Neil: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil and
with me today is Jennifer.
Jennifer: Hi Neil.
Neil: Now we're talking about films today. Are you a film buff, Jennifer?
Jennifer: A buff is someone who's very interested in a certain subject and knows a lot about
it. I do like watching films both at the cinema and at home, but I wouldn't really
say I'm a film buff because I don't have a lot of knowledge. What about you Neil?
Neil: Likewise, I do enjoy the cinema; though Hollywood movies aren't really my
favourite. I do like a good art-house film though. The movies we're talking about
in today's programme aren't any old films. We're talking about the United States
National Film Registry. But before we get onto that I have a quiz question for you,
Jennifer. Are you ready?
Jennifer: Go on then.
Neil: Taking into account inflation, which is the amount money loses value over time,
which film has made more money than any other in the history of cinema? Is it:
a) Avatar
b) Gone with the Wind
c) Titanic
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Jennifer: That's a difficult one but I think it will be 'Titanic'. I remember it coming out in
the cinema around 1998 and everyone I knew would have to go and see it. So I
think it must be that one.
Neil: Well, we'll find out the answer to that at the end of the programme. Now, before
that question, I was talking about the United States National Film Registry. Every
year it adds about twenty-five titles to its list.
Jennifer: The films aren't always famous blockbusters and sometimes haven't been seen
for decades.
Neil: That's true, the films aren't always famous blockbusters – a blockbuster is usually
an American film which makes lots of money.
Jennifer: But the films do have this in common: it's been decided that they are all of lasting
cultural, historical and aesthetic importance.
Neil: Yes, the US National Film Registry has decided that all the films are of lasting
cultural and historical importance for the United Stated. They're also beautiful and
artistic – so they're 'of aesthetic importance'. Here's more from the BBC's Arts
Reporter, Vincent Dowd
Vincent Dowd, Arts Reporter, BBC
Seventy years on the US National Film Registry has placed it on its list of historically important
American films. The list's been going since 1989 and around 25 titles are added annually. In part
it's to ensure they get the highest level of preservation: not really a problem with a much rereleased
Disney classic. But even well-known films sometimes need securing for posterity.
Neil: That was the BBC's Arts Reporter, Vincent Dowd. He was talking about 'Bambi'
which is seventy years old but it's just been added to the Registry's list, although
the list was started in about 1989. 'Bambi' is an animated film. You know, Jennifer,
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I think it was one of the first films my parents took me to see – so for me anyway
it's of historical importance!
Jennifer: Do you remember what you thought of it at the time?
Neil: Well for those listeners who haven't seen it, Bambi is a little deer who becomes
orphaned, meaning its parents died. I was tiny, but I loved it and learned
important lessons from it about grief, family and friends.
Jennifer: Grief is a feeling of great sadness. Well, perhaps I'd better watch it.
Neil: What, you mean you've never seen 'Bambi'?! I can't believe that! You've got to go
home and watch it immediately!
Jennifer: OK I will, though it sounds like it might make me cry!
Neil: I think there's no shame in crying about Bambi! Now luckily for you, Jennifer, the
US National Film Registry helps to make such old films available to future
generations by looking after them in the best way possible. As the reporter
Vincent Dowd said: films "get the highest level of preservation"
Jennifer: He says "even well-known films need securing for posterity".
Neil: That's right, even famous films need to be made safe – or secure - for future
generations, or as the reporter said: "for posterity". And let's just listen to that clip
from the BBC's Arts Reporter Vincent Dowd once again:
Vincent Dowd, Arts Reporter, BBC
Seventy years on the US National Film Registry has placed it on its list of historically important
American films. The list's been going since 1989 and around 25 titles are added annually. In part
it's to ensure they get the highest level of preservation: not really a problem with a much rereleased
Disney classic. But even well-known films sometimes need securing for posterity.
Neil: That was the BBC's Arts Reporter Vincent Dowd talking about the film 'Bambi'.
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Jennifer: Well, we had a look at the list to find out which films were on it before the latest
2011 additions.
Neil: And Jennifer has a few titles for us, of films which caught her eye. Tell us about
an early film memory.
Jennifer: Well, an early film memory for me is 'ET', which was made in 1982 and added to
the registry in 1994. It's about an alien which lands on earth and befriends a young
boy. I like it because it's a real heart-warming tale of friendship and it's a great
story.
Neil: Anything else on the list you like?
Jennifer: 'The Sound of Music' from 1965. That was added to the registry in 2001. It's a
musical about a nun that looks after a family and it's great fun. And then as a
complete contrast there's 'Psycho' from 1960 which was added to the registry in
1992. It's a thriller and it's really scary.
Neil: Yes it's absolutely terrifying, isn't it? Well, we've just got time now for the answer
to the quiz question I asked you at the beginning. It was: taking into account
inflation, which film has made more money than any other in the history of
cinema? Is it:
a) Avatar
b) Gone with the Wind
c) Titanic
Jennifer: Well I said, I thought it would be 'Titanic'.
Neil: And you were wrong, I'm afraid. The answer is 'Gone with the Wind', which didn't
make as much money as 'Avatar', but if you take into account inflation it has.
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Thank you for joining us and listen to more 6 Minute English from BBC Learning
English. Bye!
Jennifer: Bye!
