# Must See 70s Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654 "2007-12-11T20:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/21 "2007-12-12T04:26:22Z")
I came in this thread to mention **Pelham** , and as it’s already been mentioned and you haven’t seen it, I can add RUN OUT AND SEE IT RIGHT NOW! Oh my gosh, it’s so good. Part of the fun of watching it now is that you see all the ways it influenced other action/heist movies. \*\* The Warriors\*\* is another look at New York in the 70s. It works as camp, it sort of works as a gang movie, it definitely works as the end of the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/22 "2007-12-12T04:29:11Z")
[QUOTE=delphica] I came in this thread to mention **Pelham** , and as it’s already been mentioned and you haven’t seen it, I can add RUN OUT AND SEE IT RIGHT NOW! Oh my gosh, it’s so good. Part of the fun of watching it now is that you see all the ways it influenced other action/heist movies. [/QUOTE] Also a must see, Matthau’s other great crime flick of that period- Charley Varrick- a favorite of Tarantino’s I assume 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/23 "2007-12-12T04:33:31Z")
Missed the edit window … Oh, and on this same theme, which I guess is now “weird crime in NYC,” **The Hot Rock** with Robert Redford (and now that I look at it on IMDB, an even more impressive cast than I remembered). It’s a jewel heist comedy. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/24 "2007-12-12T05:02:55Z")
Some others worth looking at: \*\*The Parallax View \*\* (1974, dir. Alan J. Pakula) **All the President’s Men** (1976, dir. Alan J. Pakula) **Duel** (1971-TV, Steven Spielberg) **Being There** (1979, Hal Ashby) **Little Big Man** (1970, Arthur Penn) ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/25 "2007-12-12T09:51:13Z")
**Get Carter** **Go Tell the Spartans** **Three Days of the Condor** ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/26 "2007-12-12T17:59:53Z")
Come on, nobody has mentioned **Smokey and the Bandit**? “Hoss, you ain’t gonna believe this, but that crazy sombitch just tried to drive right up under my truck!” ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/27 "2007-12-12T18:24:25Z")
For quintessential '70s, I give you: [The Muppet Movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079588/) Not just because the Muppets were _huge_ in that decade, but for all the great '70s stars who made cameo appearances: Steve Martin, Dom DeLuise, Telly Savalas, etc. And music by Paul Williams! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/28 "2007-12-12T22:41:11Z")
_Sleuth_ - Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Need I say more? _The Man Who Would Be King_ - Sean Connery and Michael Caine. Ditto. _Start the Revolution Without Me_ - Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland take on the French Revolution. Megaditto. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/29 "2007-12-12T22:47:34Z")
Lina Wertmuller’s _Swept Away_. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/30 "2007-12-12T23:26:21Z")
Wow, this is so much help and a ton of fun! \ ***Rhubarb** : To my knowledge, I haven’t seen Wizards, but from reading the description, it sounds like one I’ll have to. As far as the Trinity movies, I just know I have, but must be forgetting what exactly it all is when I mix it up with other similar ones. \ ***Wendell** : For shame sir, you haven’t been completely reading along, huh? 😉😛 Anyhoo, out of the ones you list, I haven’t gotten around to… [ul] [li] **Amarcord** [/li][li] **The Fantastic Planet** [/li][li] **Macbeth** – who starred in this? … thank Of for no Mel Gibson.[/li][li] **My Brilliant Career** [/li][li] **Play it Again, Sam** – not sure about this one, I’ll have to check[/li][li] **Seven Beauties** [/li][li] **The Tree of Wooden Clogs** – love the title![/li][/ul] …well that does cut it down a bit. I’m sure Netflix and I will establish a stronger relationship in the coming days. \ ***delphica** : The Warriors is one of my SO’s Top Ten favorites. And what’s not to like when we’re talking about the famous “Come out and pla-ay!” line, not to mention all the cool gangs, like the Hi-Hats. _I_ wanted to be a Baseball Fury! I’ll be noting **The Hot Rock** on my list too. \ ***Wee Bairn** – Varrick? I likes me some good crime flicks, so that’ll be another addition. I appreciate the recommendation of a director too. Thanks. [li] **NDP** – I grew up with a little crush on Dustin Hoffman, so I’ve definitely watched **All the President’s Men** and **Little Big Man** more than once. 🙂 **Being There** rocked my songs, although I’ve heard that Sellers was a primo dick. However, he was buddies with Alice, so he gets a pass.[/li] I think **Duel** was my first introduction to suspense and we analyzed it over and over again any time it came on TV. Did he jump or not?? We were positive that he jumped. 