The Year in Review- 1972

   It was the year "the greatest movie of all time" was released and Burt Reynolds began his box office reign. Charles Grodin was obsessed with Cybill Shepherd, Woody Allen got in a groove, and Goldie Hawn was the world's hottest hippie. Liza Minnelli was luminous and Robert Redford couldn't decide whether to run for office or roam the mountainside. Here are the ten best films in order for 1972.

1. "The Godfather"(1972)
No movie is more synonymous with the glorious auteur-driven creative freedom of the 1970s than Frances Ford Coppola's crowning achievement. If you have to be told that a 47 year old Marlon Brando completely reinvented himself with his amazing portrayal of aging Don Vito Corleone, then you need to be schooled on the classier parts of pop culture. A previously-unknown Al Pacino is so consistently incredible as his quietly-cunning heir apparent Michael, that it's easy to overlook the talents of his other Family members(Robert Duvall, James Caan, John Cazale). Every aspect of this immaculate production, from Mario Puzo's adaptation of his own novel to Nino Rota's unmistakable score, is a reminder of cinema's preeminent place in America's artistic heritage.

2. "Deliverance"(1972)
A buff Burt Reynolds loudly announced his arrival as a Movie Star in the wake of John Boorman's sensational survival drama, based on James Dickey's 1970 novel. Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox are Burt's buddies on a weekend canoe trip in rural Georgia that turns out to be anything but a carefree summer getaway. 'Dueling Banjos' and a pair of hillbilly rapists provide the kind of movie moments that linger in the memory long after the end credits. "Deliverance" definitely earned it's rep as one of this era's most essential films.

3. "The Heartbreak Kid"(1972)
Forget Ben Stiller and the Farrelly brothers. Charles Grodin's sociopathic newlywed is the only 'Heartbreak Kid' you need to concern yourself with(outside the colorful world of pro wrestling, of course). Director Elaine May and celebrated screenwriter Neil Simon, clearly following the lead of Mike Nichols' "The Graduate", crafted one of the best black comedies ever made. Don't believe me? Try taking poor Jeannie Berlin out for pecan pie sometime. Hollywood doesn't have the guts to infuse genuine heartbreak into the comedic genre anymore. As of this writing, the film can be viewed in it's entirety on YouTube. A complex rights issue has kept it off of streaming platforms, and the out-of-print DVD is going for more than $60 on ebay.

4. "Cabaret"(1972)
A 25 year old Liza Minnelli mesmerizes in Bob Fosse's fab 1930s-set musical dramady. The Nazi Party is flourishing in Berlin, and the nighttime inhabitants of the Kit Kat Klub are happily oblivious to the growing danger. I used to wonder why Judy Garland's daughter was so deified. Then I saw her perform 'Mein Herr' on a chair and I got my answer. Joel Grey(father of Jennifer) grabbed the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for repeating his Tony-award winning turn as the colorful, cross-dressing 'Master of Ceremonies'. "Cabaret" collected a total of EIGHT Academy Awards, including Best Actress and Director, the most ever for a non-Best Picture winner.

A match made in movie heaven.

5. "Play It Again, Sam"(1972)
This one could have been called 'When Woody Met Diane'. Has any actress ever benefitted more from a close association with her writer/director/costar than Keaton did? I'm waiting. I understand that Allen has his detractors, but even they will have a hard time dismissing his San Francisco misadventures as a newly-single nebbish. Can the hilarious ghost of Humphrey Bogart(Jerry Lacy) guide him back toward a less-depressing love life? Herbert Ross actually directed "Sam", because Woody had yet to achieve industry autonomy. That wouldn't happen again.

