Top Movies 1974

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
Rated R

The Godfather Part II is a crime drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, and Lee Strasberg. The film is a sequel to the 1972 movie The Godfather and is the second installment in The Godfather trilogy. It is both a prequel and a sequel, following the life of the young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) as he rises to power in the crime family, and the story of the later life of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), as he struggles to keep his family together while dealing with the events of the first film. It is a powerful exploration of themes of family, loyalty, and power, and received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning six including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor.

From Roman Polanski, starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez
Rated R

Chinatown is a neo-noir mystery film directed by Roman Polanski and released in 1974. Jack Nicholson stars as a private detective, J. J. "Jake" Gittes, who is hired by Evelyn Mulwray to investigate her husband's infidelity. However, the case quickly spirals out of control as Gittes uncovers evidence of a sinister conspiracy involving the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and real estate development. Gittes must race to put the pieces together before it is too late. The film offers a gritty, dark look at the seedy underbelly of 1930s Los Angeles and its corrupt power brokers. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Mel Brooks, starring Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle
Rated PG

Young Frankenstein is a classic 1974 comedy directed by Mel Brooks. It stars Gene Wilder as the young Frankenstein (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), Peter Boyle as the monster, Marty Feldman as Igor, Teri Garr as Inga and Cloris Leachman as Frau Blücher. The film follows Dr. Frankenstein's attempt to create a human being out of the body parts of corpses. As the experiment progresses, he is unable to control the monster, resulting in a chaotic and hilarious series of events. The movie is full of slapstick humour and wacky antics, as well as references to classic horror films. It is a cult classic and is widely considered one of the best comedies ever made.

From Wim Wenders, starring Yella Rottländer, Rüdiger Vogler, Lisa Kreuzer, Edda Köchl
Rated Not Rated

Alice in the Cities is a 1974 German drama film written and directed by Wim Wenders. It follows a German journalist, Philip Winter, and a young American girl, Alice, as they travel across Germany and the Netherlands in search of Alice's grandmother. Along the way, Philip and Alice form a strong bond as he helps her navigate the unfamiliar terrain and gets to know her better. As their bond grows, Philip finds himself falling in love with Alice and is forced to confront the realities of his life and make decisions about his future. The film is a meditation on loneliness, identity and the human need for connection.

From Francis Ford Coppola, starring Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Frederic Forrest
Rated PG

The Conversation is a 1974 psychological thriller directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film follows surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) and his attempt to decipher an increasingly complex conversation that he is recording and surveilling. As Harry unravels the conversation, he discovers a mysterious plot that involves murder. He struggles with the ethical implications of his role in the unfolding events and with his own paranoia and loneliness. Ultimately, Harry is left to grapple with the consequences of his choices as he attempts to protect himself and the innocent people involved.

From Mel Brooks, starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman
Rated R

Blazing Saddles is a satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. The movie follows Bart (Cleavon Little), a black railroad worker, who is appointed by the corrupt state attorney general Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman) as the sheriff of a lawless town in order to drive the townspeople out. To do this, Lamarr sends the dim-witted and racist Taggart (Slim Pickens) and his gang of thugs to terrorize the town. Bart enlists the help of the Waco Kid (Gene Wilder), a drunken gunslinger, to help him fight back. With the help of the townspeople and a variety of wacky hijinks, they manage to defeat Lamarr and his minions and bring peace back to the town. The movie is a wild, irreverent spoof of Hollywood Westerns, featuring a variety of characters and outrageous dialogue.

From Bob Fosse, starring Dustin Hoffman, Valerie Perrine, Jan Miner, Stanley Beck
Rated R

Lenny is a biographical drama about the life of comedian Lenny Bruce, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Dustin Hoffman as Bruce. The film covers Bruce’s formative years and his rise to fame as a comedian, as well as his struggles with censorship, substance abuse, and his eventual persecution by the authorities. The film chronicles Bruce’s fights against censorship, as well as his personal relationships, including his marriage and his attempts to reconcile with his father. Along the way, the film examines Bruce’s impact on stand-up comedy and his struggles with fame and addiction. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

From Joseph Sargent, starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo
Rated R

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a 1974 American crime thriller directed by Joseph Sargent. The film follows New York City Subway dispatcher Walter Garber (Walter Matthau) who is held hostage by four armed men, led by the criminal mastermind known as "Mr. Blue" (Robert Shaw). The men hijack a subway train, the Pelham One Two Three, with fourteen passengers and demand one million dollars in exchange for their release. With the help of the New York City Police Department and a police negotiator, Garber attempts to outwit the hijackers and ultimately save the hostages before time runs out. The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for two Academy Awards.

From Sam Peckinpah, starring Warren Oates, Isela Vega, Robert Webber, Gig Young
Rated R

From Paul Mazursky, starring Art Carney, Ellen Burstyn, René Enríquez, Herbert Berghof
Rated R

From Tobe Hooper, starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain
Rated R

From Sidney Lumet, starring Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery
Rated PG

From Robert Altman, starring George Segal, Elliott Gould, Ann Prentiss, Gwen Welles
Rated R

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Warren Beatty, Paula Prentiss, William Daniels, Walter McGinn
Rated R

From Karel Reisz, starring James Caan, Paul Sorvino, Lauren Hutton, Morris Carnovsky
Rated R

From Robert Aldrich, starring Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad
Rated R

From John Guillermin, starring Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway
Rated PG

From Michael Winner, starring Charles Bronson, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, Steven Keats
Rated R

From Guy Hamilton, starring Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams
Rated PG

From Steven Spielberg, starring Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, William Atherton
Rated PG

From Jack Clayton, starring Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Bruce Dern, Karen Black
Rated PG

From Mark Robson, starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene
Rated PG

From Larry Cohen, starring John P. Ryan, Sharon Farrell, Andrew Duggan, Guy Stockwell
Rated PG