Purely '70s
The 1970s was a decade of transition. The decade began with the Vietnam War in full flower, hippies roamed the lands and the airwaves, the optimism of Camelot was long gone, man walking on the Moon had become routine, and a whole generation was restless. It was also a big time of change for Hollywood, with major changes in film themes and techniques, as well as more hard-hitting drama and social issues dominating television. It was also the decade of bellbottoms, feathered hair, disco, punk, Watergate, Patty Hearst, Kent State, Billy Jack, vigilantes, "jiggle" shows, Sweathogs, the Fonz,and a tv series about the Korean War that lasted almost 3 times longer than the actual war.So pop in some Foghat and take a slow ride through the wonder of the 70s.
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- CreatorWilliam BlinnStarsWalt DisneyPaul FreesClarence NashA Disney-produced anthology covering many different genres.By the 1970s, this was known as The Wonderful World of Disney, and was shown on Sunday nights, on NBC. It was no longer (per se) a marketing tool for the parks and animated films (though some of that was still there); instead, it was mostly a showcase for the live action films and animated shorts, which would be grouped together in themes, with new animated bridging sequences (like the Ludwig Von Drake narrated "Kids is Kids" or the "Ranger of Brownstone"). Here, you would see things like The Absent Minded professor or Pollyana, or newer fare, like The Mystery in Dracula's castle or the Whiz Kid films, or The Omega Connection (aka The London Connection, in the theatrical version). You didn't get the animated features (usually, though that changed, to a degree, in later years), which were still reserved for theatrical re-release; but, you got some good stuff.
- CreatorBob ClaverStarsRobert KeeshanHugh BrannumJames E. WallDaily children's program hosted by Captain Kangaroo.Bob Keeshan was still going strong, in the 70s, along with Mr Greenjeans, Bunny Rabbitt and Mr Moose, with ping pong balls and other fun.
- StarsJim McKayHoward CosellMuhammad AliABC's weekend extravaganzas about everything that can be called a sports event.It started in the 60s; but was a mjor component of Saturday afternoons, in the 70s. The format of the show would foreshadow the approach of ESPN, in its infancy. In the 70s, it was a showcase for Evel Knievel's jumps, Harlem Globetrotters basketball games, Vasily Alexi weightlifting records, Rodrina and Zetsev skating dominance, Muhammad Ali fights (especially the lead up to the Inoki fight and the Thrilla in Manilla and Rumble in the Jungle), and endless repeats of Vinko Bogataj's ill-fated ski jump ("...the Agony of Defeat..." ABC's sports team, under producer Roone Arledge, was the best in network broadcasting.
- StarsMonty HallCarol MerrillJay StewartAudience contestants picked at random, dressed in ridiculous costumes, try to win cash or prizes by choosing curtain number 1, 2 or 3. Hilarious situations occur, from winning a rotten prize to jackpot.Another 60s game show creation that was a staple of the 70s, on ABC. Host Monty Hall offered constestants (often dressed in outlandish costumes to gain Hall's attention) a chance at different prizes, often upping the ante by offering them a chance at a bigger prize. The danger lay in the Zonks, gag prizes that were randomly hidden, leaving contestants to decide whther to gamble on winning a bigger prize or losing what they already had to a gag. Tons of Rice-a-roni were distributed on this and other 70s game shows. Hall's sport cats had to be seen to be believed.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsArt FlemingDon PardoMel BrooksA quiz competition in which contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in the form of questions.60s game show that was still a 70s favorite, hosted by Art Fleming, with Don Pardo as announcer. Forever immortalized by Weird Al Yankovic's "I lost on Jeopardy."
- CreatorMerrill HeatterBob QuigleyStarsPeter MarshallKenny WilliamsCliff ArquetteContestants guess the correctness of celebrities' answers in order to win spaces in a tic-tac-toe game.It began in the 60s but was a staple of 70s daytime tv, featuring minor celebrities offering various true or false answers to questions from host Peter Marshall. Paul Lynde was the regular center square, giving some of the most outlandish answers. Noted for its ribald humor, it ranged between lame and hilarious within the same segment.
- CreatorE. Roger MuirNick NicholsonStarsBob EubanksJohnny JacobsJames FarentinoMarried couples compete to see how much they really know about each other.Regular viewing in the early 70s, and revived in the later 70s. Bob Eubanks asked newly married couples innuendo-laced questions about preferences of each of their partners. One has to wonder about the divorce rate among the contestants as fights were common.
- CreatorDigby WolfeStarsDan RowanDick MartinGary OwensThe original rapid fire sketch comedy show.Laugh-In was still going strong, in the early 70s. Richard Nixon had even apepared, in 1968, which is believed to have got him many votes, though he was a regular target, after the election and even moreso in the 70s.
- CreatorLeonard FreemanStarsJack LordJames MacArthurKam FongThe investigations of Hawaii Five-0, an elite branch of the Hawaii State Police answerable only to the governor and headed by stalwart Steve McGarrett.Crossing well into the 70s, one of the classic police shows, featuring the special team, operating in Hawaii. Book 'em, Danno!
- StarsPatrick CargillNatasha PyneAnn HollowayA comedy of the life of a divorced father and his two daughters.UK sit-com, starring Patrick Cargill as the divorced father of two teenage daughters. One of the earliest shows to be seen on American PBS stations, as well as the A&E Network, in the mid-80s.
- CreatorJimmy PerryStarsArthur LoweJohn Le MesurierClive DunnA ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.Iconic British comedy about the Home Guard, during WW2. Arthur Lowe stars.
- CreatorSherwood SchwartzStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisThe misadventures of a large family united when a widower and a widow marry.The show premiered in the fall of 1969; but the show is probably the most "Pure 70s" of any. Two widowed people start a new life together, complete with three girls and three boys; plus, a housekeeper and various pets (who mysteriously disappeared). They all moved into a wonder of architecture, with one bathroom and no toilet! The Brady Bunch has always been a cockeyed view into the early 70s, with polyster clothes, liberal doses of paisly, longish hair, groovy slang, and silly situations. It also was an early attempt at exploring a blended family, complete with life lessons and plenty of meatloaf. It was corny as all heck; but, heartwarming and endearing.
- CreatorGraham ChapmanEric IdleTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamThe original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.The legendary tv series features both a capping of the 60s and the dawn of the 70s. It followed on the heels of the Beatles and the British music invasion, seemingly picking up the remnants of that spirit and carrying it on into the new decade. It features satires of authority and social conventions, as well as surreal events and characters. It proved to be groundbreaking and highly influential on the generations of British comedians who followed Python.
