10 mystery films from the 1970s that still surprise

While many older mystery films lose their edge over the years, there are still some classics from the 1970s that can shock modern audiences. More than most other genres, mystery films are constantly searching for innovations and quirks, or else they risk becoming stale and predictable. This means that certain mystery films have a disappointingly short shelf life. Some old classics prove that this is not always the case.

The 1970s produced some excellent mystery films that have aged beautifully. Many of these films adapted works by revered crime authors such as Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler. Whether they were period pieces or set in the 1970s, the best of these films found ways to revitalize old ideas so they could shock audiences. There were also some truly original mystery films that charted a path for the entire genre, such as Chinatown and Deep red.

10

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Sidney Lumet produces a classic Agatha Christie adaptation

Although Kenneth Branagh has recently developed his own Hercule Poirot franchise, the 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express is hard to beat and is generally considered one of the best big screen adaptations of Agatha Christie. Albert Finney stars as the mustachioed Belgian detective and is surrounded by a dazzling cast that includes Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman and Lauren Bacall.

A lesser director might let that star power overshadow the story, but Sidney Lumet has always been an expert at injecting dialogue scenes with captivating tension. In your capable hands, Murder on the Orient Express looks new again. It’s still the same Christie that fans know and love, without any drastic changes to the plot, but the cast and Lumet approach it with rare vigor. Unfortunately, this was Albert Finney’s only performance as Poirot.

9

Deep Red (1975)

Deep red is one of Dario Argento’s best films and one of the defining works of the giallo genre. While it’s a must-see for fans of Italian cinema, it still has plenty of appeal for those who aren’t as familiar with giallo. The plot follows an English music teacher in Italy who begins his own amateur murder investigation when he fears the killer will come after him next.

Deep red It grips the viewer from the start, when a sinister pair of black gloves are seen committing a heinous murder. These gloves become a symbol of the unknown horror that permeates the atmosphere of Deep red. As the story progresses, it delves further into the occult, and Argento’s talent for psychological horror comes to the fore. Deep red is more shocking than most mysteries of its timethanks to Argento’s moody direction.

8

Don’t Look Now (1973)

Don’t Look Now is a satisfying mix of mystery and horror

Don’t look now stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as a couple who visit Venice while mourning the death of their daughter. It’s a smart, slow-paced horror film, but there are also elements of mystery, as John is haunted by strange visions and the town is gripped by fear while a serial killer is on the loose. Don’t look now is one of Donald Sutherland’s best films and features a characteristically excellent performance.

Don’t look now it was ahead of its time, delivering some shocks while elevating the horror genre. It feels surprisingly modern for a horror film to use such compelling metaphors about grief and isolation. Don’t look now may be most famous for its ending, which wraps up a great horror mystery with a bizarre shock. This ending somehow ends the entire mystery and, at the same time, provides the biggest scare in the film. It is a perfect synthesis of Don’t look nowIt’s two conflicting genres.

7

Night Movements (1975)

Night Moves is a compelling mystery with some explosive action

Gene Hackman gives a captivating performance in Nocturnal movements as a private investigator who becomes embroiled in a shadowy conspiracy that threatens to take his life. Harry Moseby initially thinks he can make some quick cash by tracking down a 16-year-old girl who he imagines has run away from home to get a taste of the excitement. What he discovers is much more dangerous and complex.

Nocturnal movements It’s the kind of mystery that appeals to the audience as much as the detective. It also features some audacious action scenes. Harry throws his weight around like many movie private eyes before him, but Nocturnal movements has a lot of originality in its climactic action sequence, in which a low-flying plane and some sunken treasure create the kind of big-screen thrills that are usually the purview of adventure films, not detective mysteries.

6

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Robert Altman pokes at the limits of film noir

Elliott Gould added his name to the illustrious list of actors who played Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe, but critics weren’t too fond of him. The long goodbye at the moment. Chandler fans were particularly unhappy with the liberal adaptation of The long goodbye, while Robert Altman’s film cuts and changes the plot, and adapts the setting from the glory days of film noir to the 1970s.

