10 films from the 1970s that everyone should see at least once

The 1970s were one of the best for filmmakers and audiences alike, being described as the Golden Age of modern cinema. The 70s saw the work of some of the best directors of all time, such as Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, setting the standard for films and forever changing the way films were thought off, appreciated and experienced. Creative storytelling, advances in technology, modern acting techniques, and the social and political landscape of the decade combined to create films that are legitimately timeless masterpieces that are still loved to this day.

Some films are so popular that they transcend cinema as a whole and leave a lasting mark on pop culture. and the zeitgeist, and it seems like they should be enjoyed by everyone. Culturally significant and acclaimed works, such as The godfather, Star Warsand Jaws all elevated and redefined their respective genres, setting a new benchmark for all films that followed. The 1970s produced many exciting films that not only shaped the decade’s film landscape, but also the future of cinema itself, with their effects still felt as prominently today as they were then.

10

Chinatown (1974)

Starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway

This neo-noir masterpiece could almost be considered the pinnacle of the genre, directed by Roman Polanski (The pianist) and stars Jack Nicholson as private investigator Jake Gittes. Chinatown follows the story of Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), a woman who hires Gittes to track and surveil her husband, who she believes is having an affair, which leads the pair to uncover a web of corruption, lies and conspiracy. The film skillfully weaves together motifs from film noir as well as mysteries, thrillers, and psychological dramas, creating a complex, multi-layered story that is fueled by incredible lead performances.

Nicholson, Dunaway and John Huston deliver devastating portrayals of their characters, with their chemistry and energy leaping off the screen and confidently unraveling the mystery that surrounds them. Chinatown was released to great critical acclaim, being nominated for 11 Academy Awardswith special praise for the direction, script and complex narrative that influenced virtually every film noir released afterward. Although the film’s pacing may be considered slow by modern standards, the reward for undivided attention, especially in the incredible climax, is worth it.

9

Jaws (1975)

Starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw

Directed by one of the most influential directors of all time, Steven Spielberg, Jaws is a thriller based on Peter Benchley’s 1975 novel of the same name. It tells the relatively simple story of a killer shark that attacks and terrorizes a small coastal town, with a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a shark hunter (Robert Shaw) brought in to help quell the frenzy. The film’s straightforward premise and laid-back location are punctuated by moments of extreme terror and violence, perfectly balancing story and action in a cinematic masterpiece.

Jaws is often referred to as the first summer blockbusterwhich took advantage of heavy marketing to develop a huge box office success and establish a new business model for Hollywood at the time. Dreyfuss and Shaw’s performances are excellent; Combined with cinema’s most iconic soundtrack and Spielberg’s creative direction, it’s an incredible feat to have some of the film’s scariest moments when Jaws is never actually visible. Jaws It was not just a huge influence on cinema, but on the entire industry, and it’s as electric today as it was then.

8

Rocky (1976)

Starring Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers

In one of the most iconic underdog stories in cinema history, Rocky tells the story of a down-on-his-luck boxer turned loan shark debt collector, directed by John G. Avildsen. The film was written by and stars Sylvester Stallone in the titular role, where journeyman Rocky surprisingly rises through the boxing ranks until he gets into a close fight with champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The film moves from a simple sports story to a film about personal growth, resilience and an unstoppable will that captured the hearts and minds of a nation.

Stallone held off on selling his script, insisting he played the iconic role himself, and it turned into one of the shrewdest moves in film history. Rocky won three Oscars, including Best Picture, and its cultural impact cannot be underestimated with Stallone’s unique performance, epic soundtrack and underdog narrative that audiences could relate to. Although it is a film that has launched many imitations, the raw essence captured was lightning in a bottle at the time and is one of the most acclaimed and referenced sports films of all time.

7

The Exorcist (1973)

Starring Ellen Burstyn and Max Von Sydow

At a time when filmmakers and creators were pushing the boat out in terms of storytelling, innovation and provocative work, The Exorcist can exemplify this more than most. Written by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel, follows the story of a young girl who has been possessed by a demon and the attempts of those close to her to help defeat the forces of evil through a hellish exorcism carried out by two Catholic priests. The film is harrowing and difficult to watch, often described as the scariest film of all time, with electrifying performances from everyone involved.

Directed by the masterful hand of William Friedkin, the film received widespread critical acclaim and became the first horror film in history to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.. While on the surface it’s a gruesome horror that keeps viewers glued to the screen, it also has many intricately layered themes, touching on themes of faith, religion, and family guilt, that help elevate it to its iconic reputation. Flawless performances, combined with unique and horrific special effects and a controversial story, work perfectly to create one of the most genre-defining films in history.

6

Taxi Driver (1976)

Starring Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster

Martin Scorsese Taxi driver is an infamous psychological drama that finds a young Robert De Niro playing the disillusioned and unraveled Vietnam War veteran Travis Bickle. Travis starts working as a night taxi driver to help with his chronic insomnia, although seeing the city’s tragic nightlife, prostitution, crimes, and destruction furthers his descent into mental illnessand he soon plans a mission to save the world, starting with the assassination of a presidential candidate. The film features an ensemble cast, with many great actors who perfectly support the intricate character study on which the film thrives.

