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Chewers' 100 Best Action Movies of the 70's

post #1 of 91
11/26/11 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 

The genre would get its big renaissance in the 80's, but there's absolutely no denying that the 70's brought about a more cynical, grayer edge to what would follow, and further, the "action" mold was more flexible and variable. Here's to those trailblazers.

 

1. Dirty Harry (Siegel, 1971)

 

I...I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots, or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off...you've got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?

 

A tight-knit, fast-paced and thoroughly badass thriller that defined Clint Eastwood, the square-jawed showstopper of TV's Rawhide and Sergio Leone's Euro-Westerns, as a living legend and the antihero perfected. Steely narrative and deft direction at every corner of its 103 minutes and a profound, if less politically harmonious benchmark of the New Hollywood era.

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post #2 of 91
11/26/11 at 9:16pm

2. The Duellists (1977) dir. Ridley Scott

the-duellists-movie-poster-1977-1020209463.jpg

 

Scott's fierce, majestic, & stunningly gorgeous $900,000 budget debut film. A masterpiece of blood that details the bitterly violent, 15 year long rivalry held between two French officers during the Napoleonic Wars. Adapted from the short story written by Joseph Conrad.

 

An incredible, jaw-dropping cinematic work.


Edited by Art Decade - 11/27/11 at 9:22pm
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post #3 of 91
11/26/11 at 9:24pm

3. Straw Dogs.

 

Action distilled to its most primal, violent source.  The nasty social and psychological implications are left for the viewer to chew over. (And to discuss uncomfortably with your significant other.)

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post #4 of 91
11/26/11 at 9:50pm

4. Kelly's Heroes 1970

 

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post #5 of 91
11/26/11 at 9:58pm

5. The Yakuza (1974)  Dir. Sydney Pollack

(video is a bit of a spoiler)

 

MV5BODcyMjI4NTM2OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwOTc0Mjk4._V1._SX254_SY475_.jpg 

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post #6 of 91
11/26/11 at 10:03pm
Thread Starter 

6. Death Wish (Winner, 1974)

 

I kill rich cunts!

 

Pussy liberal boy meets girl. They have a kid. Years later, the girl gets killed and the kid gets raped into a catatonic state. The adult Charles Bronson meets gun salesman on a business trip. Bronson meets gun. The cops start complaining that their job is being fucked around by Bronson.

 

And the rest is history.

------------------

Nice on The Yakuza.

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post #7 of 91
11/26/11 at 10:12pm

7. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) dir. Sidney Pollack

814491611_aa2eb3cd36.jpg

 

I, Hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do leaveth my rifle to the next thing who finds it, Lord hope he be a white man. It is a good rifle, and kilt the bear that kilt me. Anyway, I am dead. Sincerely, Hatchet Jack.

 

Robert Redford shows nature & the American frontier who's boss. An immaculately directed action classic that'll learn ya how to be a man & put hair on yer chest.

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post #8 of 91
11/26/11 at 10:12pm

8. Mr. Majestyk (1974) d. Richard Fleischer

 

"You make sounds like you're a mean little ass-kicker... only I ain't convinced. You keep talking and I'm gonna take your head off."

 

Charles Bronson became an unlikely movie star in the 70's, and this vehicle, based on an Elmore Leonard novel, is like the distillation of every reason he was. He's a badass everyman, that when pushed, pushes back hard. A man living by his own code and sense of honor. A man who just wants to bring in his melon crop. In this film, Bronson takes on not just a system punishing him unjustly for trying to protect his property, but also a gangster who wants to make their feud personal. And as every Action fan knows, a personal feud with Bronson is a big mistake.

 

I now consider this little movie--for what it sets out to do-- near perfect. The tone is so right. Oozes old school hardness and cool. Does a slow burn, till the tension just explodes with the truck chase and climatic shoot-out.

 

My favorite scene is the roadhouse confrontation between Bronson and Al Lettieri.

Lettieri is sneering that he's gonna kill Charlie.

The usual threats. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, he won't know til he hits him.

Bronson takes a sip of his beer, shrugs, and goes "Well, no sense trying to get on your good side."

Next thing ya know, he throws a punch that knocks Al on his ass.

Standing over the dazed (and wanted by the law) Lettieri, Bronson smiles, and says "Why don't you call a cop?" and walks off with his chick.

Bronson at his absolute Bronson-est.

 

Also, Paul Koslo's Bobby Kopas almost tops William Atherton on the creep-o-meter! Boy, do I love to hate that dick.

 

(Love this movie so much, even get chills when Bronson takes a small stand against the racist gas station employee who won't let the migrate workers use the bathroom!)