- StarsGarry MooreBill CullenKitty CarlisleFive-day-a-week syndicated revival of one of Goodson-Todman's most durable and longest-lived formats: A celebrity panel determines which of three contestants is the actual person associated with a given story.Syndicated version of the long running CBS show, where a panel of celebrities tries to guess which of three suspects is the actual person who is described by the host (a variation on What's My Line). In this period, it was presented by Gary Moore and, later, Joe Garagiola, and featured regulars Bill Cullen, Kitty Carlisle, and Peggy Cass.
- DirectorDennis HopperStarsPeter FondaDennis HopperJack NicholsonTwo bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.The film was produced and released in 1969; but, it ushered in a new era in filmmaking in Hollywood, which would take shape in the 1970s. The story also serves as a transition from the 60s into the 70s. Following in its wake would be smart, independently produced films which explored dramatic themes, social issues, and attempt to exert a new independence from the studios.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksStarsLloyd HaynesDenise NicholasMichael ConstantineTeacher Pete Dixon tries to teach the students at Walt Whitman High to be tolerant. He's assisted by girlfriend and school counselor, Liz and student teacher (later teacher) Alice. The students love him.James L Brooks began making a name for himself with this tv series, set in a high school, with a racially diverse population and staff. The series delivered comedy and drama in equal doses.
- StarsStuart MargolinBarbara MinkusWilliam CallawayAn anthology comedy series featuring a line up of different celebrity guest stars appearing in anywhere from one, two, three, and four short stories or vignettes within an hour about versions of love and romance.Anthology comedy series, usually featuring two stories per episode, plus little joke clips added to pad things out. it often featured the same actors in multiple roles; but is probably best known for broadcasting the pilot for what would become Happy Days.
- CreatorJoe RubyKen SpearsJoseph BarberaStarsDon MessickCasey KasemNicole JaffeA group of teenage friends and their Great Dane (Scooby-Doo) travel in a bright green van solving strange and hilarious mysteries, while returning from or going to a regular teenage function.Debuting at the end of the 60s, and continuing into the 70s, this is the cartoon show that set the tone for much of Saturday morning, throughout the 70s. The concept of a group of teenagers and a pet or non-human companion solving mysteries pretty much originated with this show. This series was great, with many memorable stories and sequences. However, the formula became endlessly repeated until you could pretty much predict the course of any episode about a minute and a half into the run time. Howver, there was no Scrappy Doo here.
- CreatorDavid VictorStarsRobert YoungJames BrolinElena VerdugoDr. Marcus Welby, a general practitioner, and Steven Kiley, Welby's young assistant. The two try to treat people as individuals in an age of specialized medicine and indifferent physicians.Long running and acclaimed medical show, with Robert Young and James Brolin. Welby was a heck of a lot less scary than my own doctor.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsJack WildBillie HayesLennie WeinribThe adventures of a boy trapped in a fantastic land with a dragon friend and a witch enemy.Created by Sid and Marty Krofft, featuring actors in suits and puppets, as well as live actors. Jimmy, a young boy, finds a magical flute, which the villain Witchiepoo, seeks, She sends a fantastic boat to temp him and lure him out to sea, where she throws him into a storm. Jimmy ends up on Living Island and is rescued by HR Pufnstuff, the mayor of Living Island. Together, they seeks to defeat Witchiepoo's various schemes. It was thoroughly surreal and set the standard for the Krofft shows that followed.
- CreatorBob CampChuck TatelyStarsRich LittlePaul FreesDave BarryA classy, resourceful panther has plenty of hilarious misadventures, outwitting those who annoy him with his clever tricks.The Pink Panther movie shorts came to television and new shorts were created. Though it started in 69, it was a viewing staple of the 70s, with work from the Depatie-Freleng studios. Also featured was the Inspector (based on Clouseau) and rebroadcasts (and new cartoons) of The Ant and the Aardvark, plus Mr Jaws (in later seasons).
- CreatorAl C. WardFrank GlicksmanStarsJames DalyChad EverettChris HutsonLocated in the Los Angeles, California area, the Medical Center was an otherwise unnamed hospital complex that was part of a larger university campus.Long running CBS medical drama, starring Chad Everett.
- StarsBenny HillHenry McGeeJackie WrightA skit based show with Benny Hill, often containing smutty humour.Though he had been on tv and in movies before, Benny Hill was synonymous with 70s British comedy.
- CreatorJoan Ganz CooneyLloyd Morrisett Jr.StarsJim HensonFrank OzCaroll SpinneyOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.Coinciding with Generation X, and still going strong today. In my day, it featured some cartoon segments, with Batman & Robin and Superman (produced for the show by Filmation), as well as the character David, who was forced to leave the show, in scandal (shades of Elmo) and saw the 70s debuts of Snuffalupagus, the Count, and many other characters.
- CreatorRay CameronStarsBarry CryerLes DawsonRay MartineA weekly comedy panel show in which two teams of three comedians each play for points by telling jokes on a subject chosen by the host. While a comedian was telling a joke, a member of the other team could interrupt by pressing the buzzer and finishing the joke to score bonus points for their team. The turn did not end, however, until the comedian whose proper turn it was finished a joke with a punchline. At the end of the show, the team with the most points won a gag trophy of a jester carrying the Yorkshire Television chevron logo.Game show favorite of the 70s, hosted by Bill ullen, who also appeared on 70s favorite To Tell the Truth.
- DirectorArthur HillerStarsAli MacGrawRyan O'NealJohn MarleyA boy and a girl from different backgrounds fall in love regardless of their upbringing - and then tragedy strikes.Ultra sappy film adaptation of the equally sappy Eric Segal novel, about a couple who meet in college, but have to face the fact that the woman has a terminal disease. Keep a box of tissues handy, and probably some insulin, when watching.
- CreatorAJ CarothersThomas L. MillerStarsJuliet MillsRichard LongDavid DoremusA remarkable young English nanny takes over the household of a widowed professor and his three children.Essentially cashing in on both Bewitched and Mary Poppins, this series featured Juliet Mills as the titular Nanny, who takes care of the children for a single father. Nanny appears to have magical abilities, as well as eccentric relatives. The show was rather lightweight and was carried on the strength of the charm of Mills, as well as young Kim Richards as Prudence. Elsa Lanchester had a recurring role as Nanny's aunt. There was also a pilot for an animated Nanny series.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksAllan BurnsStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerGavin MacLeodThe lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.Mary Tyler Moore left tv husband Rob Petrie behind and, with real husband Grant Tinker, set about changing the landscappe of television. Moore had come off a string of cinematic disappointments and went back to tv, with her own production company. MTM, as it was known, would go on to be a symbol of quality in television, producing such classics as the Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda, Newhart, and this. Mary plays Mary Richards, a 30 year-old woman who has ended a long relationship and moved to the big city, Minneapolis. She gets a job as an associate producer at the lowest rated tv station in town, working for the gruff Lou Grant. Together with writer Murray Slaughter and hapless anchorman Ted Baxter, Mary helps create the oddest presentation of tv news ever seen. The show moved back and forth between scenes set at the station and those in Mary's spacious apartment (no bedroom, though). Along the way, it became the voice for a generation of women entering the workforce and seeking their place in the world, professionally and personally. It was also one of the first shows to do a real ending for the series, deciding to naturally close things, as Moore had learned to do on the Dick Van Dyke Show. As such, the show didn't get a chance to grow stale and each season is a showcase of great writing and acting.
