1970s, group 2
- Two Lane Blacktop (1971)
- Thurderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
- Marathon Man (1976)
- Serpico (1973)
- Mikey and Nicky (1976)
- Badlands (1973)
- Cockfighter (1974)
- Junior Bonner (1972)
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
- Joe (1970)
- Emperor of the North Pole (1973)
- Scarecrow (1973)
- Panic in Needle Park (1971)
- Hickey & Boggs (1972)
- Blue Collar (1978)
- Straw Dogs (1971)
- The Harder They Come (1972)
- Born to Win (1971)
- Fingers (1978)
- The Gambler (1974)
*****
More of these lists to follow, so I hope you’re writing this stuff down. There will be a series of tests.
Well, it won’t be the first time I failed a test. And, it’s not as if you can de-link me or anything. YOUR THREATS MEAN NOTHING TO ME.
Multiple choice, essay question, or fight-to-the-death?
Fill in the blank, generally.
Umm like, I should like, SO not have to take that test! Can I like, bring a note or something? Cause I like wasn’t alive yet when those movies were like released. It’s not FAIR.
I *REFUSE* to see any movie made before 1990, let alone 1980.
So there, flame away biaaaaaatch.
I’ve memorized most of the dialog in “Koyaaniqatsi”… Does that count for anything?
Make that “Koyaanisqatsi”. Nothing more embarrassing than botching the spelling of your obscure reference.
I almost had a cow until I noticed Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia on the prior list.
I find unconscionable the glaring omission of even one of the Lone Wolf and Cub series?
McCabe and Mrs. Miller?
No Johnnie Boy or Travis Bickle?
Oh, the humanity…
There are lots of omissions, because each list can only contain 20. Films like Taxi Driver and M*A*S*H and Rocky and Jaws are films I assume everyone has seen. McCabe and several other Altman films will certainly make other lists (Brewster Mc, 3 Women, and my favorite, Nashville), but we must be patient.
Incidentally, Busting—which somebody mentioned in the earlier thread—is a great little flick. I wanted to grow my own Elliot Gould mustache for the longest time.
Nine comments into this thread and not one joke tying the film Cockfighter to Jeff Gannon. I’m guessing the delay of spring weather has everyone in a bit of a funk.
I will say that the new, car-washing Dusty girl is doing her damndest to perk me up, boy howdy.
Oh, and Emperor of the North Pole? Utterly outstanding choice. The Lee Marvin/Ernest Borgnine ax vs. chains fight at the end is great cringe-inducing fun.
Damn, I’m pushing fitty years old, and I’ve seen only one of these 20.
I’m assuming the ready-to-be-sneered-at position.
Cordially…
My Favorites haven’t made it either.
Little Murders (71)
Halloween (78)
Legend of Hell House (73)
Legend of Boggy Creek (72)
Dark Star (74)
If you decide to come up with list of movies from the 70’s. I like to add “The Neptune Factor” (73)
Ernest Borgnine in wet suit..nuff said.
The only thing that saved me was Legend of Hell House was the second feature at the drive-in.
opps list of movies “Not “ to see then add Neptune
update: My girlfriend made me watch “Sleeping Dictionary” with Jessica Alba. To answer your questions:
1) Yes, “Sleeping Dictionary” means what you think it does
2) Yes, you get to see Jessica Alba naked
3) No, there is no other reason to see the movie
Man, I’ve only seen like two of these movies.
McCabe and several other Altman films will certainly make other lists (Brewster Mc, 3 Women, and my favorite, Nashville), but we must be patient.
I watched Nashville once. Or at least I tried. G-d it was awful. I don’t get it – what’s so good about that movie?
I believe Jessica Alba used a body double for her nude scenes. She’s said on more than one ocassion that she never has and never will do naked stuff.
Which is a terrible shame, if you ask me.
The Serpico reference right next to your bearded, big-ass collar picture really hangs together nicely.
What, Jeff!? An all ‘70’s list and no “White Line Fever?”…and, worst of all, no “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry?”, perhaps Susan George’s greatest work?
what give brother?
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is out on DVD soon. Looking forward to it.
More 70s lists to come. I haven’t even included my favorite flick yet.
Lewis—Nashville captures a particular moment in American history almost perfectly. I think it is one of the greatest American films ever made.
Your favorite ‘70’s?
Hhmm,–“The Conversation?”?, “Dog Day Afternoon?”
“The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh?”
…I mean, c’mon, Stockard Channing and Dr. J!?
brilliant.
BLT.. regarding Koyaanisqatsi
I think you deserve credit if you can recite the dialogue AND hum the soundtrack.. in its entirety of course.
