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

[Cyrusso]

I've got a few entries on my list that I admit probably no one else would ever vote for even if we had like 100 total submissions for this LOC.

[George-2.0]

I put things on my list I truly love. I wasn't pushing for weird, or going for snobby, or whatever label you wanna put on something. I genuinely love what's there. There are several that are mainstream -or obvious- choices - some high brow films, some low brow, maybe one weirdo... I dunno, how do you define weird?

I wont spoil it, and save my list till the end... which is nigh.

[linszoid]

I have a friend with whom we could probably live out the rest of our lives solely communicating in Mel Brooks quotes.

I think I put about 5 Mel Brooks movies on my list. I prefer the 70s comedies to the gritty drama films that seem to be populating this list.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

I have a friend with whom we could probably live out the rest of our lives solely communicating in Mel Brooks quotes.

I think I put about 5 Mel Brooks movies on my list. I prefer the 70s comedies to the gritty drama films that seem to be populating this list.

I only had 2 from Mel but almost half my list was comedies.

[Cyrusso]

Speaking of, I would have voted for High Anxiety but it's another film I have very mixed feelings about, between the Psycho and Birdemic parodies, it just doesn't work all that great for me.

[F-Zero]

If I may do a sub-LOC: top ten Mel Brooks recurring-actors, ahem:

10. Ron Carey ("I got it. I got it. I got it....I ain't got it.")
9. Carol Arthur ("WE THE WHITE GOD FEARING CITIZENS OF ROCK RIDGE...")
8. Howard Morris ("Is it gone?  Is it gone?  Did I get it? ...yeah. You got it."")
7. Rudy DeLuca ("It's because...I'm richer.")
6. Marty Feldman ("what hump?")
5. Harvey Korman ("land-snatching.  Land, land, land...see snatch")
4. Madeline Kahn ("do I have any openings for which this man might fit?")
3. Gene Wilder ("What pun???")
2. Mel Brooks ("hup two hup two squiddledidlevedoo hup two!")
1. Cloris Leachman ("here finish your strudel")

[F-Zero]

the list so far:

50 mad max
49 watership down
48 star trek the motion picture
47 Amarcord
46 the duellists
45 suspiria
44 days of heaven
43 jesus christ superstar
42 aguirre
41 breaking away
40 being there
39 the spy who loved me
38 rocky horror picture show
37 saturday night fever
36 enter the dragon
35 harold and maude
34 the poseiden adventure
33 apocalypse now
32 the conversation
31 nashville
30 bananas
29 the jerk
28 patton
27 paper moon
26 taking of pelham 1 2 3
25 the sting
24 clockwork orange
23 wicker man
22 animal house
21 robin hood
20 castle of calgiostro
19 the exorcist
18 godfather part 2
17 dirty harry
16 one flew over the cuckoos nest
15 rocky
14 willy wonka
13 taxi driver
12 blazing saddles


Of these I have five.  Ten of them comedies.  Maybe twenty are grim?  I thought the list would lean towards grim.

[Johnny Unusual]

Birdemic parodies

Mel was ahead of his time.

[Johnny Unusual]

#11

80 Points, 5 Lists, #1 Russoguru

You cannot say 'no' to the people you love, not often. That's the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a 'yes'. Or you have to make them say 'no'. You have to take time and trouble.

Year 1972

What's it about?

Discharged from the marines during World War II, Michael has arrived home to his sister's wedding.  As Michael introduces his girlfriend to his family, she learns that his family are a crime family and a particularly powerful one at that.  But while Michael loves his family, he has no interest in the family business and is much more interested leading a "normal" life.  When Michael's father, Don Vito, declines to begin expanding into the drug trade, a war begins to erupt between the Five Families.  In order to protect his father and family after an assassination attempt, Michael reluctantly steps into his father's shoes.

