Talking Heads’ ‘Stop Making Sense’ Added To USA’s National Film Registry
Talking Heads‘ widely acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense has been added to the National Film Registry.
Originally released in 1984, Stop Making Sense is one of 25 new additions to the catalogue in 2021, with other inductees including Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, Wall-E, Selena and more.
The Library of Congress adds 25 films to the registry annually, recognising aesthetically, culturally, or historically significant films that showcase “the range and diversity of American film heritage.”
Other titles inducted in 2021 include comedy special Richard Pryor: Live in Concert from 1979, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? and more, while 2020 saw Grease, The Blues Brothers, A Clockwork Orange, Shrek and more join the list. See the full list of 2021 inductees to the National Film Registry here.
In 2019, Prince’s 1984 film Purple Rain was added to the National Film Registry alongside Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Kevin Smith’s Clerks and Martin Scorsese’s classic concert film for the Band, The Last Waltz.
Earlier this year, David Byrne was honoured with a Special Award at the 74th Tony Awards for his Broadway show American Utopia.
The former Talking Heads frontman accepted the prize at New York City’s Winter Garden Theatre on Sunday (26 September) for his outstanding Broadway production, American Utopia, which shares a name with his 2018 solo album of the same name.
The acclaimed show includes Byrne and 11 musical artists performing songs from the LP, along with songs from Talking Heads and his solo career. The 69-year-old musician also took to the stage to perform Talking Heads’ 1983 hit Burning Down the House at the star-studded awards show – which was hosted by Leslie Odom Jr. and Audra McDonald.
In June, Byrne celebrated American Utopia returning to Broadway for a six-month run, after the theatre district was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular show moved from The Hudson to St. James Theatre on 44th street as of September 17.