Good Movies 1974

The Godfather Part 2 with Robert DeNiro

The Godfather Part 2 - Director Francis Ford Coppola wins the Oscar for Best Picture again for his second Godfather film from writer Mario Puzo. The movie is both a sequel and a prequel with Robert DeNiro who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing Vito Corleone as a young man. Also starring Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Michael V. Gazzo and Lee Strasberg.

The Godfather Part 2 Review at Allwatchers

Chinatown Trailer

Chinatown - The last and perhaps best film Directed by Roman Polanski before he was arrested and left the country on statutory rape charges. It is Polanski's colorized nod to the film noir genre of the 30's and 40's. Private Eye Jake Gittes gets caught up in the Water Rights corruption of Southern California. The movie is famous for the bad guy slitting Jack Nicholson's nose. The bad guy is played by Roman Polanski. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston Chinatown Review

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Single Mom and teenage son stop in New Mexico on their way to California to follow Alice's dream of becoming a singer. Directed by Martin Scorsese the film is a classic offering an often humorous portrayal of an American woman falling in love while a waitress in a dinner. Ellen Burstyn won the Oscar for Best Actress while the movie spun off a 10 year run on TV called Alice. You remember Flo and Mel's Dinner? Also starring Alfred Lutter, Kris Kristofferson, Diane Ladd, Harvey Keitel, Vic Tayback and new comer Jodie Foster. New York Times Review of Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

New Movies 1974

Benji - Written and directed by Joe Camp. The story is of a beloved local stray who manages to save a couple of kidnapped children. The star was played by Higgins, a cross between a miniature poodle, a miniature schnauzer, and a cocker spaniel. Higgins was trained by Frank Inn who found him in an animal shelter. This is the first in a series of 5 films and again as many television specials. The Benji Website

Death Wish - Directed by Michael Winner this film was the first in the franchise that created 4 more sequels over the next 25 years. All starring actor Charles Bronson who gained his fame from the series. It is the story of Everyman taking vengeance upon those who killed his family. Glorifying big guns and bloody vigilantism it became an American box office success. Also starring Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia and movie debut of Jeff Goldblum. More on Charles Bronson

All Creatures Great and Small
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Caged Heat
California Split
Carry On Dick
Claudine
The Clockmaker
Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry
The Front Page
Great Expectations
The Great Gatsby
Harry and Tonto
Herbie Rides Again
The Klansman
Lenny
The Lords of Flatbush
Mame
The Man with the Golden Gun
Murder on the Orient Express
Son of Dracula
The Street Fighter
The Sugarland Express
Superdad
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
That's Entertainment!
The Three Musketeers
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
The Trial of Billy Jack

Academy Awards 1974

Picture: "THE GODFATHER, PART II", "Chinatown", "The Conversation", "Lenny", "The Towering Inferno"

Actor: ART CARNEY in "Harry and Tonto", Albert Finney in "Murder on the Orient Express", Dustin Hoffman in "Lenny", Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown", Al Pacino in "The Godfather, Part II"

Actress: ELLEN BURSTYN in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", Diahann Carroll in "Claudine", Faye Dunaway in "Chinatown", Valerie Perrine in "Lenny", Gena Rowlands in "A Woman Under the Influence"

Supporting Actor: ROBERT DE NIRO in "The Godfather, Part II", Fred Astaire in "The Towering Inferno", Jeff Bridges in "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot", Michael V. Gazzo in "The Godfather, Part II", Lee Strasberg in "The Godfather, Part II"

Supporting Actress: INGRID BERGMAN in "Murder on the Orient Express", Valentina Cortese in "Day for Night", Madeline Kahn in "Blazing Saddles", Diane Ladd in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore", Talia Shire in "The Godfather, Part II"

Director: FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA for "The Godfather, Part II", John Cassavetes for "A Woman Under the Influence", Bob Fosse for "Lenny", Roman Polanski for "Chinatown", Francois Truffaut for "Day for Night"

Top Box Office 1974

1. The Towering Inferno
2. Blazing Saddles
3. Young Frankenstein
4. Earthquake
5. The Trial of Billy Jack
6. The Godfather Part II
7. Airport 1975
8. The Longest Yard
9. The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
10. Murder on the Orient Express

Entertainment News 1974

Actor Robert Redford was at his peak, between 1973 and 1975 starring in five major movies: The Way We Were, The Sting, The Great Gatsby, The Great Waldo Pepper and Three Days of the Condor. Three of those films were in the Top Ten at the North American box office at the same time. Redford was the first to manage that since Bing Crosby in 1946. Robert Redford at Wiki

After two years of dating, top Hollywood actress Faye Dunaway married Peter Wolf the lead singer of the then popular blues/rock group The J. Geils Band. Marriage of Faye Dunaway and Peter Wolf.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - This low budget horror film was Written, produced and directed by Tobe Hooper and starred Gunnar Hansen as the retarded and insane killer based loosely on the 1950's Wisconsin cannibal killer Ed Gein. It was made for $140k and grossed $30 million. Though suffering censorship issues, it became a classic responsible John Carpenters' Halloween, the Freddie franchise with even Ridley Scott giving it credit for bringing his Aliens to the screen. More on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Trailer

Mel Brooks Movies 1974

We are not above the fart scene in Blazing Saddles

Blazing Saddles - A big year for Director Mel Brooks with two box office hits; Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein in one year. Blazing Saddles was written by Andrew Bergman, Mel Brooks, and Richard Pryor and considered one of the great comedies of all time. A film parodying the Western making fun of racists and racism. Starring Mel Brooks, Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise and a memorable performance by NFL Football great Alex Karas as Mongo. Blazing Saddles review at Filmsite

Young Frankenstein trailer

Young Frankenstein - Directed by Mel Brooks this comedy parody of the 1931 original was filmed successfully in Black and White. One of the best comedy films of all time and said to be Mel Brooks finest. Great performances by Gene Wilder as Mad Doctor Frankenstein, Peter Boyle as his Monster, Marty Feldman as Igor, and our favorite Cloris Leachman as the horrific Frau Blücher. Also starring Teri Garr, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars
and Gene Hackman. Young Frankenstein review at Filmsite

B Movies 1974

Andy Warhol's Frankenstein

Flesh for Frankenstein or Andy Warhol's Frankenstein - Directed by Paul Morrissey this is one humdinger of a movie. Andy Warhol added his name to it for money. It is an Italian comedy of horror, offensive, bloody, disgusting, gross, X rated and shown in 3D. It is the story of the creation of a male and female for the purpose of pro generation to create a new race controlled by the mad doctor Frankenstein to subjugate the world to his wishes. Starring Joe Dallesandro, Udo Kier and Monique van VoorenIts. Its sister film, Blood for Dracula was filmed at the same time with the same sets and cast and was better received and reviewed. More on this strange movie Eccentric Cinema.

Zardoz

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla