Cinema of the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies

by John H Foote

Today, over half a century later, great films are measured by those of the 70s. Has there been a more impactful 10-year period?

For the first time, cinema reflected life and society, presenting both on the big screen with a compelling and penetrating truth. Directors became household names, often overnight, and films routinely broke box office records.

With censorship relaxed, the subject matter could include alienation, descents into madness, drug addiction, dysfunctional relationships, promiscuity, alcoholism, PTSD, and any big news story of the day. Audiences gladly absorbed this new, shocking reality; in fact, they avoided films that candy-coated the truth. Musicals evolved, westerns all but died for several years, science fiction and fantasy made an incredible resurgence, and horror dominated the box office along with disaster films. But by and large, films about social issues were the best draw.

With 120 color and black and white photographs, this book celebrates the cinema of the 70s. What a decade!

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and highlighting so many fantastic movies that the 70’s brought to light. Social Justice and an unflinching commitment to the raw truth was an ideal that made this era so distinct. I loved reading about these movies and also the pictures were superb. This book was a pleasure to read. I definitely recommend getting a copy.

Thank you John H. Foote, Ad Lib Publishers, and NetGalley for granting a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions for an advanced copy of this book on the films of a decade that changed entertainment, in good and bad ways, with ramifications and films that still resonate to this day.

In a world where bloated blockbusters, aging stars and movies made for spectacle and not for meaning, leaving film theaters empty, the press full of articles about the death of Hollywood, something had to change. As history repeats itself this statement is not about the Hollywood of today with CGI films looking alike, tired actors in tired roles, and again empty theaters. No this was the 1960s. Cleopatra had lost a fortune, The Alamo with John Wayne had more jeers than cheers, musicals were off tune, and a film called Doctor Doolittle was such a bomb that even te most loyal of Hollywood people had to admit things were off. Studios were also being bought by companies that were more interested in the dollar than art, soda companies and petroleum companies answered more to shareholders than film critics. Slowly a new kind of movie began to appear, movies dealing with the world around them, Vietnam, government, politics, infidelity love and death and Death Stars, and a shark named Bruce. A decade full of movies that are still influential, watched, taught, stolen from, and remade today. Cinema of the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies by John H. Foote is a look at some of these films, complete with plot, stories behind the scenes, influences and other facts for movie fans.

During the 1960's Hollywood was having the same growing pains as the nation around it. Questions about politics, race, women, sex and more were being discussed at tables, but not reflected on the big screen. Big budget films, and old standbys like westerns and musicals were not packing them in, while smaller movies, like Psycho, a film no major studio wanted broke box office records, and spawned a thousand imitators, and genres all over the world. Something had to change, and new blood, a generation of those who had grown up both in the cinema and watching television began to appear. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppla, even older directors found new life, Robert Altman, and Sam Peckingpah began to make movies that showed the world as it was. Or could be. Brave journalists, mobsters, killers, cops, couples, black people, women, gay people, began to appear on the screen, some forgotten, some revered, in works of art that still watch well even today. The book is a chronological so one can see the movies that influenced others, and so on. There are stories about the movie, casting, writing, reception grief from the public and grief from the studios themselves.

A very good overview of a time when film seemed fresh, new and exciting. New directions in storytelling, special effects and even casting outside of the usual white faces are looked at. Women are discussed, in some way films in the 70's seemed to offer more choices to women back then. Foote is a very good writer, able to sum up the movies discussed well, with plenty of information for those familiar with the films, or just learning about them for the first time. I enjoy the fact that Foote looks at directors from other lands, like Werner Herzog, scoring two movies, Miloš Forman and others.

A very good introduction to films from he 70's for people who are new to them. The illustrations are a nice addition also. Even older fans will enjoy this book, though a lot of the information might be known. A lot of fun, plus it will give more movies to add to streaming wish lists.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinema of the 70s: 101 Iconic Movies, by John H Foote, is an excellent overview of the major films of the decade. As list books go, this one is very good.

People will always think some film was shortchanged by being left off, or that some shouldn't have been included. They are neither right nor wrong, it is simply the usual way we view lists. It is what makes them both infuriating and fun. I could think of a few I would have considered putting in and a few I would take out. But this isn't my list and I can't really argue with what is included, so...

The brief (it has to be if you're going to write about 101 films in a reasonably size book and include some pictures) description of each movie is informative, gives a basic plot outline and discusses why (or who) makes it worthy of being on the list. Some nice lesser-known tidbits but mostly information we've seen before. That is not a negative, the point of the book is the list, how these films speak to what happened in the cinema world during the 70s and not an in-depth analysis of each film. Again, book length alone prohibits such an approach.