 

 

 


Edited by Fat Elvis - 11/27/11 at 2:12pm
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post #9 of 91
11/26/11 at 10:57pm

9. The Warriors (1979) d. Walter Hill

 

"These are the Armies of The Night. They are 60,000 strong. They outnumber the cops three to one. They could run New York City. Tonight they're all out to get the Warriors."

 

One of my favorite movies of all time.

The-Warriors-thumb-560xauto-26361.gif

 

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post #10 of 91
11/27/11 at 10:07am

10. Star Wars (1977) dir. George Lucas

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One legendarily iconic action set piece after the other.

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post #11 of 91
11/27/11 at 10:47am

11.The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Dir Lewis Gilbert.

 

 

Nobody Does It Better is still the best Bond theme ever!

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post #12 of 91
11/27/11 at 11:02am

12. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) d. John Carpenter

 

killflowergirlAssaultOnPrecinct13.gif

"Escape to Witch Mountain sucked!"

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post #13 of 91
11/27/11 at 11:08am

13. The French Connection (1971) dir. William Friedkin

the-french-connection-cartel.jpg

 

Gene Hackman's iconic badass Popeye Doyle brings the ruckus to the ass of crime in Friedkin's gritty action masterpiece. Roy Scheider assists.

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post #14 of 91
11/27/11 at 11:55am

14. The Getaway (1972) d. Sam Peckinpah

 

Steve McQueen. Ben Johnson. Sam Peckinpah. The Getaway is just filled with badassery.

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post #15 of 91
11/27/11 at 1:29pm

15. White Lightning (1973) d. Joseph Sargent

 

A mean, little revenge flick. Tense, twisted and really funny. It's everything great about 70's drive-in cinema in one sweaty package. It has a uber-cool Reynolds performance and a memorably slimy villain in Beatty. Fantastic car chases/ stunts. And a sudden and satisfying ending that puts a smile on my face everytime. It's a perfect film for what it sets out to be.

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post #16 of 91
11/27/11 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 

16. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (Peckinpah, 1974)

 

Listen, the church cuts off the feet, fingers, any other goddamn thing from the saints, don't they? Well, what the hell? Alfredo's our saint. He's the saint of our money, and I'm gonna borrow a piece of him.

 

My favorite Peckinpah and arguably his masterpiece and creative high, a strange, remorselessly violent odyssey into the heart of nihilism that foretold the strong shadow of Woo, Tarantino and countless imitations.

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post #17 of 91
11/27/11 at 6:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Falcon View Post

12. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) d. John Carpenter

 

killflowergirlAssaultOnPrecinct13.gif

"Escape to Witch Mountain sucked!"


Pre-karma for all that Real Housewives shit.

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post #18 of 91
11/27/11 at 6:55pm

 

17. Mad Max (George Miller, 1979)

 

The film that changed the Post-Apocalyptic genre for good, and still one of the most influential Australian films of all time.

 

 

mad-max-original.jpg

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post #19 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:23pm

18. Prime Cut (1972) d. Michael Ritchie

 

If you want to understand what was so unadulterated badass about Lee Marvin, you just need to check out two films: POINT BLANK and PRIME CUT.  In PRIME CUT, he's great in the whole movie, but in the climatic third act, he's like a hurricane of righteous wrath, taking on Gene Hackman's entire crew; the blunt tool of vengeance for a little girl's innocence lost. It's awesome.

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post #20 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:25pm

2...Moore of Rogers!

 

18) Moonraker directed by Lewis Gilbert!  Bond meets Ms. Chiles and goes over the...Moon for her!  007 is the perfect...ASStronaut, to Battle...Jaws in Space!  Moonraker is...007th Heaven!

 

19) FFolkes! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglan!  Roger Moore is...Rufus Excalibur FFolkes!  Ffolkes must stop a...Psycho, Anthony Perkins a terrorist, whom will destroy a British Oil Platform!  FFolkes...Loves cats and Hates Women!  In this case the...Moore aren't the merrier.  James Mason plays an admiral who wants FFolkes to give his...Seals of Approval and save the day!

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post #21 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:29pm

21. The Driver (1978) d. Walter Hill

 

Ryan O'Neal is cool as hell. Bruce Dern is crazy as fuck. The car chases are awesome. Walter Hill is the man.

 

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post #22 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Workyticket View Post

 

17. Mad Max (George Miller, 1979)

 

The film that changed the Post-Apocalyptic genre for good, and still one of the most influential Australian films of all time.

 

 

mad-max-original.jpg



Gibson is as iconic in this as Eastwood was in FISTFULL OF DOLLARS. Love this movie.

