The Decade at a Glance
We won't be surprised if our title gets a few raised eyebrows here and there, but hear us out. We've got the evidence to convince you that the '70s was the best decade in cinematic history. People saw a significant transition from the late '60s onward as the era of blockbuster films emerged. Directors were starting to think outside the classic Hollywood production box. Creatives were pushing boundaries, stories were getting darker with more twists and turns, and movies began to be more real than ever before.
Films from the 1970s reflected a disturbing past that, at the time, people had just finished living through. War and economic struggles were enough to inflict lifetime traumas on a person, and creatives were no exception. Writers, producers, directors, and actors were drawn to socially reflective or escapist films. In the '70s, moviegoers, enthusiasts, and critics saw the transition from the former to the latter, making it a significant milestone in cinematic history.
Movie theatres would often show refreshing pieces from a new wave of directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese. These two were widely known to offer rather stylish yet stark direction. While these directors were undoubtedly influential, as moviegoers, we've been even more mesmerized by the incredible actors who arose during this era. We have the '70s to thank for the rise of stars like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, and the queen, Meryl Streep. These actors replaced the typical "Cary Grant" mold of Hollywood stars.
The "method approach" also came into practice amongst actors, leading to a more daring, edgier approach to their performances. Comedy also steered away from slapstick and into wittier territory, complete with neurotic pondering as enforced by filmmakers like Albert Brooks and Woody Allen. Mumblecore, a practice that the modern world sees as skilled acting, was heavily inspired by Allen's directorial work.
5 Best Films From The '70s
The Conversation
Written, produced, and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the plot follows a surveillance expert facing a moral dilemma after (potentially) being witness to murder through his recordings. The American neo-noir mystery thriller was released in 1974 and went on to earn $4.4 million at the box office. Given the budget of $1.6 million, it was described as a commercially and critically successful movie.
