Annually, the public nominates films for induction into the National Film Registry; the National Film Preservation Board then selects 25 films for inclusion. The National Film Registry was created to protect films from deterioration and preserve them for further generations. A host of films with theatre ties are on the 2010 list, including the 1975 cult documentary "Grey Gardens," which inspired the Tony Award-nominated musical of the same title; the 1945 film adaptation of Betty Smith's novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" (also a 1951 musical); the 1977 disco film "Saturday Night Fever" (adapted for Broadway in 1999); the 1931 film "The Front Page" (based on the 1928 play); and "The Pink Panther," directed by the late Blake Edwards.
Also on the registry are "Airplane" (1980); "All The President's Men" (1976); "The Bargain" (1914); "Cry of Jazz" (1959); "Electronic Labyrinth: Thx 1138 4EB" (1967); "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980); "The Exorcist" (1973); "I Am Joaquin" (1969); "It's a Gift" (1934); "Let There Be Light" (1946); "Lonesome" (1928); "Make Way for Tomorrow" (1937); "Malcolm X" (1992); "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" (1971); "Newark Athlete" (1891); "Our Lady of the Sphere" (1969); "Preservation of the Sign Language" (1913); "Study of a River" (1996); "Tarantella" (1940); and "A Trip Down Market Street" (1906).