6. "Butterflies Are Free"(1972)
I'm just going to come right out and say it- Goldie Hawn was gorgeous. The "Cactus Flower" cutie proved that her Oscar win was no fluke, in this feel-good May/December romance that helped establish her benign brand as a force to be reckoned with, till 1996's "The First Wives Club". Even a blind man(Edward Albert) could see her bubbly blond appeal. I wouldn't leave that San Francisco apartment either. Broadway vet Eileen Heckart was a Best Supporting Actress winner as Hawn's meddlesome future mother-in-law. "Butterflies" is based on a 1969 play by Leonard Gershe who also wrote the screenplay.

7. "The Poseidon Adventure"(1972)
Gene Hackman heads up a hearty ensemble(Ernest Borgnine, Shelly Winters, Roddy McDowell, Jack Albertson) for this popular thriller that packed theaters during the '72 holiday season. "Poseidon" was the middle entry in the highly profitable Irwin Allen disaster cycle, that was bookended by "Airport" and "The Towering Inferno", and the action/FX and production design are among the best of the pre-"Star Wars" era. A 1979 sequel and 2006 remake were much less successful.

8. "Fat City"(1972)
Stacey Keach and Jeff Bridges were a potent pair as hopeless, small-time boxers in John Huston's slice-of-life drama. No sport has been the basis for more quality cinema than the pugilistic arena. But like the great ones("Rocky", "Raging Bull"), it's not really about that. Huston's interest lies in shattered dreams and bitter compromises that slide everyday people into unremarkable lives. Best Supporting Actress nominee Susan Tyrrell and Nicolas Colasanto(of "Cheers" fame) are memorable in supporting roles.

9. "Jeremiah Johnson"(1972)
Robert Redford roughed it as an 1850s mountain man in this absorbing fact-based drama. Director Sydney Pollack became a frequent Redford collaborator("The Way We Were", "Three Days of the Condor", "Out of Africa"), and the pristine footage he captured of his star's beloved Utah is probably the reason why. Jeremiah Johnson was a soldier, and his struggles with hunting, fishing, and fire-making will leave patient viewers extremely grateful for their existence in the 21st Century. Indians and wolves are also present. Put down your phone and watch it tonight.

10. "The Candidate"(1972)
America voted for Robert Redford in 1972. The cerebral stud really firmed up his fame while Nixon resided in the White House(he would later help bring down the President and his men), in Michael Ritchie's smart, well-written political satire. Redford's idealistic Democrat competes for a California Senate seat with an establishment Republican(Don Porter) that differs wildly over how to best serve the people. It's startling how little has changed on that front in the last 40+ years.

Honorable Mentions

"Joe Kidd"(1972) Clint Eastwood cowboys up.
"The Mechanic"(1972) Charles Bronson was a bad-ass.
"The Getaway"(1972) So was Steve McQueen.
"Boxcar Bertha"(1972) Martin Scorsese makes his proper directorial debut.
"The Way of the Dragon"(1972) Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris.
"Sounder"(1972) Paul Winfield impressed in Martin Ritt's Depression era Oscar contender.
"Sleuth"(1972) Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier. Need I say more?
"The King of Marvin Gardens"(1972) Jack Nicholson and Bruce Dern are NJ brothers in this Bob Rafelson drama.

"Cisco Pike"(1972) Kris Kristofferson is a pusher in this cult drug dealer drama.

"The Cowboys"(1972) John Wayne dies.
"Conquest of the Planet of the Apes"(1972) The fourth installment in the "Apes" franchise.
"Chato's Land"(1972) Charles Bronson vs. Jack Palance.
"Sisters"(1972) Margot Kidder is a killer in this Brian De Palma thriller.
"The New Centurions"(1972) George C. Scott and Stacy Keach join the LAPD.

The Year in Review- 1974

   It was the year Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman officially replaced Hollywood's old guard. Charles Bronson lowered the crime rate, while Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder raised the bar for big-screen comedy. Ellen Burstyn and Gena Rowlands livened up the Best Actress race, and Leatherface entered our lives. Here are the ten best films in order for 1974.