What's it REALLY about?
The veneer of "legitimacy" and rules and codes, even in the world of crime.  Tom Hagen says "It's not personal, just business", but throughout the film, we see that this is not the case.  Whether it be for image or simply to keep peace and respect, there does have to be honour among thieves and there are grave consequences when rules are broken or changed.  But they also say "change or die" and there is a sense of an inevitable shift that transforms the crime scene and the way they do business.  It is also about the corruption of people through power, even if each individual decision may seem right at the time.

The film also touches on the concept of America being a nation of immigrants and features a certain level of tribalism between the families.

Legacy
One of the, if not THE, great American movie, The Godfather was an instant classic.  And it is easy to forget that it basically brought back the gangster movie, opening the doors for many great (and certainly some terrible) movies about the gangster lifestyle.  It was even used as a recruiting tool, ironically enough, for the mob.  It also increased representation for Italian-Americans on film by Italian-Americans , both giving depth to characters that often appeared as stereotypes (though lead to some other ones). It is one of the most quoted and parodied movie around.

Trivia
During an early shot of the scene where Vito Corleone returns home and his people carry him up the stairs, Marlon Brando put weights under his body on the bed as a prank, to make it harder to lift him.

Johnny's Thoughts
This remains well worth its praise.  They took a trashy book and made it into an engaging epic.  Its cinematography is beautiful, the music is perfect and Vito and Michael are such great characters.  And now I want to watch it all over again.

[MartyS (Gromit)]

I've never been interested in gangster movies, and all the praise for this one has almost gotten me to watch it a few times but I still have never seen all of it, only clips.

[CJones]

"Fun" Gruesome Fact: That was a REAL horse head. They found a horse that was already scheduled to be slaughtered to make dog food, and used its head for the famous scene.

I've never been interested in gangster movies, and all the praise for this one has almost gotten me to watch it a few times but I still have never seen all of it, only clips.

Yes, I generally feel the same way. I've never seen Godfather 2 or 3, or Goodfellas. Surprised this didn't break the top ten though.

[Johnny Unusual]

#10

81 Points, 8 Lists, #5 Pak Man

Well, I certainly hope this little incident hasn't put you off flying, miss. Statistically speaking, of course, it's still the safest way to travel.

Year 1978

What's it about?

The last survivor of a dying planet, Kal-El grew up on Earth as Clark Kent.  As he grew older, he discovered he had fantastic super-powers.  Realizing he can use his powers for good, he takes on the identity of Superman to prevent disaster, stop criminals and help those in need.  In his civilian life, he is a reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, where he meets Lois Lane, a brash and bold journalist.  Soon he becomes closer to her, but she is much more interested in Superman than Clark.  Meanwhile, super-criminal Lex Luthor has plans to make him wealthier than ever at the expense of many lives and only Superman can stop him.

What's it REALLY about?
An alien immigrant who proves to be the most human of us.

Legacy
Though there had been a scattered few superhero films before (including a Superman movie in the 1950s) but the few that existed were b-film and serials.  This is the first major superhero movie and though it took a long while before other films could get the formula anywhere near this movie, it is essential.  But its also a great movie by itself, making a star of Christopher Reeve and having some impressive effects.

Trivia
To obtain the musculature to convincingly play Superman, Christopher Reeve underwent a bodybuilding regime supervised by David Prowse, the man who played Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

Johnny's Thoughts
On its own terms, it might be the perfect incarnation of the character, combining the fun and adventure of Superman throughout all eras: the action of the 30s and 40s, the comedy and fairy tale like nature of the 50s and 60s.  It really is a wonderful incarnation of the character, brought to life perfectly and with great gentleness and warmth thanks to Christopher Reeves performance.

[Cyrusso]

Two more from my list. Very nice. After Godfather 2 came in at #18 I should have suspected The Godfather would have came in not too much later in the list. Had I thought about it some more, I might have put my 2nd place entry at 1st place, but thinking about it I like the casting and acting in Godfather even better than... what I am certain is going to take the top spot.

[Pak-Man]

I'm beginning to think Attack of the Killer Tomatoes isn't going to make this list.

[Cyrusso]

I think AOTKT was probably a little too quirky to end up on the list, or dare I say... obscure?