😛 So that just leaves **The Parallax View**. I can’t believe I haven’t as I fell for Parker with both **Midnight Run** (which oughta be here as well!), **Mississippi Burning** and **The Commitments** , among others. **ColonelDax** : You’ve nailed all three!! Although how I’ve missed **Three Days of the Condor** , I have no idea. [::: scribbles furiously :::] [li] **control-z** : I thought that was required viewing to graduate from the 70s! Plus, JERRY REED! I have no issues with anyone who stutters, but I’ll be damned if he didn’t make it absolutely adorable.[/li] [li] **want2know** – Without a doubt! Needless to say, my favorite episode had the incomparable Mr. Cooper (ahhh…) singing and being particularly yummy. So we agree.[/li] [li] **RTFirefly** : A Caine fan, are we? 😉 **Sleuth** is the only one I’ve watched though out of the four. Can you believe it? I haven’t even gotten around to the original Alfie, despite seeing the deplorable remake. [/li] Thanks again everyone! I feel like DVD Santa has come early this year. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/31 "2007-12-12T23:44:18Z")
Just jumping in to ditto O Lucky Man, which was a cult favorite for quite a few years. Are you ever astonished by the way a person’s appearance changes? The change in Malcolm McDowell is one that stonkers me. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/32 "2007-12-12T23:56:37Z")
How about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Murder on the Orient Express The Goodbye Girl Grease Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Bad News Bears Gauntlet Logan’s Run Oh, God! Pete’s Dragon Foul Play That’s all I can think of right now ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/33 "2007-12-13T00:01:01Z")
The two on my list are Superman and Star Trek, the first installments of those franchise movies. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/34 "2007-12-13T00:04:18Z")
Has anyone mentioned **The Last of Sheila** yet? 1973, and a goodie. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/35 "2007-12-13T00:12:31Z")
[QUOTE=Tapiotar] Are you ever astonished by the way a person’s appearance changes? The change in Malcolm McDowell is one that stonkers me. [/QUOTE] Well, then, how about the movie **Caligula?** I know it was out in 1981, but hey, live a little. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/36 "2007-12-13T00:49:54Z")
Not seeing alot of comedies in these lists. While the 70’s were a pretty serious decade movie wise there were some classic comedies that came out as well. Richard Pryor was a BIG movie star back then… Silver Streak - 1976 Uptown Saturday Night (with Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby!) - 1976 Richard Pryor Live in Concert - 1979 Other classic comedies from the 70’s: Oh God! - 1977 Car Wash - 1976 Blazing Saddles - 1974 High Anxiety - 1977 Young Frankenstein -1974 Foul Play - 1978 What’s Up, Doc? - 1972 American Graffiti - 1973 Murder on the Orient Express - 1974 The Bad News Bears - 1975 and of course: The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975 (ye gods! 32 years ago!!!) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/37 "2007-12-13T01:09:34Z")
You forgot Murder by Death ---
**Author:** ![Ritter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ritter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ritter)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/38 "2007-12-13T07:54:20Z")
Shampoo - god I love that film. Funny, sharp, sexy, brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/39 "2007-12-13T12:36:35Z")
[QUOTE=HelloKitty] The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975 (ye gods! 32 years ago!!!) [/QUOTE] Scary, huh??? :eek: :eek: :eek: How about _Norma Rae_ (Sally Field shows she can act), and _Patton_? Bookends to the decade. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654/40 "2007-12-13T16:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=HelloKitty] The Rocky Horror Picture Show - 1975 (ye gods! 32 years ago!!!) [/QUOTE] This reminds me of a similar 1970s film: _Phantom of the Paradise_. Not that great when you get right down to it, and it never achieved the cult status of _Rocky Horror_, but it is a good example of over-the-top 1970s glam/arena rock shows. It also musically reflects the first half of the 1970s, when all kinds of music shared space on Top 40 AM radio, one-hit wonders came and went with regularity, and record producers and promoters had no competition and basically dictated what consumers got. Plot-wise, it can be a little difficult on first viewing, but the music helps. Not a bad way to spend an hour and a half, IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-70s-movies/429654.md?page=3)