The 100 Greatest movies of the 1970s. 21. Marathon Man (12 Viewers)

[timschochet]

Been working on this for a while, as I thought it would be a fun follow up to the music threads. These films all came out between 1970-1979, and I have generally kept out foreign made films (unless they were made for American release. I have also kept out TV movies. But those are really the only parameters. If people like this I’ll probably do one for other decades as well.

100. The Omen
99. Pink Flamingos
98. The Outlaw Josey Wales
97. The Heartbreak Kid
96. The Out-of-Towners
95. Nicholas and Alexandra
94. Sleeper
93. The Jerk
92. The Towering Inferno
91. Harold and Maude
90. Straw Dogs
89. Oh, God!
88. The Fury
87. Grease
86. Monty Python’s Life of Brian
85. Bananas
84. The Day of the Jackal
83. High Plains Drifter
82. The Boys from Brazil
81. The Twelve Chairs
80. Conrack
79. Saturday Night Fever
78. Superman
77. Gimme Shelter
76. Live And Let Die
75. Play It Again, Sam
74. The Sugarland Express
73. The Seven Percent Solution
72. The Paper Chase
71. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
70. Shaft
69. The Aristocats
68. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
67. Julia
66. Mad Max
65. The Great Santini
64. Eraserhead
63. The Poseidon Adventure
62. Serpico
61. Escape From Alcatraz
60. Dawn Of The Dead
59. Slap Shot
58. The Deer Hunter
57. Kramer Vs Kramer
56. Fiddler on the Roof
55. Young Frankenstein
54. The Longest Yard
53. The Eagle Has Landed
52. Midnight Express
51. Time After Time
50. Paper Moon
49. The Exorcist
48. Rocky II
47. When A Stranger Calls
46. Dirty Harry
45. Murder on the Orient Express
44. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
43. National Lampoon’s Animal House
42. Halloween
41. Enter the Dragon
40. The French Connection
39. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
38. Patton
37. Dog Day Afternoon
36. A Clockwork Orange
35. Mean Streets
34. The Conversation
33. Being There
32. Alien
31. Blazing Saddles
30. M*A*S*H*
29. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
28. Deliverance
27. The Man Who Would Be King
26. Norma Rae
25. Papillon
24. Nashville
23. All That Jazz
22. North Dallas Forty
21. Marathon Man

 

[Brunell4MVP]

50/50 you have Oliver's Story at #1. JK. Like your lists even if we have different tastes. always pick up a tune or movie that I've never heard.

 

[timschochet]

The actual list will start on Monday but for now, here is a list, in order, of the 29 movies I strongly considered that did NOT make the cut:

101. The Buddy Holly Story
102. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Was Afraid to Ask.
103. Magic
104. The Great White Hope
105. The Goodbye Girl
106. Billy Jack
107. And Now for Something Completely Different
108. The Turning Point
109. Phantom of the Paradise
110. Westworld
111. Heaven Can Wait
112. Coming Home
113. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
114. Black Sunday
115. Up In Smoke
116. The Sunshine Boys
117. That’s Entertainment
118. Brian’s Song
119. Performance
120. Bednobs and Broomsticks
121. The Odessa File
122. Interiors
123. Smokey and the Bandit
124. The Front
125. Drunken Master
126. New York, New York
127. The China Syndrome
128. The Spy Who Loved Me
129. Death Race 2000

 

[simsarge]

Smokey and the Bandit didn't make the cut?

 

[timschochet]

Smokey and the Bandit didn't make the cut?

It’s a fun movie. Certainly iconic. I considered it.

Burt Reynolds does make some appearances on the list however. As does his co-star.

 

[BobbyLayne]

A Man’s got to Know his Limitations

 

[beer 30]

How Billy Jack didn't make the cut is beyond me, your list is invalid before it even comes out.

 

[timschochet]

How Billy Jack didn't make the cut is beyond me, your list is invalid before it even comes out.

And on a bloody morning after…one tin soldier rides away

 

[beer 30]

How Billy Jack didn't make the cut is beyond me, your list is invalid before it even comes out.

And on a bloody morning after…one tin soldier rides away

chills

 

[dutch]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is what the mid/late 70's were all about and makes a great time capsule piece as well as becoming a cultural phenomenon ever since it's first run. Tim, you're wrong already.

 

[beer 30]

How Billy Jack didn't make the cut is beyond me, your list is invalid before it even comes out.

And on a bloody morning after…one tin soldier rides away

Like what was going through your mind putting this masterpiece of early action drama outside of the top 10 let alone out of the top 100? Oscar level performance from Tom Laughlin, drama, karate, cameo by a young Doctor Johnny Fever...I can't fathom what you were thinking.

