A petition has been initiated to have John Ford’s classic Irish movie “The Quiet Man” added to the United States National Film Registry, part of the Library of Congress, to mark the movie’s 60th anniversary.



The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation. As of 2011 there are 575 movies listed.



“The Quiet Man” is a cult phenomenon in its popularity - directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen, and Barry Fitzgerald. The movie has its own annual festival and every year thousands of American tourists flock to Cong in County Mayo to visit the sites where the movie was filmed in 1952. Recently the Irish Government agreed to restore the entirely dilapidated cottage made famous by the movie.



The movie’s significance was not lost on Laura Bynum, who four years ago moved to the town of Culpeper, Virginia, where the Registry is housed.



Bynum visited the Registry facility to view a documentary on the preservation of movies when she realized that “The Quiet Man”, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, was missing from the list.



She told IrishCentral, “This list includes films that have been chosen due to their cultural, historic, and/or aesthetic importance but, more to the true value of this list - being a member of the registry helps ensure that these films get a leg up on preservation so that future generations will be able to enjoy them as they were originally envisioned.



“When I found out that “The Quiet Man” wasn't on this list, I couldn't believe it. I spoke with a member of the Library of Congress about the best way to get it considered for inclusion and she suggested a Facebook campaign.”



And so Bynum’s campaign began four years ago. However, to be in with a chance of inclusion on the Registry for this year she must have her final number of votes by the 27th September. Time is running out.



“This year marks this film's 60th birthday and I thought, “I really need to make sure that this is the year it happens.”



So far Bynum has over 530 people in support of her Facebook page “The Quiet Man for the National Film Registry” but she needs to at least double this figure.



Bynum has also reached out to June Parker Beck, who runs Maureen O'Hara's website. The Irish Hollywood legend has also pledged support, along with the movie critic and historian Leonard Maltin.



Bynum told IrishCentral, “Ms. O'Hara is keeping tabs on what we're doing and has been very vocal (via June) in her support of this effort. I'd love to tell her, come December when the additions this year are announced, that it's finally made the cut.”



To lend your support to the “The Quiet Man for the National Film Registry” petition, ‘like’ their Facebook page or for inquiries about the movie and the Registry, contact Donna Ross at the Library of Congress on dross@loc.gov.



Here’s the trailer for “The Quiet Man”: