Does "The Third Man" belong in the National Film Registry?

In London they have a charming movie treat called Secret Cinema. The premise of Secret Cinema is that you're part of a secret film organization. They announce a screening date - but not a location or name of the film. You are instructed to "tell no-one." In the announcement the descriptive language suggests a genre/theme of a classic film. You buy a ticket. Then, at the last minute before the screening date a location and the name of the film is revealed. People attend dressed up like characters or in clothing that suggests the world of the film. The location always changes - warehouses, old theatres, outdoor, indoor. They created a cyberpunk bazzar for Blade Runner and filled a venue with camels and Bedouins for Lawrence of Arabia. Again, they stress you are to "tell no-one." It's pretty cool.

Photo showing the world created for the Secret Cinema screening of The Third Man. More photos can be seen by clicking on the "posted photos" link below.

 

The last Secret Cinema film screened was The Third Man. As part of setting the mood for the screening they posted photos of the world they created for the audience/participants. The Third Man is one of our favorite films and we believe it should be in the National Film Registry. However, there is the question of can one justify it as an "American" film? Two of the leads - Joseph Cotton and Orson Wells - and one of the producers - David O. Selznick (though he's uncredited) - are Americans. Orson Wells is an given uncredited co-screenwriting credit. Tough call. We say - yes. What do you think?

The woman in the long red gloves...

A photo taken on March 26th in London by Alister - posted on Flickr.

This photo prompts many questions. 1) Can you imagine that there would be a public protest in defense of film preservation? 2) Why would a film preservation demonstrator wear long luxurious red leather gloves to a protest? 3) Where was this photo taken? 4) Who is the woman in the long red gloves? 5) What group does she represent? 6) Who is she demonstrating against?

Here are some answers:
1) Yes.
2) I imagine she would reply..."Actually, dearie, they're really quite sensible in this weather."
3) London
4) We'd like to know!
5 and 6) She is evidently demonstrating/marching in support of the March 26th TUC (Trade Union Congress) "March for the Alternative," a protest against the extent of public spending cuts being enforced by the English Tory-Liberal Democrat government. It is also called the "anti-cuts march." The Brits are broke and the current government is imposing what many feel are draconian budget cuts that will adversely effect society across the board, but leaving the rich untouched. Most of the 500,000 demonstrators brought signs that reflect the core issues of the protest: cuts in social services, education, fire/police, the arts and jobs. A few, like our woman in the long red gloves, brought more esoteric issues to the fore! We applaud her and other Brits sincere point of view. And, hope the British people find a fair and reasonable way out of their financial mess without destroying the things that make England such an amazing country.

Alister's Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alisterb/5563881061/in/set-72157626363477132/
March for the Alternative website: http://marchforthealternative.org.uk/
The super fantastic British Film Institute: http://www.bfi.org.uk/