1. "The Godfather Part II"(1974)
The sequel to "the greatest movie of all time" did the near-impossible- it deepened our love and devotion to the Corleone clan, en route to taking it's permanent place alongside 1972's Best Picture winner as it's esteemed equal. Al Pacino's chilling transformation from idealistic war hero to cold and calculating crime boss is complete, as Michael presides over the Family's expanding interests in the late '50s. The parallel early 20th Century flashback story provides young Vito, Robert De Niro with his own foundation- the Best Supporting Actor Oscar has rarely been more deserved. Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, and Lee Strasberg offer rich support in Francis Ford Coppola's third masterpiece(keep reading).

2. "Chinatown"(1974)
Jack Nicholson was at his most pristine in director Roman Polanski and screenwriter Robert Towne's peerless film noir. Once upon a time, "The Maltese Falcon" was the definitive detective story. Then dapper 1930s private eye Jake Gittes uncovered startling incest and a problem with SoCal's water supply while sporting a big bandage on his face(he's a nosy fella). John Huston was a fitting foil as the enigmatic Noah Cross, while Faye Dunaway's dark secret stayed with viewers for decades. Polanski's much-publicized legal troubles robbed Gittes of a proper encore(1990's "The Two Jakes" was too little, too late), but if you're looking for great, it's "Chinatown".

3. "The Conversation"(1974)
With Richard Nixon raising serious questions about the legitimacy of secret surveillance, Francis Ford Coppola made the best movie ever on the subject(amazingly, he managed this the same year as "Part II"). A subdued Gene Hackman commands the screen as Harry Caul(his personal favorite role), whose profession breeds paranoia and isolation as the head of a San Francisco spy outfit. Does a standard infidelity assignment lead to murder? Coppola started writing the ambiguous script in 1966, and recruited Robert Duvall, John Cazale, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Allen Garfield, and Teri Garr for more '70s flavor. There's an alternate reality where Harrison Ford is a smarmy character actor. This is a film that's truly of it's time, and yet somehow, timeless.

4. "Lenny"(1974)
Dustin Hoffman joined Pacino and Nicholson on the '74 Best Actor slate. Are you GETTING what a great year this was?! Oddly enough, none of them won(apparently, we owed Art Carney one). Lenny Bruce was a legendary libertarian whose colorful stand-up performances furthered the fight for free speech and changed the complexion of comedy. His trek was hardly a smooth one, however, as obscenity trials, a failed marriage and drug abuse comprised the compelling journey into counterculture iconography. "Cabaret" director Bob Fosse captured all the highs and lows, and Hoffman is typically terrific.

5. "Death Wish"(1974)
Charles Bronson blasted holes through NYC scum in Michael Winner's endlessly re-watchable revenge fantasy. This is one of those cool-as-fuck '70s movies, replete with startling violence and cynicism, that arrived just in time to capitalize on Watergate weariness and a cable TV aftermarket about to spread through urban America as quickly as the street trash that inspired Paul Kersey's one-man crusade. "Wish" is unapologetic about advocating vigilantism, and the cathartic joy brought to inner-city residents led to a five-film franchise that would reinvigorate the stoic star at it's center.

6. "Blazing Saddles"(1974)
We have to talk about Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. The most beloved comedy this side of "Some Like It Hot", lampooned the dying Western genre(a fading John Wayne lacked the foresight to take part) and was a genuine phenomenon that went unchallenged in the laughs-per-minute stakes until 1980's "Airplane!". It's difficult to describe how game-changing those campfire farts were in February 1974. You just had to have been there. Brooks was truly on another level, as was his 'uninsurable' un-PC co-writer Richard Pryor. Last but not least is the late Madeline Khan, whose saucy scene-stealing may have been the most enjoyable part of this reappraisal.