- CreatorJerry BelsonGarry MarshallStarsTony RandallJack KlugmanAl MolinaroTwo men, a neat freak and a slob separated from their wives, have to live together despite their differences.The hit play and movie became a hit tv series, starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. The series was a showcase of great writing and character acting.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsJohn McIndoeWayne LaryeaJohn PhilpottFour musical insect-like British fairies live happily in their enchanted forest while avoiding the schemes of the jealous Benita Bizarre.A Krofft show about a musical trio of humanoid bugs, who battle a vain and evil Martha Rae. Yeah, if it's a Krofft show, it's weird!
- DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsGeorge C. ScottKarl MaldenStephen YoungThe World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton.Film biography of the iconic WW2 general, with script by new Hollywood wunderkind Francis Ford Coppola. The film departs from older WW2 movies, by depicting the controversial general with all of his faults. George C Scott won an Oscar for his portrayal of the man of conflicting personality traits.
- CreatorBernard SladeStarsShirley JonesDavid CassidySusan DeyThe humorous adventures of a family of pop musicians.If the Bradys were corny, the Partridges were only slightly hipper, thanks to their music. The series was inspired by the success of the Cowsills; but, when they proved tough negotiators, a new angle was created. Now, widow Shirley Partridge is roped into joining her kids' band, adding keyboards and backing vocals, though the true star of the band was Keith, played by David Cassidy, who parlayed the show into teen idol status and a cranky relationship with that status. The series was a little smarter than the Brady Bunch but tugged at the heartstrings just as much. The music holds up well and actually produced a few bonafide hits. It also induced color control headaches via the family tour bus.
- DirectorTed PostStarsJames FranciscusKim HunterMaurice EvansThe sole survivor of an interplanetary rescue mission searches for the only survivor of the previous expedition. He discovers a planet ruled by apes and an underground city run by telepathic humans.The Apes are back, ushering in the 1970s as the Age of the Planet of the Apes. The film picks up after Taylor's discovery at the end of the first film. he moves further into the Forbidden Zone and disappears. meanwhile, a second mission has been sent to look for Taylor's group and finds itself on the Planet of the Apes. James Franciscus is Brent, the astronaut. He soon encounters Nova, and then Cornelius and Zira. meanwhile, gorilla General Ursus has pressured the council to launch an invasion of the Forbidden Zone to clear out any enclaves of humans and claim more land for growth. Brent and Nova try to disappear and soon find an underground city, inhabited by human mutants. The also find a relic of the past, with direct consequences on the future. It's a little uneven a times; but, the good stuff far outweighs the bad.
- DirectorGeorge SeatonHenry HathawayStarsBurt LancasterDean MartinGeorge KennedyA bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.Based on the novel, by Arthur Hiller, and starring Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, George Kennedy, and Helen Hayes, who steals the film as an old woman who sneaks onto airplanes to travel (yes, you could get away with stuff like that, pre-9/11). A distraught man has carried a bomb on board and is almost convinced to give it up before panicking and setting it off, damaging the stabilizer. Pilot Dean Martin has to get the plane safely home and land it. Meanwhile, Burt Lancaster is the man on the ground dealing with everything, including a blizzard and a trapped plane. Kennedy is the maintenance chief who is tasked to get the stuck plane off the tarmac. Taught thriller with a great cast.
- StarsEddie 'Rochester' AndersonRudy ClarkScatman CrothersThe adventures of a basketball comedy team.The basketball performers got their own cartoon, where they solved mysteries and played basketball, travelling around in the team bus. The gang also appeared on the new Scooby Doo movies, then reappeared as the Super Globetrotters, complete with super powers.
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsDonald SutherlandElliott GouldTom SkerrittThe staff of a Korean War field hospital use humor and high jinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war.Before the tv series, there was the movie. Robert Altman directed this adaptation; but, he, along with Ring Lardner, turned it from a fictionalized memoir of Korean War hijinks turned it into a commentary on the Vietnam War, with hijinks. However, the movie didn't go there quite as heavily as the tv series.
- DirectorJoseph SargentStarsEric BraedenSusan ClarkGordon PinsentThinking this will prevent war, the US government gives an impenetrable supercomputer total control over launching nuclear missiles. But what the computer does with the power is unimaginable to its creators.Long before The Terminator and Skynet, there was Colossus. Eric Braeden stars as a scientist who has created a thinking computer; but, finds that his creation has grown beyond his intention and he cannot control it. It immediately discovers a Soviet counterpart and the pair plot to eliminate the threat to mankind, by dictating to mankind how it will live peacefully. This doesn't sit well. Intriguing film.
- StarsJane WebbJohn ErwinDal McKennonSabrina's involved with a band of monsters, The Groovy Ghoulies; a rock band with Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein; who scare people for their own amusement.Spun off from the Archies was Sabrina, and she was joined by the Groovy Goolies, a sort of Laugh-In, with the Universal Monsters. It seemed funny as a kid but the jokes are pretty lame as an adult. However, I still use the "I needed that!" catch phrase (Franky's) from time to time.
- DirectorBrian G. HuttonStarsClint EastwoodTelly SavalasDon RicklesA group of U.S. soldiers sneaks across enemy lines in WWII France to get their hands on a secret stash of Nazi treasure.Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas, and Don Rickles star in this very cynical take on WW2. The film is heavily influenced by the changing attitudes towards the Vietnam War and presents a group of American soldiers who have been on the front lines and are tired of it. However, they learn about a stash of Nazi gold and decide to grab it for themselves. This is definitely not your typical war film, though it is one of the better war satires, which is what it truly is. Hard to recall that Clint Eastwood was a sort of counter-culture figure, at one point.
- DirectorArthur PennStarsDustin HoffmanFaye DunawayChief Dan GeorgeJack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Native Americans and fighting with General Custer.Dustin Hoffman stars in this satirical account of a white boy raised among the Cheyenne, contrasting the lives of the pioneers and the Native Americans. It is one of the early films to portray the Native Americans in a more sympathetic light and the whites as the villains. It also helped cement Dustin Hoffman as one of the key actors of the "New Hollywood" of the 70s.
