12 Underrated Films of the 1970's.

When one thinks of cinema in the 70's, The Godfather Parts I and II, Blazing Saddles, Jaws, Taxi Driver, Star Wars, The Exorcist, Halloween and others all come to mind as highly regarded. That, people will remember the film with either an image or a famous quote like "Were going to need a bigger boat." While those are great, there are also other films that don't get the same treatment as them. For the past several years, I have viewed films from the decade to determine which ones are considered to be left in the dust. 

Before I begin, I just want to mention that I am going off on which films I have seen. There are films from the era that I need to watch (especially Stalker and Phantom of the Paradise) but I will get to them someday. If there is a film on the list that I forgot to mention, feel free to comment. While I have trailers for the film, some of them do contain spoilers. Thus, watch at your own risk. 

12. House (1977)

Starting off the list is a Japanese horror film from the fame Toho studios that has brought us Godzilla and many films of Akira Kurosawa. It tells the story of a group of school girls who go to one of their friend's family's summer house and they get haunted by the spirits.Director Nobhiko Obayashi, who worked in advertising, gives the film an almost dream like atmosphere that reminded me of another great foreign film from the era, "Valerie and Her Week of Wonders". His direction also seems cartoonish but it works given the story of the film, even when things turn a bit gory. 

Criterion recently did a restoration of the film and give this one a chance if you enjoy 70's horror. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ_Yo06kIIA

11. Duck, You Sucker! (1971)

The second part in Sergio Leone's second trilogy after "Once Upon a Time in the West" and before "Once Upon a Time in America" finds him tackling on the Mexican Revolution. Unlike his Man with No Name trilogy with Clint Eastwood, Leone's second trilogy was less cartoonish and after "West", derived away a bit from the Western genre. Rod Steiger plays a bandit who teams up with James Coburn's Irish rouge when they face the revolution in Mexico. 

The film does not romanticize the conflict and it shows just how bad it was to take a part in it. Both Steiger and Coburn give great performances and given the film's content, Leone does not skip his signature trademarks that make it a Sergio Leone film. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THn36Mwmv7U

10. The Long Goodbye (1973)

Robert Altman's take on the Raymond Chandler novel finds Elliot Gould as Philip Marlowe living in the 70's despite his old school behavior. In fact, much of the humor comes from Marlowe's character who seems like a man out of time, like Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" and smoking in every scene.The film's murder mystery is almost put to the side as Marlowe goes on about his missing cat and being friendly with his hippie neighbors. Famed noir actor Sterling Hayden also appears in the film and in a non-speaking role, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice" and notably the Coen Brother's "The Big Lebowski" take influence on making a comedic film noir can be seen here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAYheZweypk

9. The Last Detail (1973)

Hal Ashby's sophmore effort after the now cult classic "Harold & Maude" follows Jack Nicholson as a renegade Navy officer who, along with another officer, escort a young cadet to serve military prison. Along the way, the trio causes mayhem and other crazy adventures as they try to give him a proper send off. 

It is worth mentioning the script is written by Robert Towne, who the following year would win awards for writing "Chinatown", was considered a landmark as it contained profanity. While pretty tamed by today's standards, I might guess this must have shocked by those raised on musicals. The foul language is used well as it establishes the characters as human beings. Nicholson's performance continued his streak of playing characters who reject conformity, there is a scene where he confronts a bartender who refuses to serve them drinks that displays the film's sense of humor. I find that this film gets rarely talked about and it is worth checking out if you enjoyed "Easy Rider" and "Five Easy Pieces." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZUfuN2DNJ0

8. The Driver (1978)

For fans of 2011's "Drive", both film's openings and story are really similar. Ryan O'Neal stars as a nameless getaway driver while Bruce Dern is the cop determine to bring him down, even playing dirty. Writer and Director Walter Hill's follow up to his debut "Hard Times" features enough car chases to satisfy action fans and drama, all less than the 90 minute running time.

At times, I felt the film paid homage not just car culture but also to the western genre. This is seen when O'Neal's weapon of choice is a colt pistol and Dern referring to him as "Cowboy". Hill was also clearly influenced by Jean-Pierre Melville's "Le Samourai" in the mood of the film and the main character's lifestyle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHphfIAkAfg 

7. Sisters (1973)

Brian DePalma's debut in the thriller genre is both a homage to Alfred Hitchcock and a technically brilliant horror film. Without giving too much away, Margot Kidder stars as a woman with a secret and Jennifer Salt as the neighbor trying to uncover the truth. What follows next may leave some viewers squeamish.

