The Star Trek film franchise has thirteen releases spanning 1979 to 2016, but there is one film often held up as the one of the best of the genre, 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And today the film picked up another major accolade, being named as one of the movies added to the National Film Registry for Preservation by the Library of Congress.
Khan preserved for the ages
Today, the Library of Congress announced the 25 films being added to the National Film Registry for Preservation for 2024. Films added to the registry are chosen “due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage.” Submissions for consideration can be made by members of the public and this year there were over 6,700 entries, one of which was Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
In a statement provided to TrekMovie, Stephen Leggett of the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center said, “We picked Wrath of Khan in part because it is generally considered the best of the theatrical releases in the series. The film also received significant support in public nominations.” Five of this year’s films added to the registry are also being highlighted for reflecting Hispanic artists and culture, and this includes The Wrath of Khan. From the announcement: “One of the selections with strong public nominations this year, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” features Mexican-American actor Ricardo Montalbán as the main antagonist in the film.”
Cast publicity photo for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures)
Here is the official entry for Star Trek II in the National Film Registry:
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Often considered the best of the six original-cast Star Trek theatrical films, “The Wrath of Khan” features Nicholas Meyer’s expert direction and James Horner’s stirring score to enhance the always intriguing “Star Trek” scripts, which echo the vision of Gene Roddenberry. “Wrath” reprises an old nemesis from the 1967 TV episode “Space Seed,” with Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) battling the volatile and ruthless Khan (Ricardo Montalban). In part an interstellar game of starship cat-and-mouse, and a testosterone-filled alpha mano a mano battle between Kirk and Khan, the film achieves true resonance when exploring larger social and personal themes, in this case Spock’s personal sacrifice to save the Enterprise: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…..or the one.”
Being named to the National Film Registry is just the latest honor for the film, which was also nominated for a Hugo Award in 1983 as well as eight Saturn Awards, with William Shatner winning for Best Actor and Nicholas Meyer winning for Best Director. Over the decades, The Wrath of Khan has often been held up as a standard for both the Star Trek franchise and beyond, with Ricardo Montalban’s Khan Noonien Singh considered one of the greatest movie villains of all time. The film has become iconic, influencing pop culture and remaining relevant to this day. Homages to the film have appeared across media, including Seinfeld and even this year in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Ricardo Montalban in The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures)
The Wrath of Khan is the first movie from the Trek franchise to be added to the Registry, which now has 900 films. According to the Library of Congress, the Star Trek film received “strong public support” along with some other familiar titles added, including The Social Network, Dirty Dancing, No Country for Old Men, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The full Registry includes other genre films, including all three original Star Wars movies. Other 1982 films on the Registry include Blade Runner, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
The National Film Preservation Board was established by Congress in 1988 and given a mandate preserve America’s cinematic heritage. 25 films are added to the Registry annually. Films must be 10 years old and deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after “conferring with the distinguished members of the National Film Preservation Board and a cadre of Library specialists.”
According to the Film Preservation Board, they coordinate with studios and film archives to ensure these films are archived and preserved for generations to come. In the case of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan they have coordinated with Paramount Pictures, who holds the copyright and houses all the master elements, and they do the preservation work.
For more on the Film Registry visit loc.gov/film.
2024 list of films (Library of Congress)
Nicholas Meyer reacts to accolade
Star Trek II director (and uncredited screenwriter) Nicholas Meyer has released a statement regarding the announcement:
I am greatly surprised and gratified by this honor, but I feel bound to say in the same breath that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan stands on the shoulders of many who contributed to the film as well as those who have gone before. Alas, they are not here to take their well-deserved bows. We must pay tribute to Gene Roddenberry, Gene Coon, Harve Bennett, Jack Sowards, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Kirstie Alley, James Doohan, Merritt Butrick, Bibi Besch, Paul Winfield, Joe Jennings, Gayne Rescher, Bill Dornisch, Mike Minor & a host of others. In their name and on behalf of current and future Star Trek creators, and on behalf of Star Trek itself and its message of optimism, I thank the Library of Congress for this lovely accolade.
Director Nicholas Meyer with William Shatner on the set of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Paramount Pictures)
Khan the book
If you would like to take a deep dive into the movie, you can pick up Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – The Making of the Classic Film. The coffee table book released last year was thoughtfully researched by John and Maria Jose Tenuto. It includes new interviews with Meyers and others who worked on the film. The fully-color illustrated book is available now in at Amazon in hardcover and Kindle eBook.
Find more Star Trek history at TrekMovie.
source: trekmovie.com