7. "Young Frankenstein"(1974)
For a brief moment in time, Gene Wilder was the hottest comedic performer on the planet. If you're under the age of 40, you might not understand how huge "Saddles" and "Frankenstein" were(both were among the three biggest moneymakers of the year). You're reading this blog, though, which means that you're willing to learn. It's Fran-ken-shteen, and this black-and-white trip to Transylvania, is another comic masterclass. Peter Boyle, Teri Garr, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman and yes, Madeline Kahn all showed up for Brooks, so it's hardly a one-man show. If you're thinking that they don't make comedies with as much creative energy as this anymore, you're exactly right.

8. "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"(1974)
Ellen Burstyn took home the Best Actress Oscar that she probably should have won for playing Regan's mother in Martin Scorsese's slice-of-life dramady, that arguably did as much for his career as the more openly-praised "Mean Streets". "Alice" is an anomaly in the fabled director's filmography, but the Arizona adventures of this widowed waitress and her preteen son(Alfred Lutter) actually inspired a long-running sitcom of the same name. Will a roadside diner and Kris Kristofferson equal a well-deserved happy ending? And you thought Scorsese only did cool criminals.

9. "A Woman Under the Influence"(1974)
Gena Rowlands' horrific housewife is the last thing you want waiting for you after a hard day's work. That's actually a polite way to describe Peter Falk's home life in this emotionally-punishing probe into the dark days of mental illness. Actor-turned-writer/director John Cassavetes reached his artistic peak in the mid-'70s, as if we needed another reason to call this the most fruitful period for quiet character-driven drama. At 2 hours and 35 minutes, "Woman" isn't an easy watch, but it IS a worthwhile one.

10. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"(1974)
Is the '70s the greatest decade in horror history? Sandwiched in the middle of "The Exorcist" and "Halloween" we have Leatherface, the chainsaw-wielding cannibal careening through one of the genre's defining entries. Director Tobe Hooper is among the titans of terror with Craven and Carpenter, for making "Massacre" such a superior shocker, and he did it with only 83 minutes, $300,000 and the most unsettling dinner companions imaginable to work with. Let me know how scary all these new horror hits are in forty years.

Honorable Mentions- "McQ"(1974) John Wayne was still in the game. "The Great Gatsby"(1974) Robert Redford in the Roaring Twenties. "The Lords of Flatbush"(1974) Sylvester Stallone teaches Henry Winkler how to play The Fonz. "The Sugarland Express"(1974) Goldie Hawn headlines Steven Spielberg's first theatrical release. "Foxy Brown"(1974) Pam Grier was a '70s goddess. "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot"(1974) Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges break the law. "The Parallax View"(1974) Warren Beatty in an Alan J. Pakula political thriller. "Mr. Majestyk"(1974) Charles Bronson's melon farmer vs. the mob. "The Longest Yard"(1974) Burt Reynolds is at his rugged best as a convict quarterback. "Harry and Tonto"(1974) Art Carney goes cross-country with his cat. "California Split"(1974) Elliott Gould and George Segal are gambling addicts in Robert Altman's L.A. "Airport 1975"(1974) This second installment was one of the year's ten biggest hits. "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three"(1974) Walter Matthua must save NYC subway hostages. "The Gambler"(1974) James Caan can't quit. "Murder on the Orient Express"(1974) Sidney Lumet was behind this train-bound murder mystery. "Earthquake"(1974) The second half is entertaining. "The Front Page"(1974) Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthua as 1920s newsmen. "Black Christmas"(1974) Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder star in this cult slasher. "The Towering Inferno"(1974) Steve McQueen and Paul Newman share top billing in a burning building. "The Man with the Golden Gun"(1974) Roger Moore vs. Christopher Lee in his second stint as the suave superspy. "Freebie and the Bean"(1974) James Caan and Alan Arkin are bickering buddy cops.

The Year in Review- 1976

   It was the year that Sylvester Stallone went the distance and Robert De Niro drove around a New York that no longer exists. Robert Redford met Deep Throat, Walter Matthua had a drinking problem, and Peter Finch livened up the nightly news. Sissy Spacek hated high school, Gregory Peck tried to kill his son, and Clint Eastwood was the last cowboy. Here are the ten best films in order for 1976.

1. "Rocky"(1976)
Sylvester Stallone's rise to cinematic royalty is the stuff of Hollywood legend. If you have ANY aptitude for movie minutiae, you know about this struggling unknown's fight to protect his semi-autobiographical script that no studio suit wanted to see him star in. They slowly realized that Sly IS Rocky Balboa, the most endearing(AND enduring) protagonist this business has ever produced. There isn't a moment in this movie that isn't iconic, from Bill Conti's rousing score to the stellar supporting players(Talia Shire, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young, Carl Weathers). Director John G. Avildsen maximized the potential of his $1 million budget and gritty Philadelphia locales to craft a cultural phenomenon with a LONG-lasting impact. This is one of the most elating movies in existence.

2. "Taxi Driver"(1976)
Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese cemented their scintillating cinematic union in this disturbingly realistic urban drama about a quietly-unhinged NYC cabbie. "Driver" defines the early careers of both men, and Travis Bickle's tortured descent has lost none of it's relevance and potency in the four decades since God's lonely man washed the scum off the streets. Paul Schrader's pulsating screenplay sent all involved on the path to greatness, with Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel and Cybill Shepherd sharing in the critical celebration. Bernard Herrmann's hypnotic score would be his last.

3. "All the President's Men"(1976)
Meet Woodrow and Bernstein. The revered Washington Post pair that ended the Nixon era were immortalized by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in Alan J. Pakula's incisive fact-based drama. William Goldman's Oscar-winning screenplay sensationally depicts the first seven months of the Watergate scandal, as a quiet break-in of the Democratic headquarters snowballed into a political firestorm, without the hysterical aid of CNN or Fox News. "Men" is a classy shrine to truth-seeking journalism(a novel concept these days, I know), and one of the decade's finest films. Jason Robards justifiably won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar as renowned editor Ben Bradlee.

4. "The Bad News Bears"(1976)
Forget the sequels and Billy Bob Thornton's '05 remake. Walter Matthua, Tatum O'Neal, and director Michael Ritchie are all you need to concern yourself with as far as misfit, rambunctious Little Leaguers are concerned. The "worst team in the league" lit up one of the best comedies of the '70s, and that's just one of the facts of life. "Bears" endures as a snapshot of a bygone era in adolescence, and not just because of it's casual political incorrectness(nearly every scene takes place outdoors). The kids may not want to play ball anymore, but they should get out more often.

5. "Network"(1976)
Peter Finch is mad as hell in Sidney Lumet's savage satire that impolitely prophesized the ranting-and-raving that would pass for the nightly news in the 21st Century. The result was a posthumous Best Actor Oscar(the dynamic Finch died in Jan '77). "Network" ties "A Streetcar Named Desire" for the record of most acting Oscars, with Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight among it's other big winners(when Robert Duvall and Ned Beatty are afterthoughts, you've assembled one awesome cast). Paddy Chayefsky's original screenplay is still the envy of anyone that's ever written one.

6. "Carrie"(1976)
'Movie Brat' Brian De Palma made his presence felt in this chilling high school horror show, the first film EVER based on the celebrated writings of Stephen King. Sissy Spacek was perfect as the put-upon, telekinetic teen that wreaks havoc on prom night, while Piper Laurie is positively frightening as her fanatical mother. I would rather hang out with creepy Carrie White than the occupants of most modern scary movies. Fun fact- "Carrie" was a 22 year John Travolta's first notable film role.

7. "Bound for Glory"(1976)
David Carradine drifts through the Great Depression as influential folk singer Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby's soothing fact-based drama. Unable to support his family in rural Texas, the restless guitarist trekked to the greener pastures of California, developing a deep attachment to his downtrodden Dust Bowl compatriots. Haskell Wexler's heavenly cinematography helps make the 2 hour and 27 minute trip well worth taking. "Glory" is one of the best movies you've never seen or heard of.