 

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post #23 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:35pm

I'd been holding back on this one & assumed someone else would've picked it already:

 

22. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) dir. Clint Eastwood

936full-the-outlaw-josey-wales-poster.jpg

 

Director Eastwood's iconic revenge epic (co-written by Philip Kaufman). Legendary.

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post #24 of 91
11/27/11 at 7:49pm
Thread Starter 

I'm sorry, Moonraker should be nowhere near the top 20, let alone top 100, but well, uh, okay.

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post #25 of 91
11/27/11 at 8:02pm

23. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) d. Michael Cimino

 

I unabashedly love this movie. Not only does it have great performances, humor, and action, it also just happens to have been filmed in and around the town I grew up in so nostalgia also plays a large part in my enjoyment of it. Found this neat little fan-made video:

 

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post #26 of 91
11/27/11 at 8:02pm
Thread Starter 

24. Taxi Driver (Scorsese, 1976)

 

All the animals come out at night: whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the streets. I go all over. I take people to the Bronx, Brooklyn, I take 'em to Harlem. I don't care. Don't make no difference to me. It does to some. Some won't even take spooks. Don't make no difference to me.

 

So what if it's not a flat-out, unabashed action entry? This fucking happens:

 

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post #27 of 91
11/27/11 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 

25. Rolling Thunder (Flynn, 1977)

 

I found 'em.

 

Who?

 

The men who killed my son.

 

I'll just get my gear.

 

Schrader's even more vicious counterpart to Taxi Driver, a staggering slow burn of a film that explodes into a wildfire and never lets up. William Devane flat out rules as Charles Rane.

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post #28 of 91
11/27/11 at 9:03pm

26. Charley Varrick (1973) d. Don Siegel

 

"You don't have much choice, Harold. They're gonna try to make you tell where the money is. You know what kind of people they are. They're gonna strip you naked and go to work on you with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch."

 

Siegel's follow up to DIRTY HARRY is a crime film cult classic. Matthau is great in the title role, a career criminal who's luck is always a shade more bad than good. Evidently, Matthau hated the film, and the experience making it, which is a shame, because it's one of his best roles, and allowed him to show a darker side seldom on display. The direction by Siegel is excellent; a superior craftsman in his prime. His deft touch is a big part of what makes the film special. And the supporting cast of Andrew Robinson, Joe Don Baker, and John Vernon, all interesting character actors,  give the film that a uniquely 70's flavor.

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post #29 of 91
11/27/11 at 9:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by duke fleed View Post

19) FFolkes! Directed by Andrew V. McLaglan!  Roger Moore is...Rufus Excalibur FFolkes!  Ffolkes must stop a...Psycho, Anthony Perkins a terrorist, whom will destroy a British Oil Platform!  FFolkes...Loves cats and Hates Women!  In this case the...Moore aren't the merrier.  James Mason plays an admiral who wants FFolkes to give his...Seals of Approval and save the day!


North_Sea_Hijack.jpg

 

Holy shit! Why have I never heard of this movie before?! Bad. Ass.

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post #30 of 91
11/28/11 at 6:43am

27. Emperor of the North Pole (1973) d. Robert Aldrich

 

Ernest Borgnine don't want no hobos riding his train!

 

Another essential Lee Marvin classic. And one of the last gems from the exceptional Robert Aldrich.

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post #31 of 91
11/28/11 at 9:33am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Elvis View Post

26. Charley Varrick (1973) d. Don Siegel

 


One of the best endings EVER.

 

It's taken way too long to get to this classic:

 

28. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) d. Hal Needham

 

A perfect blend of comedy and action.

 

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post #32 of 91
11/28/11 at 1:14pm

29. Enter The Dragon (1973) dir. Robert Clouse

enter the dragon_99033.jpg

Bruce Lee's finest hour.

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post #33 of 91
11/28/11 at 1:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Elvis View Post

27. Emperor of the North Pole (1973) d. Robert Aldrich

 

Ernest Borgnine don't want no hobos riding his train!

 

Another essential Lee Marvin classic. And one of the last gems from the exceptional Robert Aldrich.


OMG, this movie......  <3  It made my daughter cry though when I had to explain the Great Depression to her. 

 

ETA, every movie I've seen in this thread fucking rules!  I've run out of reputation to give today. 

 

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post #34 of 91
11/28/11 at 1:57pm

30.   Death Race 2000 (1975)  dir.  Paul Bartel

 

deathrace2000still_288x288.jpg

 

 

More satire than straight action, but it contains several car chases and stuff going asplody!   Imagine NASCAR combined with "Survivor" and "Battle Royale" and here's your movie.  Way more entertaining than it has any right being, mainly due to the hilarious script and pitch-perfect performances from David Carradine as the stoic badass, Frankenstein and Sylvester Stallone as the Yosemite-Sam-esque villian, Machine Gun Joe.  Watch this film and fall in love!

