Puberty during the 1970's - Movies that helped me through it....
Mar 27 '03
The Bottom Line The 1970's were a time of change for me--from age 9-18, the movies matured as I did. Welcome to my puberty.
My favorite 70’s Movies – not movies about the 70’s or necessarily set in the 70’s, just movies released in the 70’s. I graduated in 1979 so the 70’s were the decade that I think I changed the most. I aged from 9 to 18 during those years and I see a lot of my personality in the movies that I loved then.
I’m a fighter for equal rights—there’s “Norma Rae” on my list—a movie that marked my beginning of looking beyond myself and my situation. There are comedies—some I still watch to this day, and musicals—I guess I’ve always loved them.
Here’s my list of the top ten 1970’s movies (in date order) that I enjoyed as a youngster and ones that I still enjoy today:
Love Story (1970) Ah…puberty was hitting…was it any wonder I loved this film? One of the first I snuck to the theatre to see. Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett the IV (Ryan O’Neal) falls for free-spirited Jennifer Cavalleri (Ali MacGraw). This was also the first time I had to deal with the loss of someone (hey, I was 9, I didn’t really realize they weren’t real—the loss seemed real to me). Love, joy, and death are all covered in this beautiful film.
M*A*S*H (1970) - When I look back at my list I have to wonder where my parents were! This movie, which was preceded the TV series was racy back then and I remember seeing it at the drive-in. I loved drive-ins! The story of a group of misfits trying to find a little humor in the middle of war, this was a movie to be remembered for the performances of Elliot Gould and Donald Sutherland. My favorite line was one uttered by Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' O'Houlihan played by Sally Kellerman –she yells, “"This isn't a hospital! It's an insane asylum!” –a line I’ve modified and used many times at the office.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) A great musical set in Russia about a matchmaker—“If I Were A Rich Man” is a catchy tune that I remember to this day. “Sunrise, Sunset” always made me cry. This was a movie about a world I knew nothing about—it was as far away from Seattle, WA as you could get. I dreamed of places like this—huge happy families, music and dance.
What's Up, Doc? (1972) - I loved this movie—my first taste of Barbara Streisand. I think I owned ever album she made – yep, album. And watched every movie she made. It didn’t hurt that I had a HUGE crush on Ryan O’Neal either. There are tons of great scenes but the best were when Madeline Kahn, who played Eunice Burns, Howard’s (O’Neal’s) fiancée worked her magic by hen-pecking the nerdy Howard. Barbara sings a tune near the end and the comedy still plays well today.
The Paper Chase (1973) Timothy Bottoms played scholar James T. Hart, Lindsay Wagner (Of 6 Million Dollar Woman Fame) played. Susan Kingsfield/Fields, and the seemingly stuffy, but still sweet John Houseman played Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. The set-up is a group of students in their first year of Harvard Law School. It’s the story of Hart falling for the daughter (Susan) of the professor he most wants to impress (Kingsfield). Much like the great TV of the 70’s and 80’s it’s a slice of life and not necessarily a beginning to end type of story.
American Graffiti (1973) Wolfman Jack, a radio DJ I listened to back then, was an intricate part of the plot—this was the first time my real life touched the movies—boy, I thought it was so cool that someone I “knew” was in a movie. It was then, at age 12, that I thought that some day I too could be in a movie…still waiting. Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, and Cindy Williams are just a few of the kids who spend a summer night crusin’ together in 1962.
Young Frankenstein (1974) - Two of my favorites, Madeline Kahn and Gene Wilder play this movie for all it’s worth. There are so many big names in this movie it’s hard to pick out the best. A spoof on the horror movies more commonly associated with Frankenstein, this one is done in black and white to set the mood and with so much silliness you must watch it more than once to catch all the subtle and not so subtle jokes (“What big knockers!”)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) - This was the first late movie I ever got to go to—it started at 11pm and by 11:30 I was sound asleep. I never wanted to admit it so I told everyone I loved it. Luckily, I got another chance to see it and have treasured it ever since. Now that I own it on DVD and can play it with the subtitles I find it even funnier—now I know what they’re saying! I love the English accent, but sometimes it’s hard for me to catch everything-- now I enjoy every great line. As funny today at 41 years of age as it was when I was 14.
Norma Rae (1979) – Sally Fields as a young widow who stands up for union rights with the help of Beau Bridges. The movie is based on the real-life story of a woman who organized her factory, however, unlike the movie, it wasn’t done it 2 hours—it took 10 years. This movie was also the first to introduce me to the plight of people who worked in sweatshops—I didn’t even know they existed. A movie that’s hard to watch but easy to love.
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) - I sobbed. I admit it. The whole issue of divorce was just coming to the surface during the late 70’s. It was still a hushed thing, something that you didn’t share with those outside your closest circle. This movie made divorce seem more human—real people, with real problems, finding a way to work them out. Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep play the parents of an adorable child (Justin Henry) torn apart—it’s truly a 2-tissue movie that is thought provoking—it asks us to look inside and see if our priorities are in the right place—still a timely question.
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