Public campaign launched to nominate 'Back to the Future' sequels to National Film Registry
In association with Back to the Future Trilogy Writer/Producer Bob Gale, BacktotheFuture.com announced today the launching of a public campaign to nominate both Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990) to the National Film Registry.
In 2007, the site successfully led a grassroots effort to nominate the original film, which was inducted that same year into the Registry for having been deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" and deserving of preservation by the Library of Congress. As one of the elite films selected as enduring importance to popular American culture, Back to the Future's preservation ensures that this timeless classic will be enjoyed by future audiences throughout the rest of time.
The 1985 fan-favorite was a worldwide cultural phenomenon and the highest-grossing film of that year. Its inevitable sequels were released some four years later in 1989 and 1990 — only six months apart — and introduced the entire world to “hoverboards”, capturing the imagination of movie-goers everywhere. Back to the Future Part II’s exhilarating adventure in the futuristic world of 2015 became such a pop culture experience that nearly 26 years following its theatrical release, “Back to the Future Day” was officially acknowledged and proclaimed by the White House as a historical day in American cinematic history on October 21, 2015 — resulting in an international celebration and congratulatory comments by then President Barack Obama to Michael J .Fox!
Back to the Future Part II recently made headlines once again due to a recently discovered censored edit which was inadvertently sent by Universal to Netflix.
In emails to both The Hollywood Reporter and BacktotheFuture.com, Gale addressed the recent controversy and how quickly action was taken to correct the version now streaming on Netflix:
Dear BTTF Fans,
You may have heard that a censored version of BTTF-II was running on NetFlix. This is true, but please don't blame NetFlix for this. The blame is on Universal who somehow furnished NetFlix an edited version of the movie. I learned about it some ten days ago from an eagle-eyed fan, and had the studio rectify the error. The version now running is the uncensored, unedited, original version. Apparently, this was a foreign version which neither director Robert Zemeckis nor I even knew existed, for some country that had a problem with the Oh-La-La magazine cover. I asked that the studio destroy this version. FYI, NetFlix does not edit films -- they only run the versions that are supplied to them. So they're blameless. You can direct your ire at Universal, but I think they will be a lot more careful in the future -- and with "the future."
Many thanks for your passion and concern, we really appreciate it.
Your friend in time,
Bob Gale
Gale suggested in an email exchange that a new effort be organized to nominate both sequels to the National Film Preservation Board for their hopeful selection into this year’s Registry. Just days prior to Netflix receiving the correct original version from Universal, Gale wondered whether fans should get involved once again in the nomination process for the preservation of these three beloved classics.
“Maybe we need to mount two new Library of Congress campaigns to preserve both part 2 and part 3! ‘Preserve The Trilogy!’ — sounds like something Elsa Raven would be saying in the town square!,” proposed Gale.
And with that very concept, we are highly encouraging fans worldwide to nominate both sequels beginning today — the actual 30th Anniversary of the theatrical release date for Back to the Future Part III, as well as Bob Gale’s birthday!
The National Film Preservation Board is now accepting nominations from the public for the 2020 Registry until Tuesday, September 15, 2020. As demonstrated thirteen years ago, public nominations play a very key role when the Librarian and Film Board are considering their final selections. Please nominate both Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part II using their online nomination form today (you may also submit your nominations via regular mail to their address below:)
National Film Registry
Library of Congress
Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation
19053 Mt. Pony Road
Culpeper, VA 22701
United States
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