The National Film Registry was created to protect films from deterioration and preserve them for further generations. "Even as Americans fill the movie theaters to see the latest releases, few are aware that up to half the films produced in this country before 1950—and as much as 90 percent of those made before 1920—are lost forever," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

Annually, the public nominates films for induction into the National Film Registry; the National Film Preservation Board then selects 25 films for inclusion.

From the 25 films selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry, two films are adaptations of Broadway productions: Clare Boothe Luce's "The Women" (1939); Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" (1955).

Also selected was W.A. Drake's "Grand Hotel" (1932) – based on the German novel by Vicki Baum.

The Oscar-winning "Grand Hotel," served as the inspiration for the Tony-winning 1989 Tommy Tune musical that featured a score by Robert Wright and George Forrest, with additional songs by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone. Among the other 2007 NFR films adapted for the Broadway stage are Reginald Rose's "Twelve Angry Men" (1957); and Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht's "Wuthering Heights" (1939) – based on the novel by Emily Brontë.

Also on the 2007 National Film Registry list are "Back to the Future" (1985); "Bullitt" (1968); "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977); "Dance, Girl, Dance" (1940); "Dances With Wolves" (1990); "Days of Heaven" (1978); "Glimpse of the Garden" (1957); "The House I Live In" (1945); "In a Lonely Place" (1950); "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" (1962); "Mighty Like a Moose" (1926); "The Naked City" (1948); "Now, Voyager" (1942); "Our Day" (1938); "Peege" (1972); "The Sex Life of the Polyp" (1928); "The Strong Man" (1926); "Three Little Pigs" (1933); "Tol'able David" (1921); and "Tom, Tom the Piper's Son" (1969-71).