Although the setting changes, Gould’s Marlowe is much the same as the character was 20 or 30 years earlier. He is a man out of time who speaks and acts as if it were still the 1950s, which puts him at odds with the world around him. This is something reviewers have raved about over the years, and The long goodbye has undergone considerable critical rehabilitation. The clever script acts as a meta-commentary on the tired tropes of the mystery genre.

5

Murder by Decree (1979)

Christopher Plummer gives his own version of Sherlock

There were hundreds of Sherlock Holmes movies over the years, not to mention TV shows. Murder by Decree is one of the best adaptations, with Christopher Plummer and James Mason playing Holmes and Watson. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes the story was published just a year before the Jack the Ripper murders began in London, and there was always a widespread desire to see Holmes track down the culprit. Murder by Decree put this fantasy on the big screen.

Although Murder by Decree changes some names, anyone familiar with the prevailing theories about Jack the Ripper will recognize some of the more prominent historical suspects. Overall, it’s an intriguing look at the case, as well as a great Sherlock Holmes history. Plummer’s version of Holmes is a little more human and compassionate than most interpretationsand he has a vibrant dynamic with Mason’s Dr. Watson.

4

The Last of Sheila (1973)

A Whodunnit on the high seas that brings many surprises

Psychopath star Anthony Perkins and Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim teamed up to write the screenplay for The Last of Sheilaa twisty murder mystery based on the parlor games they played with their friends. Fortunately, these games were more light-hearted than The Last of Sheilaas players have their darkest secrets revealed and two of them are brutally murdered.

The Last of Sheila provides a satisfying puzzle for people who like parlor games as much as Perkins and Sondheim. It’s also a must-see for fans of Knives outas Rian Johnson quoted The Last of Sheila as one of his main influences. In some ways, it’s a classic whodunnit, but there are plenty of surprises along the way to keep things lively and fresh. The cast includes Ian McShane, Raquel Welch and James Mason, who takes on most of the investigative duties.

3

Detective (1972)

Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier deliver a brilliant two-legged game

The cast of Detective lists six names, but only Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier are real people. The remainder was included as a ploy by the studio to sell the illusion that Detective he was more than a two-handed player. The film is based on a Tony Award-winning play by Anthony Shaffer and has the look and feel of a stage play, which is no surprise considering Shaffer himself wrote the script.

Detective evokes some of Alfred Hitchcock’s most gripping thrillersas it follows characters in a single location, such as String or Lifeboatas they test each other’s limits. It’s a sly mystery with lots of plot twists, and both performances are excellent. Detective was remade in 2007, with Michael Caine moving into the older role, while Jude Law plays the younger character. The 1972 original is considered the superior version.

2

Goodbye, my beauty (1975)

Robert Mitchum takes the place of a famous detective

Robert Mitchum often does some of his best work when playing villainous roles, and he brings a dangerous edge to his portrayal of Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler’s famous detective. Goodbye, my beautiful is one of Philip Marlowe’s best films of all, as it pays homage to his film noir roots while bringing forward the ideas of a new era. Marlowe begins a standard investigation that soon turns deadly.

Mitchum shines as Marlowe. He has enough courage when needed, but sometimes he also shows his underrated comedic talent. His dry humor makes him a charming companion as he fumbles his way through a dangerous case. His charm also makes him a credible romantic lead, and he is paired with Charlotte Rampling. She plays one of Chandler’s classic femme fatale characters, but is deceptively warm.

1

Chinatown (1974)

Jack Nicholson is at his best in a dark neo-noir thriller

Jack Nicholson delivers an excellent performance in chinatown, and this helps to create the most enduring mystery film of the 1970s. Roman Polanski’s elegant neo-noir is set in 1930s Los Angeles, where a private investigator discovers that a typical case of infidelity runs much deeper than he can imagine. Soon, Jake Gittes is investigating a murder and a vast political conspiracy, while intimidating powers beyond his understanding try to stop him.

ChinatownThe twisty plot can often be a puzzle for first-time viewers.but this simply reflects Jake’s loose control over the situation, as the picture continually changes before his eyes. ChinatownThe unforgettable ending brings everything into focus for the first time, although this sad realization doesn’t offer the same satisfaction that mystery fans often crave. As Jake is removed from the case forever, he comes to understand his utter powerlessness in the face of corrupt institutions and the cruel hands of fate.