Best Films Of 1973
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- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsRobert De NiroHarvey KeitelDavid ProvalIn New York City's Little Italy, a devoutly Catholic mobster must reconcile his desire for power, his feelings for his epileptic girlfriend, and his devotion to his troublesome friend.In my view, Scorsese's first great film. 9/10
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.The original cut is still the one to watch. The newer released version with previously unused scenes only shows us why the editor cut those scenes in the first place. Leave the classics alone. 8.5/10
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsAl PacinoJohn RandolphJack KehoeAn honest New York cop named Frank Serpico blows the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.8.5/10
- DirectorJohn D. HancockStarsMichael MoriartyRobert De NiroVincent GardeniaThe story of the friendship between the New York Mammoths major-league baseball team's worldly-wise pitcher Henry "Author" Wiggen and half-wit catcher Bruce Pearson as they cope with Bruce's terminal illness during a baseball season.A very human story. Not so much a baseball film really. In my view an underappreciated De Niro classic.
"From now on, I rag nobody." 8/10 - DirectorAlejandro JodorowskyStarsAlejandro JodorowskyHoracio SalinasZamira SaundersIn a corrupt, greed-fueled world, a powerful alchemist leads a messianic character and seven materialistic figures to the Holy Mountain, where they hope to achieve enlightenment.Jodorowsky has not made a lot of films over his very long filmmaking career. Nonetheless, when you watch a Jodorowsky, you pretty much know it's him. You can always count on his films to say something, and to defy the standard. The world can always use more bold and daring artists like this. 8/10
- DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsGene HackmanAl PacinoDorothy TristanAn ex-con drifter with a penchant for brawling is amused by a homeless ex-sailor, so they partner up as they head east together.Hackman says that this is his favorite film and performance of his career. Pacino has also rarely been better than in this one. 8/10
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsMartin SheenSissy SpacekWarren OatesAn impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town, and her older greaser boyfriend, embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota Badlands.8/10
- DirectorRainer Werner FassbinderStarsEva MattesRuth DrexelHarry BaerJailbait (Wildwechsel, 1973), also known as Wild Game Crossing, is a bleak story of teenage angst, set in industrial northern Germany during the 1950s. Like in many other of his films, Fassbinder analyses lower middle class life with characters who, unable to articulate their feelings, bury them in inane phrases and violent acts.[51] Love turns into a power struggle of deception and betrayal. The story centers on Hanni, a precocious fourteen-year-old schoolgirl who starts a relationship with Franz, a nineteen-year-old worker in a chicken processing plant. Their romance faces the opposition of the girl's conservative parents. Franz is sentenced to nine months in prison for having sex with a minor. When he is released on probation, they continue their relationship and Hanni becomes pregnant. Afraid of her father's anger, she persuades Franz to kill him. Back in prison, Franz is told by Hanni that their child died at birth and that their love was "only physical"8/10
- DirectorGuerdon TruebloodStarsTiffany BollingBen PiazzaSusan SennettA nonverbal autistic boy stumbles upon a teenage heiress who has been kidnapped by a trio of young psychopaths, who are intent on extorting diamonds from her stepfather.This flat out must be one of the best virtually unknown and unseen films of the entire 70's. I recommend this to any film lover who can handle this type of twisted fare. The film is unique in multiple ways and the story is actually quite competent; That in itself is rare for films of this sort. I don't want to say too much about this film and give any of the great surprises away. Do yourself a favor and check this out. 7.5/10
- DirectorRobert ClouseStarsBruce LeeJohn SaxonJim KellyA Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord - who is also a former monk from his temple - under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.7.5/10
- DirectorHall BartlettStarsJames FranciscusJuliet MillsPhilip AhnA skilled flyer but very rebellious young seagull is kicked out of his clan. However, instead of being sad or lonely, he decides to enjoy and explore his newfound freedom.Most people don't get this film, but that's their problem. I'm quite fond of it.