Jeff.. I think you should tag 1968 & 69 onto the 70s where the belong instead of the 60s.. I mean, come on.. Easy Rider ?
You know I’ve smoked a lot of grass
O’ Lord, I’ve popped a lot of pills
But I never touched nothin’
That my spirit could kill
You know, I’ve seen a lot of people walkin’ ‘round
With tombstones in their eyes
But the pusher don’t care
Ah, if you live or if you die
You need an intervention…badly. You’ve got the $%#@S%! THE GAMBLER, with Kenny %@#$*! Rogers on your stupid list, but nowhere on either list do I find THE COWBOYS (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068421/).
Directed by Mark Rydell, this masterpiece features not only The Duke in his full raging glory, but wonderful performances by no less than Colleen Dewhurst, Roscoe Lee Brown, and Bruce Dern (I HATED him for years after seeing this movie at 13 years of age…in fact, I STILL hate Bruce Dern!). Solid supporting actors include David Carradine and A. Martinez among others, and there are even cameos by no less than Slim Pickens and Richard Farnsworth.
Kenny Rogers…I don’t think so.
Respectfully,
Wrong Gambler, Zeb.
James Caan. But then, you’re just funning me, aren’t you?
and Midnight Cowboy too.. 1969..
and how about film as art ?
How ‘bout;
F. Fellini/ Satyricon (’70)
F. Fellini/ Roma (’72)
L. Bunuel/ L’age D’or (’79)
L. Wertmuller/ Swept Away (’74)
Too many to list in this catagory…
2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
Silent Running 1972
OK..ok.. I’m stopping already..
Dude:
All good flicks…..but don’t you think you’re dating yourself a little?
Oh…well, then never mind. Uh, yeah…I knew that…umm, just kidding, okay?
(I’m not taking back what I said about Bruce Dern, though.)
-blp
Turin: “stage” as in STAGECOACH!, by cracky!
Crap, I’ve only seen 7 of this list.
Jeff, what’s wrong with “The Wild Bunch”? And how can you forget examples of the (mostly forgettable) “John-Wayne-as-an-aging-two-fisted-cop” genre like “McQ”? And where’s the claymation dinosaurs on this list? “The Land That Time Forgot” has to be on a future list, right?
I can never remember, was “The Warriors” from the extremely late 70’s or the extremely early 80’s?
Instead of waiting for one of you to ridicule me, I decided to use this internetthingy to research it myself. “The Warriors” was made in ‘79 – INTERESTING FACT, the original working title for “Kelly’s Heroes”(1970) was “The Warriors”.
“The Land That Time Forgot” was made in ‘75, so you can’t make fun of me for getting the decade wrong. Now the claymation dinosaurs, that’s another issue…………
Russ, claymation pretty much starts and (time)stops with Harryhausen. The Land That Time Forgot has nothing on Jason and The Argonauts.All for nil, anyway, I’ve heard JeffG’s favorite from the seventies is Phantom of the Paradise.
sheeesh!
Daniel,
Not according to the Celebrity Movie Archive.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sleeping+dictionary+jessica+alba+naked
Man. Google knows everything.
Turing:course. Of course.
TallDave,
According to “Mr. Skin”, she had a body double. I’m not posting a link because you have to register and/or pay to get full access but from the limited amount that you can see, it says it’s not her.
Mr. Skin only gives her 1 out of 4 stars – the same as Paula Abdul. And you know that Paula hasn’t taken it off anywhere. Except for some American Idol contestants. Alledgedly.
Like I said before, she’s said that she doesn’t do nudity. If Jess was really nude in that movie, I don’t know why she would lie about it.
Y’know, there seems to be a particular cheerlessness running through both sets of film selections. What if the world is enough of a thriller or horror film, and cinema is an escape? Where are the comedies, the musicals, the spectacles?
Turing word – “outside” – as in, “Am I alienated and angst-filled enough already?”
I’ve seen all but three of these movies. Love Panic In Needle Park and Thurderbolt and Lightfoot. I’m a big Jeff Bridges fan (loved Cutter and Bone). And of course, The Harder They Come. Liked the Gambler a lot, too.
Trivia about “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three”: the third guy in the gang that hijacks the train ( led by Robert Shaw of course ) is the same actor who plays the neighbor “Wilson” whose face is never clearly shown on the Tim Allen tv show.
Ya know, I’ve gotta give a hearty “hear hear” to some of the honorable mention in this ‘ere comment section.
“Silent Running.” Boy howdy. A definite noir classic.
“Dark Star” Hilarious b-sci-fi noir.
“The Warriors.” Hands down, some of the best fight scenes before or since.
I also gotta give “Alien” a nod. First movie I almost couldn’t watch. Great suspense, great characters. “Aliens” twarn’t too bad neither. Then they pissed it down their leg with “Alien Resurrection.” F’kwidgets.