Scorsese and De Niro pull no punches in producing a gritty look at The underbelly of New York and its social issues, political landscape and portrait of urban decay. De Niro delivers an impeccable portrayal of a man who is trapped in a spiral of misguided ideals and a damaged psyche, with iconic dialogue delivered flawlessly, such as the infamous ‘Are you talking to me?’ scene. Taxi driver There is exceptional work in front of and behind the camera and it is a film that horrifies and captivates in equal measure, and whose cultural significance has only become more important in recent years.

5

Foreigner (1979)

Starring Tom Skerritt and Sigourney Weaver

In another film that set a new standard for its genre Ridley Scott Foreigner is a sci-fi horror that follows a seven-member crew of the spaceship Nostromo who investigate an alien ship abandoned on a nearby planet. Starring Tom Skerritt and Sigourney Weaver, as well as a fantastic cast, the crew’s mission quickly turns into a horrific disaster when they are infected and hunted by a vicious extraterrestrial alien being. The film’s tense atmosphere and slower-paced approach pair perfectly with the narrative that sees a steady progression towards terror and destruction gripping both the characters and the audience simultaneously.

Foreigner was widely acclaimed for its innovative use of technology and special effects, producing a film that is out of this world and feels grounded in reality. The performances, particularly those of Skerritt and Weaver, are excellent, providing a sense of realism and genuine fear, and with Scott’s experienced hand guiding the film’s direction and pacing. The film is claustrophobic, captivating, and legitimately terrifying. Although it initially received mixed reviews Foreigner is now considered one of the most influential and excellent science fiction films of all time.

4

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher

One flew over the cuckoo’s nest is a psychological comedy-drama that sees Jack Nicholson give an incredible performancemarking him as one of the best actors of his generation. It follows the patients and systems of an intimidating mental institution run by the vengeful Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), with Randle Murphy (Nicholson) as a man who pretends to have a mental illness to avoid prison. Directed by the talented Miloš Forman, it follows Randle as he provides a rebellious and positive spirit to the institution before succumbing to its barbaric rules and conditions in a film that criticizes oppression and tyranny.

The film was based on Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel and was filmed in a real psychiatric hospital, which explains the richness of the narrative and characters as well as the authentic appearance of the work. The film has a masterful feel to every element, with impeccable performances of mental illness punctuated by Nicholson and Fletcher’s combative portrayals; the direction, soundtrack and story are crafted to create a compelling and disturbing masterpiece. It is only the second film to win all five major Academy Awards and is widely considered one of the best films of all time.

3

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Starring Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando

Directed by a filmmaker who was at the height of his powers, Francis Ford Coppola Apocalypse now is, for good reason, widely considered the best war film of all time. The film’s plot follows Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) as he is tasked with finding and assassinating the rogue Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who abandoned his duty and created a commune for himself in the middle of the jungle. The film’s cast features stars such as Robert Duvall, Frederic Forrest and Harrison Ford joining in supporting roles in a film that charts a surreal and violent journey into the heart of the Vietnam War.

Apocalypse now joins many other films from the 1970s in helping to reshape and redefine its genre with an incredible and unique approach that changes the expectations of a generation. It’s a truly frightening and terrifying look at a situation that commands this level of introspection and respect, highlighting human representations in some of the most inhumane conditions imaginable. The cinematography, soundtrack, direction and acting are pieces of a perfect puzzle, with one leading and elevating the other to create another cinematic masterpiece of the 1970s.

2

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher

There are some films where hyperbole can go too far, but George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope It’s one where sometimes all the superlatives and acclaim still don’t seem to represent their true meaning. The film tells the story of a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Alliance who must fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. with iconic roles that saw Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford become internationally famous for their performances in a timeless narrative that tells the ancient story of good versus evil.

Episode IV – A New Hope was also unique in its non-linear release order, being the first Star Wars film series and the fourth chronological chapter of the “Skywalker Saga”. The film’s visuals, effects, characters, and world-building were all innovative and revolutionary, creating a piece of filmpart of a larger fantasy adventure saga that truly transcended its medium. Star Wars became one of the biggest films of all time by virtually every metric and became a worldwide phenomenon, releasing comics, toys, and merchandise that became the blueprint for every megafranchise.

1

The Godfather (1972)

Starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino

If Apocalypse now was one of Francis Ford Coppola’s best films, then The godfather it was his Magnum Opus, which laid the foundation for his visionary and iconic directing career. The story Coppola co-wrote with Mario Puzo – based on Puzo’s 1969 best-selling novel – follows the rise of Don Vito Corleone’s (Marlon Brando) crime family and the tension that ensues when his youngest son, Michael ( Al Pacino), reluctantly joins his family in the criminal underworld. The performances from the entire cast are some of the best in all of cinema.

The godfatherwithout exaggeration, it is routinely listed as the greatest film of all time and the one by which every crime and gangster, as well as any film in general, is measured. Coppola’s direction is simply impeccable, with Brando, Pacino and James Caan’s performances effortlessly capturing the essence of the era with a wonderful soundtrack and cinematography that ties together the generational narrative. It’s a film that can be revisited over and over again, always improving and gaining appreciation with the layers of detail and nuance that make it a film that should be seen more than once.