- DirectorEnzo BarboniStarsTerence HillBud SpencerSteffen ZachariasA lazy, unorthodox gunfighter and his portly, horse-thieving brother defend a Mormon settlement from a land-grabbing Major, a Mexican bandit, and their henchmen.Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer star as a pair of improbable heroes (a lazy bounty hunter and a bank robber, who is masquerading as a sheriff) who end up coming to the aid of a group of pacifist settlers (a sort of Mormon/Amish mix), against evil cattlemen and Mexican bandits. It's silly, but a lot of fun.
- StarsFlip WilsonTim ConwayGeorge CarlinA variety show from the 1970s hosted by Flip Wilson that showcased skits, music and =appearances by "Geraldine Jones".After appearances in night clubs, talk shows and regular appearances on Laugh-In, Flip Wilson got his own show, allowing Geraldine to live, in all her glory. Richard Pryor was one of the writers.
- CreatorHerman MillerStarsDennis WeaverJ.D. CannonTerry CarterA New Mexico deputy marshal gets assigned to Manhattan's 27th Precinct.Part of the NBC Mystery Movie lineup and featuring Dennis Weaver as a western lawman transplanted to New York City. It owed much to the relatively recent Clint Eastwood movie, Coogan's Bluff and was intended to star Fess Parker, who turned it down. Weaver, however, was iconic in the role and the title shot of McLoud riding through New York, on horseback, was one of the more memorable tv images of the 70s.
- DirectorElliot SilversteinStarsRichard HarrisJudith AndersonJean GasconIn 1825, an English aristocrat is captured by Native Americans. He lives with them and begins to understand their way of life. Eventually, he is accepted as part of the tribe and aspires to become their leader.Richard harris stars as an Englishman who is captured by the Sioux and kept as a slave, until he is eventually adopted into the tribe. In a memorable and cringe-worthy sequence, he undergoes the Sund Dance ceremony, where the skin of his chest is pierced and he is suspended by rawhide thongs, until the skin tears away. The agony of the ordeal causes hallucinations (along with herbal medicines used in the ceremony) and gives him a vision. Harris goes on to become a warrior and leader of the tribe. It is more authentic in its depictions of the Sioux, though it had its share of criticism of doing it through a white lens. regardless, it is a mesmerizing film.
- DirectorAndrew V. McLaglenStarsJohn WayneForrest TuckerChristopher GeorgeCattle baron John Chisum joins forces with Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett to fight the Lincoln County land war.John Wayne ushers in the 70s with a western. Quite a departure, I know! Here, Duke is a rancher who finds himself at odds with a greedy Forrest Tucker. It is based, extremely loosely, on the Lincoln County War, in new Mexico. It's the Duke, so take it for whatever that means to you.
- DirectorArthur HillerStarsJack LemmonSandy DennisSandy BaronAn Ohio sales executive accepts a higher position within the company and travels to New York City with his wife for his job interview but things go wrong from the start.Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis star in this Neil Simon piece, about an Ohio couple's misadventures in New York City, as they suffer one indignity after another. Dennis suffers in silence but Lemmon becomes more incensed, demanding names so he can sue people. It was originally intended to be a subplot of Plaza Suite but, instead, became its own entity.
- DirectorGeorge McCowanStarsStephen BoydRobert HooksSusan OliverA racist officer is put in charge of a squad of black troops charged with taking an important bridge from the Germans.Better known as The Black Brigade, this tv movie centers on a African-American unit that is tasked with seizing a key hydro-electric dam from the Germans. the group had been stuck in menial duties, but gets to demonstrate their abilities on the mission. It features such stars as Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, Moses Gunn, football great Rosie Grier, and Robert Hooks.
- DirectorSergey BondarchukStarsRod SteigerChristopher PlummerOrson WellesFacing the decline of everything he has worked to obtain, conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and his army confront the British at the Battle of Waterloo.One of the last grand historical epics, largely because the high production costs and small domestic box office. It was a bigger hit in Europe. Rod Steiger stars as Napoleon and is mesmerizing in several scenes, including what is essentially a monologue of Napoleon dictating a series of letters. Christopher Plummer has the harder task of playing the more reserved Duke of Wellington. The film captures the main details of the battlle, starting with the background of Napoleon's return to exile, the encounter at Quatre Bras, which split the allied forces, and the stages of the main battle, including the epic British cavalry charge. From a historical viewpoint, it captures a lot of detail of the battle, including military strategy, such as forming squares, in response to cavalry charge, the use of artillery, and the end game of massed charges. Unfortunately, it's not a great showcase of acting and drama, apart from the leads, though there are a few good character moments, such as an Irish soldier who tries to talk his way out of being hung for stealing a pig (which earns him a promotion). It also shows the devastating nature of the fighting, with masses of dead bodies, human and animal. It is an intriguing film; but, it requires great patience.
- DirectorWolfgang ReithermanStarsPhil HarrisEva GaborSterling HollowayWith the help of a smooth talking tomcat, a family of Parisian felines set to inherit a fortune from their owner try to make it back home after a jealous butler kidnaps them and leaves them in the country.Walt was gone and Disney continued; but, the 70s was a rough time for the studio portion of the company. The out put was rather lackluster. I saw this one in the theater, as a small child and it's pretty entertaining, if not quite up there with the classics. It has a lot of parallels to 101 Dalmations; but, Phil Harris helps it a lot and there are some good songs (especially "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat", with its jazzy sound). It's better than its reputation; but, it isn't a classic.
- DirectorRichard FleischerKinji FukasakuToshio MasudaStarsMartin BalsamSô YamamuraJason RobardsThe story of the 1941 Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor, and the series of preceding American blunders that aggravated its effectiveness.Joint Japanese and American film, directed by Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda, and Kinji Fukasaku (with writing assist from Akira Kurasawa, who was originally to direct), which features the attack on Pearl harbor, from both the Japanese and American perspectives. In this, it succeeds greatly in showing the planning and execution of the surprise attack, as well as lacksadaisical attitude and inept reaction of the military command structure to the attack, while also showcasing some of the individual heroism. As a piece of history, it succeeds well and has some terrific action sequences. Where it fails is on the character and dramatic elements, which are a bit lackluster. It had a failed reputation, though it made back its budget and earned a small profit in the US, though it's reputation has grown in succeeding years. It was a huge hit in Japan. Scenes have been reused in other productions, particularly a scene involving a B-17 making a crash landing on one wheel, and a P-40, which crashes into a line of other planes, which created real havoc on the set, as stuntmen had to really run for their lives. There is also a shot of a parked plane that is hit, sending it's prop spinning across the runway.