When I got the book there were several films I had not seen and thanks to Foote I have now whittled it down to one that I haven't been able to easily get my hands (eyes?) on. Just as important is being reminded of these films, both the films themselves and the personal nostalgia associated with many of them.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy books that are mostly for fun, whether that fun is generating debate and discussion or just taking a trip down memory lane, remembering when you sat in a theater and watched these first run. Or maybe discovered them later on whichever format was common at the time. If you simply like lists that make you think about what yours would look like, this will be a lot of fun. You'll discover that not every film here seems to be liked a lot by Foote but qualifies under his umbrella of iconic.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Hollywood films, from the 30’s through the 60’s are widely known but, as this excellent volume makes clear, the 70’s were a breakthrough in the medium. The studio system was dead and this decade saw the beginning of the giants that Gen Xers such as me grew up with. The author is a renowned Canadian film critic and this represents his own vision. He’s not trying to come up with the best, the first or any type of criteria other than these are movies that caused some kind of impact and were released between 1970 and 1975. It features films from all over the world, some that have remarkable acting, and even some that didn’t really work because they were miscast, had a bad screenplay, insufficient publicity or were released at the wrong time. He includes all genres and actors, listing the movies in chronological order from the beginning to the end of the decade, showing how the films changed along with society. I studied the history of cinema in college and there were many films here that I hadn’t even heard of, and that I will be watching shortly. Which takes me to the one thing I didn’t love about this book, it includes spoilers, including revealing twists and endings. Other than that, I really liked this volume and especially enjoyed the beautiful photographs that accompany the text.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are someone of a particular vintage that today is considered ‘old’, this book will be such a trip down memory lane. It certainly was for me. I found myself thinking of where I was when I first viewed a particular film and recalled the impact that the ones I loved had on me. This, for the younger generation, was a time when the only way to see a film was in the movie theatre. If you liked a movie a lot, you could not buy a physical copy to watch at will. You could not download or stream. All you could do was sit in a darkened theatre and wait until the movie started again. There were some great memories of sitting with my best friend through several viewings of something we both loved. While I am happy for the physical form that allows me to own the best loved flicks, I do miss that communal time.

The author has come up with a good list of films, giving a brief synopsis and some key facts that set it apart from the other films. Lots of good photos and some essays on a number of the trends. It was a decade of great change and many of the movies in the book truly changed the course of filmmaking. I think we all could add other movies to the list but the book would be ginormous.

It is a lovely bit of nostalgia for us boomers and an education for those who came later. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When someone mentions a movie I can usually go right in my mind to when that movie was released in this book Cinema Of The 70s by John H foot was definitely a blast from the past from jaws,Tin Drum, Kramer versus Kramer and even Norma Rae and many more were mentioned in this great book about awesome movies from the 70s those that were critically acclaimed and those that became part of the zeitgeist for movies that launch peoples careers to those that ended before they even started. It seems Mr. foot knew the right details to put in the ones to leave out and although this is not a definite encyclopedia of movies from the 70s it is still a very good general knowledge collection and one any cinaphile would love to have in their library if you love or have fun memories of movies from the 70s then you’ll definitely want to read this book I am certainly glad I did I want to thank Net Galley and ad Lib publishers for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive guide to great films of the 70s. Once the Hays code ended and censorship loosened up, Hollywood was able to start making more films that could explore previously taboo subjects. Many of the filmmakers mentioned in this book attended film schools in the 1960's. This book surveys 101 iconic films (many of which I have seen but there are still a number I have not and plan to see). There is a plot synopsis but also details about the context and making of the film. There are beautiful stills from the films. I really liked his "intermission" details that talked more about context of making movies during the 1970"s. He does not shy away from having opinions about some of the stars and directors (minor annoyance since I did not agree with some of his opinions) but these did not stop me from really liking this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ad Lib Publishers, Palazzo Editions for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to John H. Foote, Ad Lib Publishers, and NetGalley for an Advanced Reading Copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Excellent book. I really enjoyed revisiting classic movies from the 70’s and hearing about movies I may have missed. The commentary is well written and made me want to see all the movies again. I was also impressed with the depth of background insights on the actors, directors, and the context for the films. That perspective and insight provides for great film commentary.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting walk in the cinema of the 1970, I remember some of the films, but by this time I was married with children and little time for movies.. I recall some of the ones that caused talk and I remember an (italian) aunt with a sense of humour, who who came home after seeing the Last Tango in Paris and telling all that she had seen Marlo Brando bum and was happy.
The Book is well written and is a walk down films memory lane for the era. There are synopsis of each film that features in this list, which makes interesting reading.
. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DR

[Tresa Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift. John Foote is a Canadian cinema critic, and has provided some great insights in his write up of each film. Most of the films are classics (such as Star Wars and Grease) with some lesser known films (Harold and Maude and Cries and Whispers). The 70s was held up as a rebirth of Hollywood and you can see why.

A must for any film fan (such as me). Just one little gripe - no Bond Films made the grade!

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As coffee table/pop-culture history goes, this is a pretty solid read, though its awkward size makes it frustrating to handle. It has concise overviews of its movie choices, but it leaves tantalizing & gossipy hints about their production that I wish were pursued further within the text.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well-curated look at 70s film, with valuable context and criticism. I really enjoyed reading this and interviewing the author.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Go back to the past in this look at movies from the 70s. The reason for the three stars ... Foote panned the The Great Gatsby and where were movies like Airport and Cabaret?