List of Crap #115: Top 50 Movies of the 70s Countdown!

[MartyS (Gromit)]

There's always one in every list I can't believe I forgot, this time it's Animal House.  Probably would have been somewhere between 10 and 15 on my list had I remembered it.

[F-Zero]

Britt Ekland is so hot in Wicker Man she makes my clothes iron themselves.

[Johnny Unusual]

#21

51 Points, 4 Lists, #6 Edward J Grug III

Y'know, there's been a heap o' legends and tall tales about Robin Hood. All different too. Well, we folks in the animal kingdom have our own version. It's the story of what really happened in Sherwood Forest...

Year 1973

What's it about?

Heroic thieves Robin Hood and Little John steal from the rich and give to the poor overtaxed people of Notthingham.  After the two steal from Prince John with a ruse, the childish royal is so humiliated, he begins to crack down extra hard on Nottingham.  Robin is undeterred though, continuing stymieing the sheriff and his men and giving back what they took to the poor.  It seems John can't trap Robin until he lays down an irresistible trap: an archery tournament with the prize being a kiss from Robin's childhood sweetheart, Maid Marian.  Tempted by his ego (Robin is an excellent archer), love and another chance to humiliate the Prince, can Robin overcome John's rigged game?

What's it REALLY about?
The timelessness of a legend perhaps?  Though taking place in old England, the tone is very much rural Americana.  And of course, the heroism of standing against childish bullies in power.  Sadly, this is timeless as well.

Legacy
Though people like to point out how much of the animation was just cribbed from the Jungle Book, this is probably the best animated Disney film of the 70s, though there were so few, that's hardly surprising.  It was also a favourite of the furry subculture in recent years.  Also, my friend likes to have the title song playing from one of those youtube 10 hour loop videos and frankly it bothers me far less than you would think.

Trivia
Originally, Friar Tuck was to be a pig, but was changed to a badger to avoid insulting religious sensibilities. The Sheriff of Nottingham was originally a goat, but was changed to a wolf as they seem better representing villains.

Johnny's Thoughts
I haven't seen this one in forever.  I'll have to give it another look.

[The Lurker]

Another Fun Fact: At some point in development, it was going to be more of a Western.  You can hear bits and pieces of that stage on the Legacy Collection soundtrack.  There's also some concept art floating around.


Still need to figure out how to frame the banner poster that was used to promote its VHS release.

[Johnny Unusual]

#20

53 Points, 3 Lists, #1 Psycho Goatee

Lupin! Don't you dare die before I get to arrest you!

Year 1979

What's it about?

The son of the brilliant super-thief Arsene Lupin, Lupin III loves stealing just as much, especially from jerks.  After a casino heist goes off successfully, Lupin realizes that the money is all high-quality counterfeit and decides to investigate the source, the Grand Duchy of Cagliostro, when Lupin runs into a car chase.  With the person being chased being a beautiful young woman, Lupin can hardly resist and finds himself embroiled in a plot by an evil count to discover a long lost treasure.  Can Lupin save the girl, stop the counterfeiting ring and get the treasure?  Maybe, with the help of his friends(?): the master sharpshooter Jigen, the unstoppable modern day samurai Goemon, the femme fatale Fujiko Mine and the officer dedicated to arresting Lupin, Inspector Zenigata.

What's it REALLY about?
Hey, another legendary thief.  Though with a more modern setting and a cool 60s/70s aesthetic, this one also has a classic fairy tale style and structure to it.  Not as much subtext as Miyazaki's later movies, to be sure, just a classic "don't give up" attitude.  That and being a thief is super fun.

Legacy
Every year, a popular TV anime gets a film version.  Many are watered down versions of the show.  This one, however, gave Hayao Miyazaki his first directing gig, before becoming an animation legend for the next four decades.  In addition, this film and it's inventive set pieces and strong character work has been cited as a favourite of many modern day animators.  The finale in the clocktower is great but the opening is a great blast of frenetic joy.  Unfortunately, I can't find either on youtube.

Trivia
Because the film had such a tight production schedule (production took only four months), Hayao Miyazaki claimed he had to alter the script in post-production to complete the film on time for release. He has never revealed what his original scripted idea was ever since, and has only expressed dissatisfaction with the completed film.

Johnny's Thoughts
Rewatched it again recently and it holds up.  It's a perfect incarnation of the manga characters, making even Zenigata a sort of reluctant part of the team.  I really am curious at what Miyazaki originally planned for it.

[CJones]

#20

53 Points, 3 Lists, #1 Psycho Goatee

Lupin! Don't you dare die before I get to arrest you!

Oh man, I am a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki, and this did not occur to me at all    And I ran the Animated Movies LoC  That's embarrassing.

Fun Fact: This is a thing that exists...

Yeah, somebody thought it would be a good idea to make a Laserdisc game out of footage from Castle of Cagliostro. It wasn't 

   

[Pak-Man]

Finally! Some of my top rankers.

Robin Hood is a gleaming beacon in the middle of a long Disney dry spell that they wouldn't really shake until (almost) the '90s.

Castle of Cagliostro is a great time. Not quite Miyazaki at his most magical, but it's a darned fun movie from start to finish.

[PsychoGoatee]

Cagliostro is one of my favorite movies ever. I find the manga had harsher and crazier takes on the characters, all out for themselves etc, the first Lupin movie Mystery of Mamo felt akin to that feel. I love all the flavors of Lupin, but when Miyazaki and Takahata came in for the second half of that first 1971-72 Lupin III series, they really brought something to the characters to give them timeless appeal. Made them just a little bit kinder, gave Lupin that bit more of a notable heroic thing, saving damsels etc, fun stuff, though I love the crazier and criminally-er stuff too.

And while I'm a big fan of the series overall, the movie stands great on it's own as well, was the first Lupin thing I had ever seen. Such a magical movie.

[Cyrusso]

I know they had anime that long ago but I had no idea the Lupin series dated that far back.

[Pak-Man]

Oh yeah. The manga goes back to the '60s and the anime goes back to the '70s.

[Edward J Grug III]

Robin Hood and Cagliostro were both on my list - 6 and 18 respectively.

I feel like my brain downplays how good Cagliostro is in between viewings because it's not the most Miyazaki of Miyazaki's films, but every time I watch it, I'm blown away. it's a goddamn delight of a film.

I never got into the manga and anime though. Not that I disliked it, I just never was wowed by it either.

[ScottotD]

There is something about Animal House that just misses me. Like, there isn't a laugh in the whole film as far as I'm concerned.

Same, see also Revenge of the Nerds, etc.  Our 'heroes' are gross assholes who commit sex crimes

#26

Saw this last year for the first time, it kind of reminded me of Jaws in a weird way because it's so clearly 70s but also felt modern and timeless.  PLus THAT SOUNDTRACK RULES

The 60s and 70s was a great time for heist and detective/espionage/spy movies

[Edward J Grug III]

There is something about Animal House that just misses me. Like, there isn't a laugh in the whole film as far as I'm concerned.

Same, see also Revenge of the Nerds, etc.  Our 'heroes' are gross assholes who commit sex crimes

While I don't doubt it, and certainly that would kill any enjoyment I would have for the movie otherwise, I don't remember that aspect of the film. Just that I didn't find it amusing.

[The Lurker]

Animal House is better about it oddly enough, IIRC.  It's basically treated as one of those shoulder devil/angel moments and the character declines the act.  Not so much with Revenge and it even tries handwaving it away.

[Johnny Unusual]

Sorry I missed posting the third film yesterday.  On the plus side, it will even things out and it should be three a day from here on in.