Ralph Macchio's 'The Karate Kid' heads to Library of Congress' National Film Registry
"The Karate Kid," released in 1984, starred Pat Morita, left, and Ralph Macchio. Credit: Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection
"Wax on, wax off!"
More than 40 years after "The Karate Kid" swept into theaters, Huntington's Ralph Macchio is being immortalized in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.
In the 1984 movie, Macchio's character, Daniel LaRusso, battles other fighters at the Cobra Kai dojo. His character learned karate and discipline doing menial tasks, such as waxing a car, under the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi, played by Pat Morita.
"The Karate Kid" is among 25 films added this year, "due to their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance to preserve the nation’s film heritage," according to the library.
Other films added include "Clueless," the Oscar-winning Tom Hanks film "Philadelphia," Christopher Nolan's psychological thriller "Inception," the 1989 Civil War drama, "Glory," and Bing Crosby musicals "White Christmas" and "High Society."
The registry selected six silent movies released between 1896 and 1926, along with the most recent, director Wes Anderson's 2014 film, "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
"The Karate Kid" joins more than 900 other films in the registry.
Ralph Macchio, who starred in "The Karate Kid," was born in Huntington and raised in Dix Hills. Credit: Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection
Macchio, who was born in Huntington and raised in Dix Hills, returned to Long Island last year as host of the tree lighting ceremony for the Huntington Holiday Spectacular.
He has looked fondly on his breakout role, which he reprised last year in the Jackie Chan-led film "Karate Kid: Legends."
"Those scenes in Miyagi's yard, the chores, the waxing on of the car, the painting the fences, the sanding the floor, all of that is now a part of cinematic pop culture," Macchio told the Library of Congress about the original film. "For me, the heart and soul of the film is in those two characters."
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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