Top Movies 1971

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Michael Bates, Warren Clarke
Rated R

A Clockwork Orange tells the story of Alex, a young man living in a dystopian future, where he and his gang of “droogs” spend their nights engaging in acts of violence and debauchery. After Alex is arrested and convicted of murder, he is given the choice of two years in prison, or to participate in an experimental treatment known as the Ludovico technique, a form of classical conditioning. The treatment renders him incapable of violence, but at the same time reduces his capacity for free will. As he struggles to reconcile his newfound morality and capacity for love with his inability to make his own decisions, Alex finds himself in the middle of a power struggle between the government and its citizens. In the end, he must choose whether to stick with his newfound morality, or to return to his violent ways.

From Peter Bogdanovich, starring Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson
Rated R

The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American drama film directed and co-written by Peter Bogdanovich, based on the semi-autobiographical 1966 novel The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry. Set in a small town in north Texas, it follows the coming of age of Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) and his friend Duane Jackson (Jeff Bridges). Over the course of a year, they interact with their respective love interests (Cybill Shepherd and Cloris Leachman) in addition to other inhabitants of their town. The film explores themes of emotional isolation, economic hardship, and the effects of cultural change in a small community. It has been widely praised by critics and remains one of the most acclaimed films of the 1970s.

From Norman Jewison, starring Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon
Rated G

Fiddler on the Roof is a 1971 American musical drama film directed by Norman Jewison. It is an adaptation of the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name, with music composed by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and screenplay by Joseph Stein. Set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905, it is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Dairyman) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives. He must cope both with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters—each one's choice of husband moves further away from the customs of his faith—and with the pogroms that threaten his and his fellow Jews' existence in Czarist Russia. The film stars Chaim Topol as Tevye, with Norma Crane as his wife Golde, and Molly Picon as Yente, the matchmaker. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Music (Scoring Original Song Score and Adaptation or Best Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment),

From Hal Ashby, starring Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
Rated PG

Harold and Maude is a 1971 dark comedy directed by Hal Ashby and starring Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon. The film follows Harold, a young, wealthy man in his early twenties, as he develops an unlikely relationship with Maude, an eccentric 79-year-old woman. As their friendship blossoms, Harold learns to appreciate life, take risks, and let go of the expectations of his mother and society. The film is a commentary on the generation gap between Harold and Maude, and their relationship serves as a reminder of the power of love and friendship, no matter the age difference.

From Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Gastone Moschin, Enzo Tarascio
Rated R

The Conformist is an Italian drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and released in 1970. It follows Marcello Clerici (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a man desperate to conform to the fascist ideals of his country in order to escape his traumatic past and fit in with society. After accepting a contract to assassinate a former professor, Marcello's life gradually unravels as he is forced to confront his own true identity. The film is a powerful exploration of the horrors of fascism and a powerful look into the psychological effects of conformity.

From Mel Stuart, starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear
Rated G

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart. It stars Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, the eccentric but kind-hearted chocolatier. The film follows young Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and his Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) as they join a small group of contest winners who get to tour the legendary Wonka chocolate factory and meet its mysterious owner. The tour turns into a wild, fantastical adventure as the group encounters a series of mischievous and creative obstacles, including the infamous chocolate-stealing Oompa Loompas, a river of chocolate, and the greedy Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole). Along the way, Charlie learns the true value of friendship, the importance of family, and the power of dreams. The film is filled with memorable characters, songs, and scenes, and its imaginative and charming story has earned it a place as a classic family film.