- StarsSherry AlberoniJerry DexterCathy DouglasAn up-and-coming pop-music group and its entourage get involved with strange mysteries while touring the world.Archie's favorite band (apart from his own) got their own cartoon, as Josie, Melody, and Valerie tour and have adventures, along with Josie's boyfriend and roadie Allan, manager Alexander and his nasty sister Alexandra, and Alexandra's evil cat, Sebastian. Lightweight, but fun. The group later returned with Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space. It was a strange idea and wasn't nearly as good as the original. The gang also met up with the Scooby Gang, in the New Scooby Doo Movies.
- StarsDal McKennonHoward MorrisJohn ErwinArchie's Fun House is packed with crazy blackout gags, outrageous puns, wacky jokes and three jukebox songs per episode.The Archie Show had been in reruns and spawned the later Archie Comedy Hour. This was more of the same, with expanded Funhouse segments and a video music jukebox, as well as a live audience. This is the first Archie Show I recall with clarity, since I was pretty young when the previous versions aired.
- CreatorStan BurnsMike MarmerStarsDayton AllenJoan GerberBernie KopellA member of pop band Evolution Revolution, Lancelot Link is called upon by the Agency to Prevent Evil (APE), in their ongoing fight against CHUMP.Outside of the Krofft shows, you don't get much more "70s" than Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp! It's a spy spoof, with an all-chmpanzee cast. If you thought the Krofft's were on drugs, what were these guys smoking?
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsJohn WayneJorge RiveroJennifer O'NeillAfter the Civil War, Cord McNally searches for the two traitors whose treachery caused the defeat of McNally's unit and the loss of a close friend.One of my favorite of Wayne's 70s westerns, thanks, in large part, to Jack Elam. The film revolves around the search for traitors who fed information to the Confederates, during the Civil War, which allowed them to hijack a payroll shipment, leading to the deaths of friends of Wayne. It's directed by Howard Hawks, which is another sign of its greatness.
- CreatorRichard LevinsonWilliam LinkStarsPeter FalkMike LallyJohn FinneganLos Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo uses his humble ways and ingenuous demeanor to winkle out even the most well-concealed of crimes.Peter Falk stars as Lt. Columbo, a homicide detective who deals in tough cases. The series featured intricate murder plots, which are carried out in the beginning, for the audience to see. then, we watch as Lt. Columbo investigates and pieces together the discrepancies in the murderer's cover story and as he uncovers evidence. The series was part of a rotating block of tv movies, as part of the NBC Mystery Movie, along with McLoud, Macmillan and Wife, and Heck Ramsey. Columbo's rumpled suit, overcoat, cigar, Peugot, and penchant for asking, "Just one more question," all became tv icons. The series drew top acting talent, based on the strength of the writing and Falk's performance as the detective.
- CreatorLeonard SternStarsRock HudsonJohn SchuckSusan Saint JamesSan Francisco Police Commissioner Stewart "Mac" McMillan and his amateur detective wife keep their marriage unpredictable while solving the city's most baffling crimes.Another component of the excellent NBC Mystery Movie lineup, featuring a police commissioner investigating mysteries, with his wife adding her involvement. It featured a great cast of Rock Hudson, Susan St. James, Nancy Walker, and John Schuck. St. James would leave the series before it ended, prompting a bit of retooling.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.Norman Lear became a powerhouse in television, beginning with this show, which mixed drama and comedy, while bringing social issues to the forefront of primetime. Archie Bunker is the voice of the exasperated older generation, who are facing tremendous social upheaval, while wondering if that was why they fought a war. Brilliantly written and acted, though it wore out its welcome, by the end.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.Stanley Kubrick directs Malcolm McDowell, in this adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel. McDowell is Alex Large, leader of a gang of psychopathic teen thugs, in a future society where order has broken down. Alex narrates the tale, giving you his perspective on things. Visually, its mesmerizing, but the scenes are often horrifying in their casual brutality (which is the point). Unfortunately, that point is lost on a lot of people who are fans of the film, who seem to idolize the charismatic psychopath. The film is also noted for the attempt at deprogramming Alex and the idea of removing free will to bring about conformity and order. This is a film I have only seen about 3 times and is not one I can watch again and again, as much of it just turns my stomach and unsettles me. One thing is for certain, it doesn't bore you.
- DirectorTom LaughlinStarsTom LaughlinDelores TaylorClark HowatEx-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaway.One of the early benefactors of the Easy Rider revolution was Tom Laughlin and his character Billy Jack. The character debuted in a biker film, The Born Losers; but, it was here that he really developed into a voice for both the counter-culture and the American Indian Movement (though heavily filtered through a liberal white man's point of view). The film series is an odd mixture of hard hitting violence and philosophy, as Billy Jack struggles against his violent tendencies in the face of bigoted aggression. Wife Delores Taylor, an amateur, portrays the head of a progressive school which tries to bring education and enlightenment into a heavily conservative area. The film series did much to showcase the philosophical battle between the more extreme ends of the political spectrum.
- DirectorMelvin Van PeeblesStarsMelvin Van PeeblesHubert ScalesJohn DullaghanAfter saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.The film that launched the Blaxploitation genre: films aimed at an urban audience, featuring mostly African-American actors.
- DirectorGordon ParksStarsRichard RoundtreeMoses GunnCharles CioffiA crime lord hires black private eye, John Shaft, to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.If Sweet Sweetback launched Blaxploitation, then this film cemented the trappings of the genre. Richard Roundtree stars as the tough black private eye, who has been hired to find and rescue a mobster's kidnapped daughter. The film was noted for presenting a black hero and for its soul soundtrack, provided by Isaac Hayes.
- DirectorDon SiegelClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodAndrew RobinsonHarry GuardinoWhen a man calling himself "the Scorpio Killer" menaces San Francisco, tough-as-nails Police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is assigned to track down the crazed psychopath.In the wake of celebrity serial killers, like the Manson Family and the Zodiac killer, urban angst was at an all time high and confidence in the police at an all time low. Entering into this arena is Clint Eastwood, as an incorruptible police inspector, Harry Callahan, who lives and works in San Francisco. Callahan is less interested in enforcing the law as he is dispensing justice, via his Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 magnum revolver. His cannon serves as a warning to criminals; but, a bigger warning is needed for his partners, as they have a high mortality rate. The film helped inspire an entire new action genre, filled with big stunts, copious amounts of gunplay, and quick one-liners and catch phrases.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsSean ConneryJill St. JohnCharles GrayA diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.James Bond entered the 70s; but, much of the cool was gone. After the failed experiment with George Lazenby (which I actually like and think gets a bad rap), the producers at Eon drove a truckload of money up to Sean Connery's doorstep and got him to come back, after he said "Never again!" Unfortunately, this isn't the Sean Connery of Goldfinger. He is noticeably heavier and his toupee isn't up to the task. Also, rather than one of the more sophisticated love interests, he gets a more street savvy Jill St John. St. John is entertaining and has great comedic timing, but she adds to an already satirical tone. Add the oddbal assassins Wint and Kidd and Charles Grey as a charming, but not very deadly Bloefeld and the whole thing kind of collapses. It has some good stunts and some memorable scenes, but the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Jimmy Dean, as a Southern-fried Howard Hughes-esque billionaire, doesn't help things, though he is a hoot. It's entertaining enough, but not one of the classic Bonds.
