The US Library of Congress has added Prince’s 1984 Purple Rain film to its National Film Registry, guaranteeing its preservation under the National Film Preservation Act. Also among the 25 films archived this year was Martin Scorcese’s classic concert film of the Band’s legendary farewell show called, The Last Waltz.
Purple Rain, based on Prince’s album of the same name, marked the music icon’s big-screen debut as ‘The Kid,’ a character loosely based on his own younger self. The smash-hit movie cleaned up at the box office when it was first released and scored Prince an Oscar for 'Best Original Song Score' – the last movie to receive the award. The film’s multiplatinum soundtrack has previously been added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.
Purple Rain [1984] [Official Trailer]
Director, Albert Magnoli, said in a statement (via Los Angeles Times): “I am deeply honored that ‘Purple Rain’ has been selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry in 2019,” Magnoli said in a statement. “All of us strived to create a film that would capture the attention of what we believed at the time was a small audience. None of us expected this longevity. We simply worked hard every day to get it right, and this honor is a testament to the music, story and characters that were created by all of us so many years ago.”
This year’s honours also included Martin Scorsese’s 1978 concert film, The Last Waltz which captured the final performance of Canadian roots rockers, The Band at their lavish farewell show at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 25) in 1976.
In 2016, Rolling Stone’s David Fear declared The Last Waltz to be “the greatest concert movie of all-time,” describing it as, “the definitive document of these American-music scholars, an epitaph to a specific era of rock history, and the single greatest concert movie of all time.” Check out The Last Waltz soundtrack here.
The Last Waltz [1978] | “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” Scene
The US Library of Congress adds 25 films to the registry annually, recognizing aesthetically, culturally, or historically significant films that showcase “the range and diversity of American film heritage.” This year’s list also includes a pair of renowned music biopics, Coal Miner’s Daughter, about Loretta Lynn, and Amadeus, Milos Forman’s film about Mozart; as well as Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It and Kevin Smith’s Clerks.
Check out the Purple Rain (12" Vinyl) Remastered here.
Listen to Purple Rain on Spotify:
Listen to Purple Rain on Apple Music:
