Top Movies Of 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 fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental institution instead of prison. There he meets a variety of characters, all struggling with their own issues of conformity and rebellion. McMurphy's rebellious spirit brings life and hope to the ward, and his confrontations with the oppressive Nurse Ratched catalyze the inmates' transformation. In the end, McMurphy is subjected to a lobotomy and the inmates are left without their leader. The film won 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 absurdist comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, and written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. It follows King Arthur (Chapman) and his knights of the Round Table as they embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Along the way, they encounter a number of silly and surreal obstacles, including a Black Knight, a three-headed giant, the Knights Who Say Ni, and a stubborn, angry rabbit. The film is a parody of the classic Arthurian legend and a satire of the Middle Ages, and features a number of classic Python slapstick gags.

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

Jaws is a 1975 American horror-thriller directed by Steven Spielberg. The film tells the story of a great white shark that stalks a small island community, endangering its residents and their summertime tourism industry. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) teams up with a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a shark hunter (Robert Shaw) to stop the massive creature. As their search continues, the trio soon discover that the shark is more cunning and dangerous than they had anticipated. In the end, they must risk their lives to destroy the terrifying beast and save the town. With its gripping suspense and thrilling action sequences, Jaws has become an iconic classic and one of the most successful 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 directed by Stanley Kubrick, adapted from the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon by William Makepeace Thackeray. The film follows the exploits of an Irish rogue named Redmond Barry (Ryan O'Neal) who, in the late 1700s, attempts to rise through society by the manipulation of the people around him. Along the way, Barry catches the eye of the wealthy Senator Chevening (Patrick Magee) and his wife, Lady Lyndon (Marisa Berenson). After a series of adventures and misadventures, Barry ultimately succeeds in marrying Lady Lyndon and is made a member of the British aristocracy. However, his newfound wealth and status eventually leads to his own undoing, as he squanders his new fortune and risks his marriage through his gambling and affairs. The film chronicles the journey of an ambitious, yet flawed and ultimately tragic figure.

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

Dog Day Afternoon is a 1975 crime drama directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino in an Oscar-nominated performance. The film is based on the true story of a bank robbery gone wrong in Brooklyn, New York. Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) and his friend Sal Naturale (John Cazale) plan to rob a bank in order to pay for Sonny's lover's gender confirmation surgery. Unfortunately, the heist is not well-planned and the duo finds themselves in an increasingly desperate situation as the police, media, and public surround the bank. As a result, Sonny and Sal become famous overnight, with their story captivating the nation and inspiring some to root for their success. As the robbery wears on, Sonny is forced to make choices that will change his life forever.

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

Nashville is a 1975 musical drama directed by Robert Altman. The film follows the lives of 24 characters living in Nashville, Tennessee, during the lead up to a political rally. Each character represents a different segment of society, from a British journalist to an aspiring country singer. The intertwining storylines ultimately converge at the rally, a chaotic event that highlights the talents and flaws of all the characters. Throughout the film, Altman's signature style of overlapping dialogue and improvisation is used to emphasize the interconnectedness between the characters and the issues that divide them. Nashville is a complex and thought-provoking film that is considered a classic of the New Hollywood era.

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 American documentary film by Albert and David Maysles. It covers the lives of two reclusive, formerly-wealthy socialites, Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale, who were known as "Big Edie" and "Little Edie". They were the aunt and first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and lived together in a decrepit mansion in East Hampton, New York. The film shows the Beales living in squalor and discussing their past lives of privilege and glory. The Beales' story is used as a metaphor for the decline of American aristocracy. The film was added to the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".

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

The Passenger (1975) is an existential drama directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. In it, Jack (Jack Nicholson) is a journalist who has grown increasingly disenchanted with his life and work. On a work assignment in North Africa, he makes the fateful decision to switch identities with a dead man. He hopes this switch will let him start anew, but he soon discovers he's taken on more than he bargained for. As he travels through Algeria, Spain, and London, Jack finds himself on a journey of self-discovery and danger. In the end, he must confront who he truly is and what he values most.

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