 

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post #35 of 91
11/28/11 at 9:54pm

31. Dillinger (1973) d. John Milius

 

"This could be one of the big moments in your life. Don't make it your last."

 

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post #36 of 91
11/28/11 at 10:11pm

32. High Plains Drifter (1973) D Clint Eastwood

 

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post #37 of 91
11/30/11 at 9:36pm

33. Force Ten from Navarone 1978 D Guy Hamliton

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post #38 of 91
11/30/11 at 10:29pm

 

34. Duel (1971) d. Steven Spielberg

Adrenalin-pumping action! Heart-pounding suspense! Nail-biting terror!

 

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post #39 of 91
12/1/11 at 9:47am

35. Duck, You Sucker aka A Fist Full of Dynamite (1971)  d. Sergio Leone 

MV5BMTY5Mjg3MzY4NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNTM3MTc0MQ@@._V1._SY317_CR9,0,214,317_.jpg

 

Leone is awesome. 

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post #40 of 91
12/1/11 at 11:10am

36. Walking Tall (1973)

 

Based on the life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser whom almost single-handily cleaned up his small town of crime and corruption, but at a personal cost of his family life and nearly his own life.

 

"I'm gonna take, and take, and take, till they ain't got nothin left to give but BLOOD!... And I'm gonna take that, one drop at a time!"
 

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post #41 of 91
12/1/11 at 12:08pm

37. Logan's Run (1976) dir. Michael Anderson

Logans-Run.jpg

"Run, Runner!!"

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post #42 of 91
12/1/11 at 12:41pm

38. Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974)

 

A 70's drive-in classic, and a killer car movie. Fonda rules. And oh, what an ending!

 

39. Vanishing Point (1971) -the existential car chase movie of the decade

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post #43 of 91
12/1/11 at 9:11pm
Thread Starter 

40. Magnum Force (Post, 1973)

 

Man's got to know his limitations.

 

Dirty Harry's second outing is just as much of a blast (pun intended) and has an equal scale and strength at posing ethical questions this time around, standing out in its humanization of Harry as he finds his ruthless ideologies challenged by a group of vigilante cops with an even more sinister outlook on justice than his. Hal Holbrook shines as the asshole villain and it's loaded with pre-fame stars: Robert Urich, David Soul, Tim Matheson, Suzanne Somers (and her tits!) and future OCP executive Felton Perry (as the latest ill-fated Callahan partner) are all on board. Ted Post's second above-average sequel after Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

 

 

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post #44 of 91
12/1/11 at 9:20pm

41. Live and Let Die (1973)

 

The first Bond film I ever saw. It features the speedboat chase to end all speedboat chases:

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post #45 of 91
12/1/11 at 9:25pm

42. The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) dir. Guy Hamilton

tmwtgg-car-stunt1.gifMPW-19431.jpg

Christopher Lee brings the heavy & Britt Ekland brings the sex in Roger Moore's slickest & best Bond outing (IMO, anyway).

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post #46 of 91
12/1/11 at 10:07pm

Love THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN. It's top 10 Bond for me.

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post #47 of 91
12/12/11 at 9:31pm

43. Sorcerer (1977) d. William Friedkin

 

Maybe more "suspense thriller" than pure action, but a damn good film nonetheless. Killer Tangerine Dream score too.

 

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post #48 of 91
6/19/12 at 10:59pm

Bump?

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post #49 of 91
6/20/12 at 12:03am

Sure.

 

#44 Get Carter (1971).

 

Caine at his brutal, brutal best.  No nonsense, even down to his choice of drinking vessel "in a STRAIGHT glass".  Such an unbelievably good movie, but not cheery in the slightest.

 

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRfdxbCw_Omd7iQLg6TlbRiERNhciGjVxCKybCQsMDC2miqxtjY74qGU0Vd1w

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post #50 of 91
6/20/12 at 12:10am

#45 Superman (1978)

 

Christopher Reeve so embodied Superman AND Clarke Kent that to this day he's still my go to image.  And I don;t think I'm alone.


I recently got the "extended cut" with the trials on the way to Luthor's hideout.  Splendid.

So many good things about this movie.  Gene fucking Hackman.  "Otisberg??  OTISberg?".  "Miss Tessmarker!"

 

plus Lois "death" is genuinely fierce.  And Supes rage and despair that leads him to change the course of history.  Spot on.


Only thing I don;t like about this movie "can you read my mind".  But it's a minor blip.

 

Turning-Back-The-World-superman-the-movie-20407848-800-466.jpg

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