8. "The Omen"(1976)
Richard Donner was a seasoned TV director, laying the groundwork for a sensational big screen run("Superman", the "Lethal Weapon" series) when he adopted the terrifying tyke pictured above. Gregory Peck, in one of his last starring roles, plays the U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. and the unknowing parent of the devilish Damien(Harvey Stephens). A birthday party hanging and a glass-pane decapitation are among the horrific highlights of the summer's biggest hit. Admit it, you've checked your little one's scalp for the '666'. Two sequels and a 2006 remake followed.

9. "The Outlaw Josey Wales"(1976)
Clint Eastwood was the #1 film star of the 1970s. Don't bother disputing that, I've done my homework. Clint's consistency was spread out evenly from Nixon to Carter, and included this handsomely-mounted reminder of how he got here in the first place. The Western was definitely dying, but not before the greatest actor-director to ever live delivered a few more dynamite entries to the genre. The Civil War-set "Wales" forced onlookers to acknowledge his growing confidence and skill behind the camera, and boasts more beautiful work from frequent Eastwood photographer Bruce Surtees.

10. "Marathon Man"(1976)
"Is it safe?" Laurence Olivier's ominous Nazi doctor is the macabre draw in "Midnight Cowboy" director John Schlesinger's memorable Manhattan-set thriller. That's no small feat, with a hangdog Dustin Hoffman going Method in the middle of his leading man peak, as an exasperated everyman dragged into a diamond search by his shady secret agent brother(Roy Scheider). These events don't exactly unfold in the most digestible manner, but that dentist drill will have you rethinking your next appointment.

Honorable Mentions- "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox"(1976) Goldie Hawn and George Segal star in this Western comedy. "Robin and Marian"(1976) Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn. "To Fly!"(1976) This flight doc was a phenomenon. "The Tenant"(1976) is unnervingly played by Roman Polanski. "Silent Movie"(1976) is the fifth Mel Brooks movie. "Midway"(1976) Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda in an old-fashioned WWII drama. "The Shootist"(1976) John Wayne's farewell. "Gator"(1976) Burt Reynolds directs and stars in this sequel to "White Lighning". "Assault on Precinct 13"(1976) John Carpenter enters the conversation. "Cybil"(1976) Sally Field is a star. "Freaky Friday"(1976) The Jodie Foster version. "A Star Is Born"(1976) The Barbra Streisand version. "King Kong"(1976) The Jeff Bridges-Jessica Lange version. "The Enforcer"(1976) Clint Eastwood's third case as 'Dirty' Harry Callahan. "Silver Streak"(1976) Gene Wilder meets Richard Pryor. "Mikey and Nicky"(1976) Peter Falk and John Cassavetes are angsty crooks in this Elaine May crime drama. "The Cassandra Crossing"(1976) Train terror with Burt Lancaster, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, and Sophia Loren.

The Year in Review- 1978

   It was the year the Vietnam era was revisited in a pair of potent Oscar-winning dramas. Christopher Reeve took flight, Michael Myers terrorized the night, and everything John Travolta did was right. James Belushi went to college, Neil Simon gave us a California collage, and Ryan O'Neal was too cool for school. Here are the ten best films in order for 1978.

1. "The Deer Hunter"(1978)
In an alternate reality, Michael Cimino is one of the great directors. Instead, he made "Heaven's Gate", but we're hear to talk about '78, and the immaculate drama he also cowrote, that introduced the world to the talents of Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken. Vietnam and it's anguished aftermath are devastatingly depicted by a perfect cast, led by a bearded Robert De Niro(getting more godly with each passing year). The harrowing Russian roulette scene pictured above, has my vote for the single best sequence of the 1970s. Five Academy Awards including Best Picture/Director went to this Western Pennsylvania-set powerhouse.