This ranks up there with the Planet of the Apes series from that time period IMHO. I may have to go back and watch the whole series this weekend.

 

[timschochet]

How Billy Jack didn't make the cut is beyond me, your list is invalid before it even comes out.

And on a bloody morning after…one tin soldier rides away

Like what was going through your mind putting this masterpiece of early action drama outside of the top 10 let alone out of the top 100? Oscar level performance from Tom Laughlin, drama, karate, cameo by a young Doctor Johnny Fever...I can't fathom what you were thinking.

This ranks up there with the Planet of the Apes series from that time period IMHO. I may have to go back and watch the whole series this weekend.

I love those Ape movies. The first one would have been ranked high but it’s a 60s film. The sequels are all really awful but I love them all too. My favorite is Conquest. Man is it terrible though.

 

[timschochet]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is what the mid/late 70's were all about and makes a great time capsule piece as well as becoming a cultural phenomenon ever since it's first run. Tim, you're wrong already.

I love it. I went and saw it a few times back in the day. But I watched it recently and it’s really bad. The music is first rate but I just can’t.

There are a few musicals on this list but they’re a higher quality.

 

[Gr00vus]

I haven't seen it in decades, does Up In Smoke hold up outside of the 19 year old stoner demographic?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Stealing 80s and my shtick, I see.

 

[Gally]

118. Brian’s Song

You said you wouldn't consider made for TV movies so this shouldn't even be on this list.......and if you did consider it and it placed here then I am not sure what to say.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The music is first rate

No, it's not. The music is horrible.

 

[shuke]

This is right in my wheelhouse. Seems this would have been ripe for a second 100 list upon completion so disappointed you already listed your honorable mentions.

 

[timschochet]

118. Brian’s Song

You said you wouldn't consider made for TV movies so this shouldn't even be on this list.......and if you did consider it and it placed here then I am not sure what to say.

You’re right my error. I forgot it was TV

 

[timschochet]

Stealing 80s and my shtick, I see.

If you already did a list like this for the 80s I apologize. I won’t do an 80s one if that is the case.

 

[timschochet]

This is right in my wheelhouse. Seems this would have been ripe for a second 100 list upon completion so disappointed you already listed your honorable mentions.

That’s a good point. Sorry about that. I thought it would create some good discussion (it has) but I didn’t consider someone making another list.

 

[timschochet]

The music is first rate

No, it's not. The music is horrible.

I like it. I still have “Science Fiction Double Feature” on a few playlists.

 

[timschochet]

I haven't seen it in decades, does Up In Smoke hold up outside of the 19 year old stoner demographic?

No, but since there was a time when that was my demographic I considered it.

 

[zamboni]

50/50 you have Oliver's Story at #1.

Tim means never having to say you're sorry.

 

[zamboni]

The actual list will start on Monday but for now, here is a list, in order, of the 29 movies I strongly considered that did NOT make the cut:


112. Coming Home

This is a real powerful film that was very timely with the return of Vietnam vets, but understand not everything can make the list.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't think there ARE 100 great movies from the 70's.

 

[Gr00vus]

I haven't seen it in decades, does Up In Smoke hold up outside of the 19 year old stoner demographic?

No, but since there was a time when that was my demographic I considered it.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie when I saw it. Just haven't been in a place to revisit it. Earache My Eye is a fun tune as well.

 

[HellToupee]

123. Smokey and the Bandit

For Jackie Gleason

 

[beer 30]

I don't think there ARE 100 great movies from the 70's.

Obviously you haven't seen Bill Jack then

 

[Leroy Hoard]

123. Smokey and the Bandit

For Jackie Gleason

I remember a couple James Bond movies where they had that type of character, but Gleason really owned it in Smokey.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I’ll make sure to drop in a few well timed complaints

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I don't think there ARE 100 great movies from the 70's.

Obviously you haven't seen Bill Jack then

Are there 100 of them?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I don't think there ARE 100 great movies from the 70's.

Obviously you haven't seen Bill Jack then

Are there 100 of them?

It only seems that way.

 

[beer 30]

I don't think there ARE 100 great movies from the 70's.

Obviously you haven't seen Bill Jack then

Are there 100 of them?

It only seems that way.

 

[Shankopotamus]

Smokey and the Bandit didn't make the cut?

It’s a fun movie. Certainly iconic. I considered it.

Burt Reynolds does make some appearances on the list however. As does his co-star.

Jerry Reed gets revenge for having to sit in the truck the whole movie and blows up the Trans Am this time around.