The two lists contain THREE of my relative’s, Joe Don Baker, movies: Junior Bonner, Charley Varrick and Walking Tall.
Others include: Cool Hand Luke, Mitchel, Guns of the Magnificent Seven (He plays a one-armed gunner), Adam at 6AM, Framed.
These days Joe Don likes to golf. I’ve never been around him when he didn’t smoke a lid of pot.
How ‘bout a little humor in the list, like ‘Animal House’ (1978).. Cant forget John Belushi at his peak.
Days of Heaven(1978) Even though it has Richard Gere
Rancho Deluxe (1975)
Fat City (1972)
Such Good Friends (1971)
My wife hated Rancho Deluxe, but I loved it. Fat City was excellent and was slated to go on a list with Barfly.
Days of Heaven is a beautiful film. Haven’t seen Such Good Friends. Is it available on DVD?
The Man Who Would Be King(1975)Shd I assume most people have seen it?
The Odessa File (1974)
Too few people have seen the Man Who Would Be King. One of my all-time favorites. And Odessa File is a nice little underappreciated espionage flick.
I just checked on Such Good Friends – no. Once you’ve gone dvd it’s hard to go back, isn’t it?
I loved Rancho Deluxe, too. And I’m a sucker for any film where a Nazis get what’s coming to him.
I’m not big on the love story in Days of Heaven but the cinematography could make you cry.
Barfly is from the 70’s? Or do the two movies have something in common that escapes me?
Barfly is from the 80s, actually, but I think of the Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway relationship and their down-and-out status, and it reminds me of Keach taking up with the drunk he meets in the bar. Unless I’m misremembering.
Both films strike me as oppressively existential.
I would catagorize them as drunk(s)in love. You, however, go all film-schoolly on me and call them “existential.”
Heh. Only word I could think of that captured that drunk-and-down-and-out-by-choice vibe. Leaving Las Vegas has a bit of this, too.
Did you ever see Blume in Love (1973)? That’s a film that wouldn’t get made today.
I LOVE Blume in Love—particulary Kristofferson as Elmo (?). I was going to put that one on my list with Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Cisco Pike. Sadly, Blume and Cisco aren’t available on DVD, either—though I did tape them off of satellite at some point.
Ach! I screwed up. I had to check the year and thought I had seen it was released on DVD. Checked again—no. You would think someone as big as Mazursky would rate DVD release on all his movies.
I should rent Cisco Pike, then. Boy, you like all those junkie films. You must simply adore Let’s Get Lost (1988)! Not on DVD and hard to get a copy.
Besides the biggies, your list has a number of great actors sans recognition, such as Warren Oates (I was ridiculed for liking Two Lane Blacktop).
And then there’s Steven Spielberg’s 1971 feature debut, the made-for-TV rendering of Richard Matheson’s Duel Dennis Weaver as the Nebbish getting run off the road by a malevolent eighteen-wheeler.
And, speaking of TV (which doesn’t always suck)one of my all-time favorites is 1972s The Night Stalker with Darren McGavin.
The Valley of Gwangi. A western with dinosaurs. Beat that.
Four words: Electra Glide In Blue (1973). Robert Blake could act your socks off when he set his mind to it, and the ending has been riveted to my frontal cortex since I was 13.
Mike
Regarding your reference to “certain embarrassingly reactionary rightwing blogs [that] sneer at homosexuals and minorities of all stripes.”
When are you going to come back to Ace-O-Spades so that we can sneer at you some more? We miss you. We’ve been reduced to flinging homo jokes at each other. Please come back.
(It is the death card!)
Hmm, NetFlix doesn’t seem to think that 11 through 13 and 15 exist. And Amazon thinks 11 is Emperor of the North, on VHS only. Now how am I going to remember to watch those in six months when the DVDs come out?
I just know I’m gonna get sneered at no matter how hard I try.
Blue Collar is available on DVD; Hickey & Boggs is, as well—though the quality is abysmal on that one.
Panic in Needle Park is available on a Region 2 DVD, but you need a universal player to play it (I have one); Emperor of the North Pole (Also called Emperor of the North) is not yet available on DVD; ditto Scarecrow. I have both of those on VHS.
I’ve got Hickey & Boggs in my queue. The others I’ll just have to keep an eye out for since I don’t even have a VCR.
VERY SORRY
Charles Green
Kenneth Phillips
Richard Brown
Brian Thompson
William Johnson
George Hernandez
Brian Robinson
Steven Young
Joseph Anderson
Paul Turner
Michelle White
Carol Martin
Joseph White
Steven Baker
Kimberly Roberts
James White
VERY SORRY