2. "Coming Home"(1978)
Jane Fonda and Jon Voight were a match made in movie heaven in Hal Ashby's moving romantic drama. Conservatives have long vilified Fonda for her 'un-American' activities and embrace of the counterculture, completely ignoring the care and thought she brought to this passion project. It's extremely rare for the Best Actor AND Best Actress Oscar to be awarded to the same film, but's that's exactly what happened when Jane's VA hospital nurse met Jon's paraplegic former soldier. Will she end her unhappy marriage to Bruce Dern's stern military man, as their unlikely love affair blossoms in 1968 California? Do yourself a favor and find out.

3. "Superman"(1978)
Christopher Reeve's strapping Man of Steel remains one of the most pristine presentations of a superhero ever committed to celluloid(even Marvel boss Kevin Feige would agree). It's hard to believe there was ever a time when Hollywood had doubts about the financial viability of comic books characters. That was the unfriendly climate faced by the father-son producing team of Ilya and Alexander Salkind. Director Richard Donner broke the ice with a record budget, two titanic Best Actor winners(Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman), an ambitious Mario Puzo/Tom Mankiewicz script,  and a wondrous John Williams score. This is fantasy filmmaking of the highest order.

4. "Halloween"(1978)
John Carpenter made history in the most iconic slasher of them all. That wasn't always a dirty word, because Michael Myers' first massacre outclasses the "Friday the 13th" franchise and all the putrid pretenders that came in his wake. Jamie Lee Curtis owes her career to Haddonfield heroine Laurie Strode, and Donald Pleasence oozes impending doom with every line he utters as the weary Dr. Loomis. Carpenter's eternally eerie score was also essential in turning this $300,000 indie into a $47 million institution. Myers and his white Captain Kirk mask would creep around on October 31st, ten more times. I have no doubt that he's good for ten more.

5. "Grease"(1978)
Remember when John Travolta was a svelte young stud? That's okay, because film is forever, and you didn't have to be around in the summer of '78 to rock out with Rydell High's Class of '59. Just when it seemed like the musical was dead, Australian hottie Olivia Newton-John helped turn this Broadway mainstay into a cinematic juggernaut. "Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "Greased Lightnin'", "Sandy", You're the One That I Want".You'd be hard-pressed to find a musical with more memorable tunes. "Grease" was the year's #1 box office hit, and the second-biggest soundtrack ever heard at the time. The first was "Saturday Night Fever".

6. "Midnight Cowboy"(1978)
Don't smuggle drugs out of Turkey. That's the moral of Alan Parker's taut true story about a luckless Long Islander that tried to do just that. Billy Hayes(Brad Davis) was an American college student that spent five years in hell when foreign governments decided to crack down on drug infractions(however minor). Oliver Stone's stark screenplay was his first step toward industry omnipresence("Scarface", "Platoon", "Wall Street"). I'm staying right here in the States.

7. "An Unmarried Woman"(1978)
The late Jill Clayburgh made one relatable leading lady in this refreshing dramady that should strike a chord with at least half of the adult female population(sadly, she died in 2010 without ever landing another role this good). The dating game isn't easy, especially for a middle-aged mom in NYC with a horndog husband(Michael Murphy) that just eroded your faith in humanity. Writer-director Paul Mazursky("Harry and Tonto") explored some universal themes that don't get put up on screens nearly enough. Now turn off those Netflix shows and make a date with this "Woman".

8. "The Driver"(1978)
Let's discuss Ryan O'Neal. This brooding hunk's popularity may have ended with Jimmy Carter's presidency, but he made a few movies that you should know about. Walter Hill's lean, mean machine is definitely one of them, as O'Neal's enigmatic getaway car driver has Bruce Dern's dogged L.A. detective in his rearview. Hill strips away nearly everything that doesn't need to be here, and could teach many of today's filmmakers a lesson in economy. The 'less is more' mantra has rarely been as effectively executed. When people talk about the '70s being really f'n cool, this is what they're talking about.