From William Friedkin, starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, Tony Lo Bianco
Rated R

The French Connection is a 1971 American action-thriller film directed by William Friedkin and produced by Philip D'Antoni. Starring Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, the film tells the story of an unorthodox detective team's attempt to intercept a huge heroin shipment from France to the United States. Throughout their investigation, the two detectives, Popeye Doyle (Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Scheider), find themselves in a battle of wits with an elusive French drug lord known as "Frog One". The film features several powerful chase scenes, most notably an iconic car chase through the streets of New York City, and culminates in a thrilling climax. The French Connection won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actor for Hackman's performance. It was also a major box office success and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Directors: Don Siegel, Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni
Rated R

Dirty Harry is a 1971 American action thriller film directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood as the title character, a San Francisco police inspector on the trail of a serial killer. Harry Callahan must stop a psychopathic killer known as "Scorpio" who has been terrorizing the city of San Francisco. Along the way, Harry must battle his own superiors, the police bureaucracy, and his own moral doubts in order to bring Scorpio to justice. The film is widely regarded as a classic of the action genre and Eastwood's star-making turn as Dirty Harry.

From Bruce Brown, starring Steve McQueen, Dave Aldana, Mark Brelsford, Bruce Brown
Rated G

On Any Sunday is a 1971 documentary film directed by Bruce Brown and produced by Steve McQueen. It provides an insight into the world of motorcycle racing, following racers as they compete across various disciplines. It features interviews with racers, their families, and supporters. It explores the camaraderie, risk, and passion that goes into the sport. It also looks at the advances in the sport, the dangers of racing, and the overall culture of motorcycle racing. The film was a critical and commercial success and is considered a classic in the genre.

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Jenny Agutter, David Gulpilil, Luc Roeg, John Meillon
Rated GP

Walkabout is a 1971 British-Australian survival drama directed by Nicolas Roeg. The film follows two city-dwelling siblings, Peter (Luc Roeg) and his teenage sister (Jenny Agutter) who are stranded in the Australian Outback after their father's suicide. They are soon joined by a young Aboriginal boy, who takes them on a journey of survival through the desert in search of civilization. Along the way, they learn the skills necessary to survive in the harsh environment, while developing a special bond with the Aboriginal boy and learning about his culture. The film also explores themes of alienation and the cultural divide between the urban and the rural, as well as the clash of civilizations.

From Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Rene Auberjonois, William Devane
Rated R

McCabe & Mrs. Miller is a 1971 American western film directed by Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. The film follows the story of John McCabe (Beatty), a gambler and entrepreneur, and Mrs. Miller (Christie), a prostitute, who team up to build a business empire in a frontier mining town. As their business success grows, they attract the attention of a dangerous mining corporation, leading to a violent showdown. The film is notable for its use of a soft-focus filter, improvisational dialogue, and an original song score. It is widely regarded as one of Altman's best films and was nominated for two Academy Awards.

From Sam Peckinpah, starring Dustin Hoffman, Susan George, Peter Vaughan, T.P. McKenna
Rated R

From Robert Wise, starring James Olson, Arthur Hill, David Wayne, Kate Reid
Rated G

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Charles Cioffi, Roy Scheider
Rated R

From Arthur Hiller, starring George C. Scott, Diana Rigg, Barnard Hughes, Richard Dysart
Rated PG-13

From Directors: Robert Stevenson, Ward Kimball, starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall, Sam Jaffe
Rated G

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills, John Larch
Rated R

From Woody Allen, starring Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalbán, Nati Abascal
Rated PG-13

From George Lucas, starring Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Don Pedro Colley, Maggie McOmie
Rated R

From Gordon Parks, starring Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John
Rated R

From Sidney Lumet, starring Sean Connery, Dyan Cannon, Martin Balsam, Ralph Meeker
Rated GP

From Boris Sagal, starring Charlton Heston, Anthony Zerbe, Rosalind Cash, Paul Koslo
Rated PG

From Tom Laughlin, starring Tom Laughlin, Delores Taylor, Clark Howat, Victor Izay
Rated GP

From Daniel Mann, starring Bruce Davison, Elsa Lanchester, Sondra Locke, Ernest Borgnine
Rated GP

From Melvin Van Peebles, starring Melvin Van Peebles, Hubert Scales, John Dullaghan, Simon Chuckster
Rated R