These Amazing Shadows (2011)

Tells the history and importance of The National Film Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of film, and indeed the American experience itself.

Directors:

Paul Mariano, Kurt Norton

Writers:

Douglas Blush (as Doug Blush), Paul Mariano

Stars:

Jeff Adachi, James H. Billington, Robin Blaetz

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jeff Adachi	...	Self
James H. Billington	...	Self
Robin Blaetz	...	Self
Brooks Boliek	...	Self
Ernest Borgnine	...	Self (archive footage)
Charles Burnett	...	Self
Jay Carr	...	Self
Martin Cohen	...	Self
Peter Coyote	...	Self
Arlene Damron	...	Self
Julie Dash	...	Self
Allen Daviau	...	Self
Caleb Deschanel	...	Self
Zooey Deschanel	...	Self
Kristine Fong	...	Self

Storyline

What do the films Casablanca, Blazing Saddles, and West Side Story have in common? Besides being popular, they have also been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," by the Library of Congress and listed on the National Film Registry. These Amazing Shadows tells the history and importance of The Registry, a roll call of American cinema treasures that reflects the diversity of film, and indeed the American experience itself. The current list of 525 films includes selections from every genre - documentaries, home movies, Hollywood classics, avant-garde, newsreels and silent films. These Amazing Shadows reveals how American movies tell us so much about ourselves...not just what we did, but what we thought, what we felt, what we aspired to, and the lies we told ourselves.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | library of congress | archive | film appreciation | film restoration | 

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Taglines:

culturally, historically or aesthetically significant

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robin Blaetz, Chair of Film Studies, Mount Holyoke College, is the very first and very last interview subject seen on screen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
John Ptak: There is nothing like going to a theater, a communal atmosphere, watching something that is bigger than life.
Robin Blaetz: It's dark, you don't look at anybody...
John Ptak: And then the movie started, and it was really, really magical.

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Connections

Features A Face in the Crowd (1957)

User Reviews

A Compelling Exploration Of Film Preservation.

"These Amazing Shadows" Is A Film For Cinephiles And Those Concerned With The History Of Culture. The Film Explores Cinema History And Why Exactly Movies Are As Culturally Significant As They Are. The Movie Features Interviews With Christopher Nolan, Rob Reiner, Tim Roth, John Waters, Leonard Maltin, Julie Dash, John Singleton, And Many More. "These Amazing Shadows" Discusses Films As Diverse As "Blade Runner" And "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" And "Star Wars" And "Citizen Kane". The Film Features An Inside Look At Film Preservation And Delivers A Convincing Case For The Preservation Of Our Greatest Films. "These Amazing Shadows" Tends To Skip From Film To Film Without Ever Gaining Much Depth. The Movie Tries To Cover The Entire History Of Cinema In Just 88 Minutes, But It Feels Rushed And Unsatisfying. Overall, The Film Is A Moving And Passionate Study Of Cinema History And How It Relates To Our Future As A Culture.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lost Forever

Filming Locations:

Bay Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gravitas Docufilms

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1