DePalma's use of split screen lets the viewers see the character's point of view and decides for themselves who is the guilty one. Hitchcock veteran Bernard Herrmann provides the chilling score. I am going to stop talking about the film and just tell you to go watch it. In fact, skip the trailer as it may give away the film. While Criterion has it in their collection, here is to them for an upgrade along with their other DePalma classics "Dressed to Kill" and "Blow Out".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvsixXqC-gM

6. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Following "Dark Star", John Carpenter wrote and directed this low budget action thriller about a police precinct being attacked by gangs and the different people trying to stop them. Carpenter takes influence from the western genre, notably Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo", and George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead". The film follows a police officer, a criminal and a secretary at the precinct as they face a gang who wants blood after one of their own is killed by police.

This film will foreshadow many of Carpenter's own films including "Halloween", "Escape From New York" and "The Thing" in characters being isolated while facing a threat, strong female characters, anti-heroes and his signature music scores. The 2005 remake starring Ethan Hawke is inferior when compared to this film and the time era it was released following Vietnam and Watergate. While the domestic release of the film went about quietly, it was both a critical and box office success in parts of Europe. Without the film, Carpenter would not have found financing for "Halloween".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wnAjYDVObs

5. The Ballad of Cable Houge (1970)

Sam Peckinpah's follow up to "The Wild Bunch" retains that film's themes but with a different, light-hearted tone this time. Jason Robards stars as Cable Houge, who is left behind to die in the desert and finds fortune when he finds water, quickly building a rest stop for stagecoach passengers. The film's comedic tone stems from Cable Houge being a relic of the past as the people he encounters are with the current time.

Estella Warren stars as the prostitute with the heart of gold and a young David Warner as a womanizing preacher who befriends Houge. Peckinpah would later go on to name this film as his favorite out of all the films he has made. Highly recommend if you enjoy westerns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4WgxKTJ09E

4. Sorcerer (1977)

After the success of both "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist", William Friedkin had carte blance to make whatever film he wanted to make. His next film would be a new version of Henri-Georges Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear". Both films tell the story of four desperate men hired to drive two trucks filled with nitroglycerin on the rocky roads in a Latin American country.

While the original film is great, the remake gives the characters a background as to why they are in this situation. Roy Scheider, coming off of the success of Jaws, plays the role of an American who gets caught in the situation. The film also features an electronic score by Tangerine Dream, exotic locations and perhaps the greatest use of practical effects with the truck crossing the bridge. The film bombed at the box office due to being released a month after the hit that was "Star Wars" continued to play strong. It is a film worth checking out and recently, the film got restored to blu-ray.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BDbIzovuos

3. The Conversation (1974)

Released between the two Godfather films, Francis Ford Coppola's paranoia thriller is often forgotten about. It follows Gene Hackman as a surveillance tech  who records a conversation of two people and what follows is a mystery and paranoid filled ride. The film's theme of privacy seems to be relevant in today's new digital age. The 1998 Tony Scott film "Enemy of the State" can be considered a continuation of this film as it feature Gene Hackman playing a similar character.

The film also features John Cazale, Harrison Ford, Terri Garr and Robert Duvall in supporting roles. The film could also be seen as a character study of Hackman's character, who is isolated from social outings despite the will to spy on other people. The sound design on the film does a brilliant job of allowing the audience to feel like they are listening with the main character. I am a fan of the paranoid thriller genre which included "Three Days of the Condor" and "The Parallax View", this one can be ranked amongst the best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrhRsZ56b4g

2. Barry Lyndon (1975)

Stanley Kubrick's entire filmography can all be considered masterpieces. After "2001", Kubrick landed a three picture deal with Warner Brothers which included "A Clockwork Orange", this film and "The Shining". The film follows Ryan O'Neal as the titular character, an Irshman, who works his way through high society in the 18th century. The character's hot headed temper results in him dueling with other people. This results in change, both good and bad. The film is based on a William Makepeace Thackeray novel, "The Luck of Barry Lyndon".  

When first released, the film received mixed reviews and subpar box office, given the film's three hour running time and at the time, the casting of Ryan O'Neal. However, the film is one of the best looking films shot in natural light (a la "The Revenant") and it makes each frame of the film look like a piece of art. O'Neal works perfect as Barry, who climbs up the social ladder. If you enjoy films like "Forrest Gump" or even "The Wolf of Wall Street", Kubrick's film, in my own opinion, has that same storyline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lzSoKOs1fc

1. The Devils (1971)

Based on Aldous Huxley's historical account, "The Devils of Loudon", Ken Russell's film is part historical drama, part black comedy and part surreal horror about demonic possession in 16th century France. Oliver Reed plays a rebellious priest who takes interest in his faith, women of the village and even has political ambitions. Vanessa Redgrave gives a great performance as a hunchback nun whose actions drives the film's story.

When first released, the film attracted huge controversy with its religious themes and obscene nature. The real shame though is after many years, Warner Brothers has not been able to release a proper restoration of the film. Luckily, I found a copy of it at a thrift shop in Wicker Park for five dollars. While the version I saw had a bad quality, it did not take away from the film I saw and really liked. One can find a used copy of it on Amazon for around two hundred dollars. Here is hoping Criterion would restore the film and find an audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPConeKY3WA