Top Movies 1975

From Milos Forman, starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Michael Berryman, Peter Brocco
Rated R

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Milos Forman, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The film stars Jack Nicholson as Randle McMurphy, a criminal who feigns insanity to serve a short sentence in a mental institution rather than a prison. He clashes with the head nurse, Mildred Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher, who is a cruel and domineering figure in the mental institution. McMurphy quickly makes friends with the other patients and encourages them to rebel against the oppressive authority figures. The film is considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, and earned five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Nicholson.

From Directors: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam
Rated PG

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 British comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, starring several members of the Monty Python comedy troupe. The film follows King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table as they embark on a quest for the Holy Grail. Along the way, they encounter a variety of strange characters and situations, some of which are played for laughs and others that are actually quite serious. The film also features a series of short animations created by Terry Gilliam that are used to bridge between scenes. Along with its often-quoted dialogue and characters, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is noted for its unique visual style, which includes the use of manipulated photography and a mix of live action and animation.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary
Rated PG

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name. The film stars Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as oceanographer Matt Hooper, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, and Murray Hamilton as Mayor Larry Vaughn. The film follows Brody and Hooper as they join forces with Quint to hunt a great white shark which is attacking beachgoers on Amity Island. Along the way, the three men battle personal demons, as well as the shark itself, which proves to be a formidable and dangerous adversary. The film is highly suspenseful, with intense action sequences and a memorable musical score by John Williams. The film was a huge box office success and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee, Hardy Krüger
Rated PG

Barry Lyndon is a 1975 period drama film written, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film follows the exploits of an Irish peasant, Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal), as he attempts to rise up in 18th-century English society. Barry begins by joining the army and then using his newfound connections to become a member of the aristocracy. Despite the many successes he has along the way, Barry's story ultimately ends with him in a prison of debt. The film is noted for its use of natural lighting, as well as its slow, methodical pacing, which create a feeling of realism. The film also featured a memorable soundtrack by composer Leonard Rosenman. Barry Lyndon was a critical and commercial success when it was released, and is now considered a classic of the period drama genre.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Al Pacino, John Cazale, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar
Rated R

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 American crime drama directed by Sidney Lumet, based on a true story. It stars Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik, a man who robs a Brooklyn bank to help pay for his lover's sex reassignment surgery. Sonny's attempt to rob the bank goes awry and he ends up in a hostage situation with the police. As the situation escalates, a crowd of onlookers gathers outside the bank, and Sonny's story is made public. Through a series of negotiations with the police, Sonny attempts to escape with his life, becoming an unlikely folk hero in the process. The film was critically acclaimed upon its release, earning Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest American films of all time.

From Robert Altman, starring Keith Carradine, Karen Black, Ronee Blakley, Shelley Duvall
Rated R

Nashville is a 1975 American satirical musical comedy-drama film directed by Robert Altman. It follows the lives of 24 characters in the music industry in Nashville, Tennessee, over the course of five days leading up to a political rally for a country music candidate. The movie follows the intertwined lives of a host of characters, including: a fading country music star; a recently widowed middle-aged housewife; a politician; a young singer with a talent for songwriting; and a journalist who is looking for a story. Each character is connected to the others in some way, and the film is an examination of the power dynamics and personal relationships within the music industry in Nashville, as well as a commentary on celebrity and America’s obsession with fame. Nashville was a critical success, and won numerous awards including an Academy Award for Best Original Song. It received numerous accolades, including a few Academy Award nominations. The film is recognized as a landmark of American cinema, and is considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Directors: Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Muffie Meyer, starring Edith Bouvier Beale, Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale, Brooks Hyers
Rated PG

Grey Gardens is a 1975 documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles, Ellen Hovde, and Muffie Meyer. The film follows the lives of Edith Bouvier Beale (“Big Edie”) and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale (“Little Edie”), two reclusive relatives of Jackie Kennedy, who lived in a dilapidated mansion located in East Hampton, New York. Big Edie and Little Edie are shown living in a run down house, surrounded by cats and other animals. The film explores their complicated mother-daughter relationship and their struggle to survive in the face of personal and financial struggles. Through the film, the Beales come to terms with their past and the realities of their situation. The film offers a unique insight into their lives, as well as a broader look at the changing dynamics of the American social class system.

From Michelangelo Antonioni, starring Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Jenny Runacre, Ian Hendry
Rated PG-13

The Passenger (1975) by director Michelangelo Antonioni tells the story of an English journalist played by Jack Nicholson who is on assignment in North Africa. While there he discovers the dead body of a stranger in his hotel room, and decides to switch identities with the dead man. He embarks on a complex adventure of self-discovery and identity as he attempts to learn more about the mysterious dead man and his own identity in the process. Along the way he meets a variety of mysterious characters, and experiences a range of surreal and often uncomfortable situations. The Passenger is an exploration of identity, death, and the human condition, and is considered one of the classics of European cinema.

From Jim Sharman, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien
Rated R

From Sydney Pollack, starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, Max von Sydow
Rated R

From Walter Hill, starring Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Jill Ireland, Strother Martin
Rated PG

From Arthur Penn, starring Gene Hackman, Jennifer Warren, Edward Binns, Harris Yulin
Rated R

From Dick Richards, starring Robert Mitchum, Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles
Rated R

From Blake Edwards, starring Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom
Rated G

From Bryan Forbes, starring Katharine Ross, Paula Prentiss, Peter Masterson, Nanette Newman
Rated PG

From John Frankenheimer, starring Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Philippe Léotard
Rated R

From Norman Jewison, starring James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck
Rated Approved

From Ken Russell, starring Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John
Rated PG

From Jack Starrett, starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, Lara Parker
Rated PG

From L.Q. Jones, starring Don Johnson, Jason Robards, Susanne Benton, Tim McIntire
Rated R

From Hal Ashby, starring Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, Lee Grant
Rated R

From John Hough, starring Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasence, Kim Richards
Rated G

From Paul Bartel, starring David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Simone Griffeth, Mary Woronov
Rated R

From Russ Meyer, starring Charles Pitt, Shari Eubank, Charles Napier, Uschi Digard
Rated Unrated

From Jeannot Szwarc, starring Bradford Dillman, Joanna Miles, Richard Gilliland, Jamie Smith-Jackson
Rated PG