- DirectorMichael CrichtonStarsYul BrynnerRichard BenjaminJames BrolinA robot malfunction creates havoc and terror for unsuspecting vacationers at a futuristic, adult-themed amusement park.The first half of this film is highly imaginative and very entertaining. The second half becomes a little more typical of Hollywood action films, but it's still a very impressive film in many ways. 7.5/10
- DirectorHal AshbyStarsJack NicholsonRandy QuaidOtis YoungTwo Navy men are ordered to bring a young offender to prison, but decide to show him one last good time along the way.7/10
- DirectorCarlos SauraStarsGeraldine ChaplinFernando Fernán GómezJosé María PradaA British governess comes to an isolated house to take care of the children of a convoluted family.A simple but effective allegory of Spanish dictatorship. 7/10
- DirectorJames William GuercioStarsRobert BlakeBilly Green BushMitchell RyanA motorcycle cop with a Harley-Davidson ties hippies to a murder in the Arizona desert.Almost a great film in my view, but a few things do make it fall slightly short of that I'd say. I like a lot of things about this film, but at the same time I feel it really missed the mark in a couple ways. Still, well worth a watch for any 1970's film fans. 7/10
- DirectorChester FoxAlex StevensStarsGeorge SpencerSandra PeabodyJohn MoserA serial killer targets and murders sex workers in New York City's red-light district. Detectives Rizotti and O'Mara investigate to uncover the killer's identity and prevent further victims.This fairly unknown exploitation film is actually quite amusing, at least to me it was.
- DirectorGeorge Roy HillStarsPaul NewmanRobert RedfordRobert ShawTwo grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con.This is a great film in many ways, but it's also one of the most overrated films on this entire site in my view. The ending is what kills the film for me. The so called big con is so far from flawless and ruins what is otherwise mostly a great film. 7/10
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsElliott GouldNina van PallandtSterling HaydenPrivate eye Philip Marlowe helps friend Terry Lennox out of a jam and is implicated in his wife Sylvia's murder. He also is hired by Eileen Wade to locate her dipsomaniac husband Roger, who frequently disappears when he wants to dry out.Some claim this is the best Raymond Chandler based film. For me it's not even nearly close the best.
- DirectorBo Arne VibeniusStarsChristina LindbergHeinz HopfDespina TomazaniA young woman, rendered mute after a childhood sexual assault, is trained to seek violent revenge on those who kidnapped and forced her into prostitution.This exploitation film is without a doubt one of the most talked about independent cult classics of all time. It has its share of very good moments and its moments of brutally bad film-making as well. Nonetheless, it is one of the more profound 70's cult classics because of its mix of raw sex and violence. It's definitely a must see for all cult and exploitation film lovers. Like most people and like myself, you will probably love some things about it and hate some things about it. 7/10
- DirectorHenning SchellerupStarsRoger E. MosleyWilliam SmithMichael PatakiA Black hit man poses as a Baptist preacher in a ghetto church. He decides to take over the local rackets.One of the better blaxploitation films I've seen. Original Magnum P.I. fans will know the main character played by Roger E. Mosley as TC. Here, he's also quite lovable. 7/10
- DirectorRobin HardyStarsEdward WoodwardChristopher LeeDiane CilentoA puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.This film I found a little frustrating because I can see why many do love it, however it also has some down right brutally executed scenes. I find it hard to believe this film is rated quite so high on here, but I will fully admit that it does have some very good aspects to it as well. 6.5/10
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodVerna BloomMarianna HillA gun-fighting stranger comes to the small settlement of Lago and is hired to bring the townsfolk together in an attempt to hold off three outlaws who are on their way.The man with no name returns but the film overall leaves much to be desired. It's decent, but nothing to brag about. 6/10
- DirectorArthur MarksStarsTiffany BollingSteve SandorRobin MattsonRebellious sisters and a crooked PI try to escape from the girls' mobster uncle with stolen loot and meet dangerous characters while dodging a pair of enforcers.5.5/10
- DirectorTed PostStarsClint EastwoodHal HolbrookMitchell RyanInspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan pursues a conspiracy of vigilante cops, who are not above going beyond the law to kill San Francisco's undesirables.I'm not a big Dirty Harry fan to be honest. I love Clint and the way he plays the character, awesome! However I don't enjoy the very mediocre scripts and frequently overdone aspects of the films that fills most of the series. This is one of the worst of the series in truth, but still ranks as one of the best films I've seen from 1973, all because of Clint really. I could however see this film being loved by young boys. 5/10