- DirectorPeter BogdanovichStarsTimothy BottomsJeff BridgesCybill ShepherdIn 1951, a group of high schoolers come of age in a bleak, isolated, atrophied North Texas town that is slowly dying, both culturally and economically.Peter Bogdanovich's haunting film about life in a small Texas town and the local cinema. It was a critical and Oscar darling, and one of the staples of the "New Hollywood."
- DirectorBoris SagalStarsCharlton HestonAnthony ZerbeRosalind CashDr Robert Neville has developed an experimental vaccine which makes him the only immune survivor of a biological catastrophe. A gang of homicidal mutants blame science for their condition and attempt to kill him.Charlton Heston stars in this adaptation of Richard Matheson's I Am Legend. The world has been devastated by a plague, which mutated some into vampire-like creatures. Heston is the last man alive, though he has become less human than the creatures he battles. This was the second adaptation of the story, after the Vincent Price Last Man on Earth.
- DirectorMel StuartStarsGene WilderJack AlbertsonPeter OstrumA poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.Producer David L Wolper and director Mel Stuart deliver a family masterpiece, with script from creator Roald Dahl (though there was some tinkering, without his knowledge). Peter Ostrum stars in his only film role, as the honest poor Charlie, who will get to live out a dream. Ostrum walked away from acting and the offer of a three-picture deal, ultimately becoming a veterinarian. The actors are a delight and the songs memorable. It has terrors and laughs, fun and sadness, as a great film and a great book should. The Burton remake lacked all of the charm and most of the heart.
- StarsDaws ButlerPaul WinchellWilliam CallawayAnimated series centering on three bears who live in a zoo. Every now and then they try to sneak out of the zoo. So the zoo keeper and his assistant try to stop them or apprehend them when they do. They also have schemes which the zoo keeper has to take care of.Fairly typical 70s cartoon, from Hanna-Barbera, featuring 3 bears who routinely escape from the zoo, for adventures. The premise borrows rather heavily from Tennessee Tuxedo. The writing and designs are very "70s."
- DirectorDon TaylorStarsRoddy McDowallKim HunterBradford DillmanThe world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a U.S. spacecraft. They become the toast of society, but one man believes them to be a threat to the human race.The Apes saga heads into the 70s, literally, as Cornelius and Zira (and the genius Dr. Milo) travel back in time to the Earth of Taylor and Brent. There they become celebrities; but, a brilliant scientist, played by Eric Braeden, uncovers the truth of the future and sets out to stop it. At this point, the Apes become the metaphor for minorities, rather than oppressors. The film is one that tends to split Apes fans, with the ending being the chief factor, as well as too many cutesy scenes, to show the Apes adjusting to our world.
- CreatorEarl Hamner Jr.StarsJon WalmsleyMary Beth McDonoughEric ScottThe life and trials of a 1930s and 1940s Virginia mountain family through financial depression and World War II.You couldn't go anywhere without running into this series, featuring a family making do, during the Great Depression. Once the recession of the 70s took hold, it was a stark reminder of the economic woes of the day and how they paralleled that generation.
- CreatorMarty KrofftSid KrofftStarsCharles Nelson ReillyBillie HayesButch PatrickA boy finds himself trapped in a land populated by living hat-people which is ruled by a crotchety magician.A teenager sneaks backstage, after a magic performance, to learn the secrets of the magician. He falls into the enlarged magician's hat and ends up in a strange world of living hats, and finds a ring, with a genie. The magician, Hoodo, seeks to steal the ring and sends his villainous hat creatures after the young man. Not quite as memorable as Pufnstuff, though equally surreal, largely thanks to Charles Nelson Reilly, in green make-up, flying around in a giant top hat. Yeah, the Krofft's were an odd buch.
- StarsJohn ErwinHoward MorrisDal McKennonArchie and the gang present animated adaptations of popular comic strips like Smokey Stover and Dick Tracy.My favorite of the Archie shows, since it featured cartoons from newspaper strips, including my favorite segment, Dick Tracy. the Archie gang is working at the local tv station, where the cartoons are broadcast.
- CreatorEileen AtkinsStarsGordon JacksonDavid LangtonJean MarshThe lives and fortunes of the Bellamy family and their below-stairs servant staff at 165 Eaton Place play out against the social, political and historical backdrop of Edwardian London from 1903 to 1930.Iconic dramatic series, created by Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins. It was a staple of PBS, helping to launch Masterpiece theater. It features the lives of both the servants and the upper class, and would greatly influence things like Downton Abbey, though with far more sympathy for those below stairs.
- StarsJim BoydMorgan FreemanJudy GraubartA comedy variety show that teaches basic phonetic and grammar concepts using live-action sketches, cartoons, songs, and Spider-Man episodes.Following closely on the heels of Sesame Street, the Children's television Workshop launched this program. Where Sesame Street taught letters and numbers, and introduced basic conccepts, Electric Company taught phoenetics and reading skills. It featured such performers as Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman, Irene Cara, and Rita Moreno. I learned to read by watching this show (and Sesame Street).
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsJames OlsonArthur HillDavid WayneTop scientists work feverishly in a secret, state-of-the-art laboratory to discover what killed the citizens of a small town and how the deadly contagion can be stopped.Sci-fi film, based on the novel by Michael Crichton. A probe has returned from space, but brought a virus with it, killing all but two residents of a nearby town. The Air Force secure the probe and bring it to the underground Wildfire facility, where a group of scientists work to discover what happened to the town and how to neutralize the virus. The film is filled with character actors, instead of stars, which keeps things centered on plot and character. Very gripping and intelligent.
- CreatorChris BeardeStarsSonny BonoCherTed ZeiglerA variety show with comedy skits and musical numbers, performed by a regular cast and special guests.Comedy-variety show, featuring the pop duo. the show was revived in 1976, as the Sonny and Cher Show, post-divorce. Daughter Chastity (prior to transition to Chaz) appeared in the later series.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsJennifer O'NeillGary GrimesJerry HouserDuring his summer vacation on Nantucket Island in 1942, a youth eagerly awaiting his first sexual encounter finds himself developing an innocent love for a young woman awaiting news on her soldier husband's fate in WWII.Jennifer O'Neal stars in this tale of a young man's coming of age, while spending the summer along the shore of Nantucket. It is based on the memoir of the screenwriter and tells of the young man's desire to lose his virginity and his attraction to an older woman. Gary grimes is the young man, while O'Neal plays the object of his affection. It is both funny and touching and is a special favorite of mine.
