho with the general public today, but I do think it has some script flaws that hurt its reputation even as it has historically great special effects and many, many exciting set-pieces.