The National Film Preservation Board at the US Library of Congress works to preserve America’s film heritage. Each year, it selects a range of movies that are deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”.
The Board also invites film scholars to write essays about the movies explaining their significance. Dr John Wills, Reader in American History and Culture and Director of the Centre for American Studies in the Division of the Arts and Humanities, recently provided such an essay on the 1950’s movie ‘All That Heaven Allows’, a classic Douglas Sirk melodrama, to join other essays he’s written for the Board.
John related how, “it’s such a privilege to contribute to this scheme, as well as to get the chance to write about some truly classic movies!”
The film essay collection is available online.