- CreatorShotaro IshinomoriStarsAkiji KobayashiShinji NakaeGorô NayaA grasshopper-like, motorcycle-riding cyborg (joined by another one later in the show) fights the evil organization that transformed him for their evil deeds.Japanese hero show, about a cyborg battling an evil organization. the series would be a huge hit and spawn numerous follow-up shows. It originated as a manga and was heavily influenced by the earlier Gekko Kamen
- DirectorEnzo BarboniStarsTerence HillBud SpencerYanti SomerBambino tries to teach his brother Trinity how to become an outlaw, but the two wind up saving a pioneer family and breaking up an arms ring instead.Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer are back as a pair of ne-er-do-well brothers and their misadventures. The most memorable scene features Terrence Hill in a gunfight with a cardsharp. Hill draws his gun and slaps his opponent repeatedly, before he can even move. The scene is sped up, but it immensely entertaining. The beauty of these films is that it spoofs the conventions of westerns, particularly the spaghetti westerns, and has our heroes use their brains to connive and trick their opponents, though a little brute force punctuates things. Otherwise, they are relatively bloodless.
- DirectorRobert StevensonWard KimballStarsAngela LansburyDavid TomlinsonRoddy McDowallAn apprentice witch, three kids and a cynical magician conman search for the missing component to a magic spell to be used in the defense of Britain in World War II.Disney tries to recapture Mary Poppins with this story about a witch who stops the Germans from invading Britain; but fails miserably. It's a shame, as it isn't a bad film and Angela Lansbury is quite good in it.
- StarsRonnie BarkerRonnie CorbettThe Fred Tomlinson SingersThis long-running BBC comedy show consisted of sketches and humourous musical routines.Long running series, featuring sketches from Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker.
- DirectorMike NicholsStarsJack NicholsonCandice BergenArt GarfunkelChronicling the lifelong sexual development of two men who meet and become friends in college.Mike Nichols directs this film, with script from Jules Feiffer, and starring Jack Nicholson, Art Garfunkel, Candice Bergin, Ann-Margaret, Carol Kane, and Rita Moreno. The film follows Nicholson and Garfunkel from their college days to middle age and charts their changes along the way. It also features frank discussion and depiction of sexual matters, which helped make it groundbreaking, though it also caused the film some problems. Today, it seems pretty tame.
- DirectorNorman JewisonStarsTopolNorma CraneLeonard FreyIn pre-revolutionary Russia, a Jewish peasant with traditional values contends with marrying off three of his daughters with modern romantic ideals while growing anti-Semitic sentiment threatens his village.Film version of the musical. Musicals were dying off by the 70s. they were expensive to produce and the box office was relatively small. The film features Topol, instead of Zero Mostel, who originated the role on Broadway. The decision was controversial; but, it earned Topol an Oscar nomination. The film was directed by Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison (Rollerball), who, despite the last name, is not Jewish. The film was a favorite of my parents, including my father, who loved the song, "Tradition." We're WASPs, which just goes to show that the themes of the film transcend cultural differences.
- DirectorWei LoChia-Hsiang WuStarsBruce LeeMaria YiJames TienA young man sworn to an oath of non-violence works with his cousins in an ice factory where they mysteriously begin to disappear.Bruce Lee's big break, as a starring lead. Lee plays a young man, working in an ice house in Thailand, where he learns that it is a front for drug smuggling. It's not exactly deep on drama; but, it has great fight scenes, which sums up most of Lee's Hong Kong films.
- StarsJoel CooperDonald FulliloveMike MartinezThe animated musical adventures of the Jackson brothers.The Jackson Five got their own cartoon, with songs and adventure.
- DirectorGeorge ShermanJohn WayneStarsJohn WayneRichard BooneMaureen O'HaraIn 1909, when John Fain's gang kidnaps Jacob McCandles' grandson and holds him for ransom, Big Jake sets out to rescue the boy.The Duke struggled to remain relevant in the 70s; but, he did some good work. Here, Wayne is a wealthy rancher whose grandson has been kidnapped. He goes after the bandits, rather than paying a ransom, 'cause he's The Duke.
- DirectorBuzz KulikStarsJames CaanBilly Dee WilliamsJack WardenBased on the real-life relationship between teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and the bond established when Piccolo discovers that he is dying.James Caan stars as Brian Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams is Gayle Sayers, in this tv movie, based on Sayers memoir. the film showcases the friendship that developed between the white Piccolo and black Sayers, during a period of racial tensions. Sayers excelled, while Piccolo had to work hard to succeed; but they bonded as Piccolo's selfless acts help Sayers recover from injuries, despite his return endangering Piccolo's position. Eventually, Piccolo develops health problems and is diagnosed with terminal cancer. the film is wonderfully acted and represents a period when great work was done specifically for television, rivaling anything on the big screen.
- DirectorRobert ButlerStarsKurt RussellJoe FlynnHarry MorganA mailroom clerk and a chimp team up to pick hit TV shows.Kurt Russell stars as a network mailroom clerk who discovers that his girlfriend's pet chimpanzee (!!!) has the ability to predict ratings hits. He uses this ability to gain romotion, with the usual Disney consequences. Um, yeah; it's not exactly Citizen Kane, though Russell was professional enough to do his job well and it has good character actors. It's fluff, but it's pleasant fluff. Russell would spend the later part of the 70s trying to shake the image of his work in the early 70s.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDennis WeaverJacqueline ScottEddie FirestoneA business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.From the brilliant mind of Richard Matheson came this story, which is adapted into a tv movie, starring Dennis Weaver, with an early directing effort from Steven Spielberg. Weaver is a man who tries to pass a slow moving semi-truck, which is belching smoke, but soon find himself being stalked and menaced by the driver. The film is a great piece of suspense, from a master writer and a young, but extremely talented director. Again, this is from an era of great tv movies.
- DirectorDon SiegelStarsClint EastwoodGeraldine PageElizabeth HartmanWhile recuperating in a Confederate girls' boarding school, a Union soldier cons his way into each of the lonely women's hearts, causing them to turn on each other, and eventually, on him.Clint Eastwood stars as a wounded Union soldier who is cared for by a group of women, in a house, all alone. Doesn't take much imagination to see where that leads, though the film is a fine showcase of acting talent. Later parodied in the comic book Cerebus the Aardvark, in it's early days (the comic was produced over a 25+ year period, producing 300 issues, from writer/artist Dave Sim, with later art assist by Gerhard, and was entirely self-published. For those who care.)