 

[Scoresman]

We had 14 1970s horror movies in our horror movie countdown, 9 in the top 50.

I can't think of one reason why all of these shouldn't be on this list. I mean what else is it going to have?

 

[northern exposure]

We had 14 1970s horror movies in our horror movie countdown, 9 in the top 50.

I can't think of one reason why all of these shouldn't be on this list. I mean what else is it going to have?

I think Tom Waits was in some movies in the 70s.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

We had 14 1970s horror movies in our horror movie countdown, 9 in the top 50.

I can't think of one reason why all of these shouldn't be on this list. I mean what else is it going to have?

I think Tom Waits was in some movies in the 70s.

It would be an extra bonus if he also did the soundtracks.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

'The Piano Has Been Drinking' ever been used in a movie? Worst song ever has to be part of some dumpster fire.

 

[Hastur]

I will reserve judgement until seeing the complete list. I am kinda stunned by some of the movies Tim listed as not making the top 100. It's off the cuff though.

The China Syndrome
Heaven Can Wait(a personal favorite)
Up in Smoke
Smokey and the Bandit

Also, some cult classic darlings:
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Death Race 2000

 

[Rustoleum]

:Raises a bourbon in honor of PRIME Angela Landsbury:

Always hit me right in the Treguna mekoides trecorum satis dee.

 

[simsarge]

This is right in my wheelhouse. Seems this would have been ripe for a second 100 list upon completion so disappointed you already listed your honorable mentions.

That’s a good point. Sorry about that. I thought it would create some good discussion (it has) but I didn’t consider someone making another list.

So does that mean Smokey jumps the pack and makes the cut?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Neither Phantom of the Paradise nor Deathrace 2000 should be in the top 1000 movies. They are horrible. Pure schlock and not in a good way.

 

[BobbyLayne]

'The Piano Has Been Drinking' ever been used in a movie? Worst song ever has to be part of some dumpster fire.

#truestorybro

We had a couple of "industry people" over the other night for dinner. He's a carpenter / set builder, my age, has been in the union for 40 years. She is Actor's Equity + SAG-AFTRA but never really caught her big break. She does have an Off-Off-Broadway show opening next month and is what we would call a working actor (small parts, commercials, hand modeling, voiceover - whatever it takes.)

Anyway, I love when Steven comes over because he's a fellow Beatles nerd and shares a wide range of music interests with me. I brought up Small Change and that hideous song - I could tell by the way his eyes lit up he was right there with me - when Rhonda jumped in "OMG I love that album so much!! Huge fan of The Piano has Been Drinking." I was dumbfounded but just gulped down my glass of wine & bit my tongue.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Stealing 80s and my shtick, I see.

Please visit often. This is going to be a train wreck.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

We had 14 1970s horror movies in our horror movie countdown, 9 in the top 50.

I can't think of one reason why all of these shouldn't be on this list. I mean what else is it going to have?

I think Tom Waits was in some movies in the 70s.

He’s only in one 70s movie - Paradise Alley - but his acting career takes off in the 80s.

 

[zamboni]

We had 14 1970s horror movies in our horror movie countdown, 9 in the top 50.

I can't think of one reason why all of these shouldn't be on this list. I mean what else is it going to have?

Perhaps a Marilyn Chambers film fest, including Rabid.

 

[timschochet]

'The Piano Has Been Drinking' ever been used in a movie? Worst song ever has to be part of some dumpster fire.

#truestorybro

We had a couple of "industry people" over the other night for dinner. He's a carpenter / set builder, my age, has been in the union for 40 years. She is Actor's Equity + SAG-AFTRA but never really caught her big break. She does have an Off-Off-Broadway show opening next month and is what we would call a working actor (small parts, commercials, hand modeling, voiceover - whatever it takes.)

Anyway, I love when Steven comes over because he's a fellow Beatles nerd and shares a wide range of music interests with me. I brought up Small Change and that hideous song - I could tell by the way his eyes lit up he was right there with me - when Rhonda jumped in "OMG I love that album so much!! Huge fan of The Piano has Been Drinking." I was dumbfounded but just gulped down my glass of wine & bit my tongue.

Sounds like a very smart lady.

 

[Don Quixote]

Stealing 80s and my shtick, I see.

Please visit often. This is going to be a train wreck.

Will Tim do something worse than ranking Raiders of the Lost Ark in the 60s though?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Stealing 80s and my shtick, I see.

Please visit often. This is going to be a train wreck.

Will Tim do something worse than ranking Raiders of the Lost Ark in the 60s though?