9. "Straight Time"(1978)
Dustin Hoffman is dynamite as a downtrodden ex-con in Ulu Grosbard's gripping and grossly-under-appreciated crime drama. Only it doesn't start out that way, because Max Dembo is only trying to go straight after six years on the inside. U.S. prisons get a lot of repeat business, as this sobering story shows us in often-unnerving detail. Hoffman's quiet intensity is matched by a supporting cast that includes M. Emmet Walsh, Theresa Russell, Harry Dean Stanton and Gary Busey. It's about time you saw this one.

10(tie). "National Lampoon's Animal House"(1978)
James Belushi easily outshines his ensemble castmates(Tim Matheson, Tom Hulce, Peter Riegert) in this rambunctious '60s-set college comedy that made the SNL sensation the biggest comedy star on Earth, until his untimely death in 1982. John Landis' scattered direction and barely-there plot didn't matter much to paying customers(and there were LOTS of them) because this freewheeling flick's anarchic spirit spoke to just about every person that ever spent four years(or seven) in pursuit of a higher education. "Animal House" was the seventh highest-grossing film of the '70s, and it's DNA can still be found in the genre to this very day.

10(tie). "California Suite"(1978)
Now onto a different kind of comedy. Neil Simon, this era's defining comedic voice, kept his winning streak going for this formidable ensemble. Jane Fonda's fetching divorcee bickers with ex Alan Alda, Best Supporting Actress winner Maggie Smith questions her "marriage" to Michael Caine, and Richard Pryor banters with Bill Cosby. As if that wasn't enough, Walter Matthau needed a room on the West Coast, too. You're guaranteed a good time with one, if not all, of these stories. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Directed by Simon regular, Herbert Ross.

Honorable Mentions- "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"(1978) 'BeatleMania' in Bob Zemeckis' directorial debut. "Pretty Baby"(1978) Brooke Shields in a 1917 New Orleans brothel. "The Last Waltz"(1978) Martin Scorsese directs this music doc. "The Buddy Holly Story"(1978) Gary Busey is a Best Actor nominee. "F.I.S.T."(1978) Sylvester Stallone heads the 'Federal Inter-State of Truckers'. "Jaws 2"(1978) Another shark attack, sans Spielberg. "The End"(1978) Burt Reynolds loved the late '70s. "Hooper"(1978) A lot. "Damien: The Omen II"(1978) The devil's work is never done. "Foul Play"(1978) Chevy Chase was funny and Goldie Hawn was adorable. "Heaven Can Wait"(1978) Warren Beatty bolsters his bank account. "Interiors"(1978) Woody Allen's first 'serious' movie. "Days of Heaven"(1978) What did Terrence Malick do for the next twenty years? "Goin' South"(1978) Jack Nicholson discovered the wonderful Mary Steenburgen for the Western comedy. "The Boys from Brazil"(1978) Gregory Peck zags as a Nazi scientist. "Comes a Horseman"(1978) This was Jane Fonda's year. "Magic"(1978) Anthony Hopkins has a deadly dummy. "I Spit On Your Grave"(1978) The most controversial film of the '70s? "The Lord of the Rings"(1978) Peter Jackson was influenced by Ralph Bakshi's animated Tolkien adaptation. "Oliver's Story"(1978) "Love Story" sequel sends Candice Bergen to Ryan O'Neal. "Force 10 from Navarone"(1978) Robert Shaw and Harrison Ford in a WWII adventure. "The Great Train Robbery"(1978) Sean Connery and Donald Sutherland steal gold in 1855. "Any Which Way but Loose"(1978) Clint Eastwood clowns around with an orangutan. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"(1978) Donald Sutherland vs. alien duplicants in Philip Kaufman's remake.