Each year, your Library of Congress names 25 movies to the National Film Registry that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant, to be preserved for all time. They've just announced this year's picks and once more, obviously because of dirty politicking and/or payoffs, they've overlooked Otto Preminger's Skidoo. But what they did select is a pretty decent roster that includes The Pawnbroker, In Cold Blood, Flower Drum Song and even The Terminator. That's right: Future generations will be able to learn bad impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger and repeat all those wonderful catch-phrases on which he's built his governorship.
One surprise on the roster is Disneyland Dreams, a 1956 home movie made by a Connecticut family that won a free trip to Mr. Disney's then-new tourist magnet. It runs a half-hour and offers a fascinating look at what the place looked like back then, as seen from the POV of your average attendee. This is not professionally-staged and shot Disney P.R. footage and as such, it's taken with a genuine sense of wonder and reality. The film also chronicles the other portions of the family's memorable trip (including side trips to Knott's Berry Farm and Hollywood) and has a certain folksy charm and air of innocence.
Never saw this homemade treasure? Well, you can. You can watch it online or even download your own copy of it on this page. I'm not sure I'd have thought of it for the National Film Registry but I can understand why it's there. Naturally, I'd have picked Skidoo but this isn't a bad choice.