- DirectorArthur HillerStarsWalter MatthauMaureen StapletonBarbara HarrisThree vignettes, each set in room 719 of New York's Plaza Hotel, make up this comedy.Neil Simon's great play is adapted for the screen, with mixed results. Walter Matthau stars in three roles, all revolving around the Plaza Hotel. He's best as the father of the bride in a wedding gone wrong. The film did well enough to spawn the sequel, California Suite, though it isn't considered to be as good as the stage version.
- DirectorMarvin J. ChomskyStarsGeorge HamiltonSue LyonBert FreedBiography of the famed motorcycle daredevil, much of which was filmed in his home town of Butte, Montana. The film depicts Knievel reflecting on major events in his life just before a big jump.What could be more 1970s than Evel Knievel? Well, okay, he started making a big name for himself and his stunts in the 60s; but, he reached his peak in the 70s. This film stars george Hamilton, and focuses as much on the legend as the truth, of the outlaw stuntman, from Butte, Montana. Hamilton is great in the film and really captures the larger than life personna of Knievel, though he is more flamboyant than Knievel (who talked big; but, generally had a rather laid back delivery to his boasts). Hamilton was a pretty darn good actor, when he is challenged, before he became an overly tanned self-parody, and this film showcases it. It uses a lot of footage of Knievel's actual jumps, though it was made before the infamous Snake River Canyon jump, with his "Skycycle." When I was a kid, we idolized Knievel and used to build makeshift ramps to jump our ditches, on our steel frame, banana-seat bicycles (with chopper handlebars), without helmets. Between stuff like that and lawn darts, it's a wonder we ever survived the 70s. To us, Evel Knievel was a living superhero.
- DirectorWoody AllenStarsWoody AllenLouise LasserCarlos MontalbánWhen a bumbling New Yorker is dumped by his activist girlfriend, he travels to a tiny Latin American nation and becomes involved in its latest rebellion.Woody Allen stars and directs in this tale of a New Yorker who ends up involved in a Latin American revolution, and finds himself put in power. Lots of great gags and satire and an early performance by Sylvester Stallone, as a punk who menaces Allen. One of Allen's "funny" films.
- DirectorHal AshbyStarsRuth GordonBud CortVivian PicklesYoung, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.Dark, existential, charming and funny. Only in the late 60s or early 70s could you do a comedy about a young man obsessed with death who befriends and falls in love with a woman nearing her 80th birthday, who is ready to die. It wasn't a hit at the time; but found an audience as the eyars progressed and people began to recognize how good it was.
- DirectorSam PeckinpahStarsDustin HoffmanSusan GeorgePeter VaughanA young American and his English wife come to rural England and face increasingly vicious local harassment.Dustin Hoffman stars in this quiet, sedate little film. Yeah, right; it's Sam Peckinpah! Violent doesn't begin to cover things here, with murder rape, cats hung from light chains, revenge, etc... Not for the faint of heart.
- DirectorMike HodgesStarsMichael CaineIan HendryBritt EklandWhen his brother dies under mysterious circumstances in a car accident, London gangster Jack Carter travels to Newcastle to investigate.Michael Caine stars in one of the seminal British crime films. Caine is Jack Carter, a London-based criminal who returns to Newcastle to bury his dead brother, allegedly killed in a drunk driving accident. carter doesn't buy the story and does some investigating. Carter discoveres the truth and enacts his revenge; but, he also is dodging the fact that he has been sleeping with his boss' wife, back in London. The film is a classic, in the UK and Caine is tough as they come, borrowing on his upbringing in London's East End (he never sounds like a Northerner). The film also features Britt Eklund as the cuckholding wife of Carter's boss, and Ian Hendry as muscle for the Newcastle criminal behind Carter's brother's death. Alun Armstrong also has a memorable early role, as an old friend of Carter.
- DirectorAlan J. PakulaStarsJane FondaDonald SutherlandCharles CioffiA small-town detective searching for a missing man has only one lead: a connection with a New York prostitute.Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda headline this Alan Pakula film, dealing with the investigation of the disappearance of an executive. Sutherland is the detective and Fonda is a prostitute. Notorious for a scene of Fonda, faking orgasm, then casually looks at her watch. Pakula did paranoia better than anyone.
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsRobert DuvallDonald PleasenceDon Pedro ColleyIn the 25th century, a time when people have designations instead of names, a man, THX 1138, and a woman, LUH 3417, rebel against their rigidly controlled society.The closest George Lucas has come to real art (and I really like American Grafitti , and it has some artistic moments). It's steeped in the French New Wave style, which means much of it makes no sense. It is very visual, which is really Lucas' strength. Basically, society is kept in check via controlled birth and heavy pharmaceutical dosing. Robert Duval is THX, who has gone off his meds and begins to question his world. Lucas, in the commentary talks about it depicting three escapes, which is pretty spot on. It's also one of the few films with which Lucas has tinkered on dvd that has actually been improved (he expanded the scope of the underground city). It was filmed in the then-unfinished San Francisco BART system. It was a remake of Lucas' star-making student film.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsGene HackmanRoy ScheiderFernando ReyA pair of NYPD detectives in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a heroin smuggling ring based in Marseilles, but stopping them and capturing their leaders proves an elusive goal.Gene Hackman stars as detective Popeye Doyle, who has uncovered a massive heroin smuggling operation, originating in Marseille France. He battles criminals and institutional corruption to bring down the French Connection. The film was inspired by real events, though the script was highly fictionalized. The film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also features a groundbreaking car chase sequence, which would inspire numerous others.
- DirectorEtienne PérierStarsMichael YorkElke SommerPeter CarstenIn 1915, frustrated with the German air-raids on London, British Intelligence sends Scots officer Geoffrey Richter-Douglas, who has German ancestry, to Germany, to find information about the latest German Zeppelin.Great little thriller, though highly improbable. It's a bit lacking on the emotional front, but very suspenseful. Michael York is a British spy, of mixed Scottish/German parentage, who has been set up as a turncoat. His mission is to gain intelligence about the latest design German airship, which are terrorizing London with bombing raids (though, in actuality, the raids had little strategic value). Elke Sommer plays the wife of the designer, who suspects York, despite her husband's long friendship with the man, but is also attracted to him. German actors Anton Differing and Peter Carsen add great value to the German side. The airship is launched on its maiden mission, which turns out to be an attempt to launch a commando raid on a castle, where the crown jewels and historic documents have been stored, in Scotland. Great fun.
- DirectorJack HillStarsRoberta CollinsPam GrierJudith BrownBeautiful female prisoners are abused in a Philippine prison until five of them plot an escape by taking the evil female warden hostage with reluctant help from two male fruit vendors."Women in prison" exploitation film, from Roger Corman's New World Pictures, with Pam Grier. As is usual with these things, it features a lot of skin, lesbian inmates, sadistic guards, and a prison break. It would spawn several immitators. Grier and director Jack Hill would go on to do Coffy together.