The Top 10 Films of the 1970s

The 1970s was a decade of cinematic firsts and breakthroughs. Many films made from that decade reflected on the social and political issues of the time. The Vietnam War was still in full swing, and it inspired more war movies to be made. Patton (1970), Catch-22 (1970), and MASH (1970) are examples from the early 1970s (nevermind the fact that MASH was disguised as being about the Korean War).

The first “blockbuster” film – the first to gross over $100 million in the U.S. – was Jaws in 1975. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) broke the record later and would keep it for over two decades.

After the abolition of the Hays Code in the 1960s (as mentioned in The Top 10 Films of the 1960s), films showed more violent content. Some examples are A Clockwork Orange (1971), Straw Dogs (1971), and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The latter film is also part of the rise of the horror genre. Some disturbing content was shown in that and films such as The Exorcist (1973) and Halloween (1978). Much like a young adult finding their rhythm after leaving home for the first time, Hollywood was clearly leaving its adolescence and pushing boundaries in the 1970s.

Here are some of my favorite films of the 1960s:

 National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978)

This is one of the funniest movies of all time! The film has so many gags and one-liners. John Belushi leads the cast in this film about a wild and rebellious fraternity whose sole purpose seems to be irritating both the college dean and their rival fraternity. I believe Animal House influenced many future comedies – I’m laughing just thinking about it!

All the President’s Men (1976)

This intelligent thriller takes place in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford play Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, the real-life Washington Post reporters who investigate and uncover the truth about Watergate. I remember watching this film in high school and admiring the story and its relevance to American history. I still get chills every time I watch it, especially during the scenes where Woodward meets Deep Throat in a dark parking garage.

Love and Death (1975)

Woody Allen writes, directs, and stars in this hilarious satire about the Napoleonic Wars. Allen plays Boris, who doesn’t act as he belongs in 19^th century Russia. Boris is basically Woody Allen himself, which I think is a hilarious concept. Allen also pokes fun at war movies by selling peanuts and popcorn to his fellow recruits. It’s like he did a remake of Duck Soup (1931) and mixed it with the seriousness of Ingmar Bergman films (which I know he is a fan of). Love and Death is a must-see!

Young Frankenstein (1974)

The 1970s produced some of the best comedies of all time. Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein spoofs the monster films of the 1930s. Gene Wilder is Dr. Frankenstein, who moves into a secluded, creepy mansion to conduct his experiment of creating man, with hilarious results. This film is worth watching again and again (especially on Halloween) – I notice something new every time.

Chinatown (1974)

“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” This is one of the many stunning moments in one of the best detective films ever made. Jack Nicholson is Jake Gittes, a private eye who investigates a seemingly simple case of infidelity, only to find that there is more than meets the eye. Gittes endures many twists and turns to deduce why he was picked for this case, in addition to tracking down the truth behind it. Even with all the classics under his belt, Chinatown is easily the best film directed by Roman Polanski.

The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Be honest – when you think of Rudyard Kipling, your first thought is of The Jungle Book, isn’t it? I, on the other hand, think of this film. It’s great fun to see Sean Connery and Michael Caine sharing the screen. Christopher Plummer is another great addition to the film, playing Kipling as a journalist. He is hired by two renegade British soldiers (Connery and Caine) to write about their journey to Kafaristan, a place no white man has entered since Alexander the Great. The tale of their delusions of grandeur is told, acted, shot, and directed exceedingly well.

Frenzy (1972)

Alfred Hitchcock continues his reign as The Master of Suspense in his penultimate feature film. Frenzy is one that many people seem to have unfortunately overlooked. I think it’s a perfect choice for both Hitchcock fans and those looking for a great example of suspense. The film focuses on a serial killer in London who targets women. The police arrest the suspect, but they get the wrong guy. This is a familiar plot device, but it is told very well with brilliant directing and off-the-wall humor.

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

This is one of those rare instances when a sequel outshines its predecessor. I think intertwining the plotlines of young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) rising to power and his son Michael (Al Pacino) running the family business is a great way to tell a story. Don’t get me wrong, The Godfather (1972) is still a great film, but this one goes above and beyond. De Niro’s and Pacino’s performances are magnificent. This film is about an hour longer than the first film, but it flows. It means there’s more in it to love.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Le Charme Discret de la Bourgeoisie) [1972]

I was very dismissive of Luis Buñuel when I first watched Un Chien Andalou (1929), a disturbing short film well ahead of its time. However, his works grew on me. The Exterminating Angel (El Ángel Exterminador) [1962] is a good and interesting film, but my respect for Buñuel grew after watching this film. It made me laugh more than I thought I would. It’s about three upper-class couples who try to finish a meal together, but various interruptions get in the way. The plot may seem mundane, but there is more to this film than that, I promise.

Manhattan (1979)

Woody Allen was on fire in the 70s – two entries in my top 10! Manhattan is a great piece of cinema, though, and truly deserves its spot on this list. I think this film is a love letter to New York, hence the title. Again, Allen plays another version of himself, but this time, he’s caught in a love triangle. He is a divorced man who dates a teenager (Mariel Hemingway) and falls in love with a friend’s mistress (Diane Keaton). This film is full of many hilarious scenes and dialogue. This film makes me want to go to New York, because the locations in the film are visually stunning, even in black and white.

Happy watching!

If you missed my earlier posts, you can read about my favorites from past decades here: 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.