‘Ghostbusters’ enshrined in cinematic immortality at Library of Congress

“ We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.” The boast of Dr Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray, proved truer than he imagined on Wednesday when Ghostbusters gained cinematic immortality at America’s Library of Congress.

Featuring ectoplasm, the proton pack and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, the 1980s cult comedy joined 675 “motion pictures that deserve to be preserved because of their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance” on the national film registry, the library said.

Ghostbusters follows three scientists (Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis) who set up a ghost extermination business, stumble upon another dimension and ultimately save New York. Venkman also finds time to fall for cellist Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), who becomes a channeler of the demon Zuul.

“One of the most popular, quotable films from the past three decades and a touchstone of cultural reference, Ghostbusters can also easily be seen as a loving homage to those earlier wacky horror comedies from Abbott and Costello, Bob Hope and others,” the library said.

Ivan Reitman, director and producer of the 1984 movie, expressed delight at the official recognition.

“Making Ghostbusters was one of the great joys of my life,” he said. “It’s an honour to know that a movie that begins with a ghost in a library, now has a spot on the shelves of the Library of Congress. It’s humbling to be part of a collection of extraordinary films that I have loved all my life.”

A new, female-led Ghostbusters film is due to be released next year. Directed by Paul Feig, it stars Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, with some original cast members making a return.

Twenty-five movies were added to the register on Wednesday by the acting librarian of Congress, David Mao. They include the hugely popular 1994 prison drama The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the 1997 film noir LA Confidential, led by Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey; and Top Gun, the 1986 navy drama with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.

Also on the list is one of the earliest film recordings and the oldest surviving copyrighted motion picture, produced by Thomas Edison’s team of inventors. Recorded in 1894, The Sneeze became synonymous with the invention of movies.

Mao said: “Selecting a film for the national film registry recognises its importance to cinema and America’s cultural and artistic history. The registry is an invaluable way to advance public awareness of the richness, creativity and variety of our nation’s film heritage.”

Under the terms of the American National Film Preservation Act, each year the librarian of Congress names to the national film registry 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. The films must be at least 10 years old.