70s Thrillers

[Bryan]

Thrillers from the 1970s are about my favourite type of movies. At the top of my personal list would be The Long Goodbye and The Parallax View. Other good ones:

Klute
Don't Look Now
3 Days of the Condor

I love the paranoid, hung-over atmosphere, and the shuffling pace of these movies. At the video shop these days, I feel like I've seen 'em all. Surely you smart people can help me assemble a list? Some obscure ones, international productions, or more contemporary films that share a sensibility?

[Chris L]

You've probably already seen it, but The Taking of Pelham 123 is pretty essential.  The 70's New York attitude and atmosphere is priceless. 

Michael Clayton isn't quite a great movie but is an obvious throwback to these kinds of films, if you haven't seen it yet. 

[masterofsparks]

I'm assuming you've seen The Conversation, but if not, that's one to see for sure. Michael Clayton reminded me a lot of that movie for some reason.

[mokin]

I'm assuming you've seen The Conversation, but if not, that's one to see for sure. Michael Clayton reminded me a lot of that movie for some reason.

Plus, Enemy of the State serves as a unofficial sequel to The Conversation, since Gene Hackman is basically the same character in both.

[Martin]

Winter Kills (1979) is, while not as good as Pakula's political thrillers, pretty watchable, even though most of its satire comes off as goofy. Features a chilling assassination sequence, set in Philadelphia. Plus, look at that crazy cast: Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Sterling Hayden, Toshiro Mifune...

We've mentioned Little Murders in the past. Divisive movie; I love it.

[Omar]

Winter Kills (1979) is, while not as good as Pakula's political thrillers, pretty watchable, even though most of its satire comes off as goofy. Features a chilling assassination sequence, set in Philadelphia. Plus, look at that crazy cast: Jeff Bridges, John Huston, Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Sterling Hayden, Toshiro Mifune...

Wow!  I was just about to mention this one.  Well worth a viewing.

I'll add The Anderson Tapes (Lumet, 1971)

[mokin]

The Silent Partner, starring everyone's favorite, Elliot Gould.

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Chinatown.

[georgelopos]

The Terminal Man is pretty awesome, directed by Mike Hodges of Get Carter fame.

Blue Sunshine isn't very successful, but has a fun concept - ex-hippies / current yuppies have a delayed reaction to a batch of LSD and turn into bald maniacs.

Black Sunday has Bruce Dern and a blimp.

[bruce]

Night Moves - Gene Hackman as a detective

[Bryan]

Thanks, everyone. I knew you smartypantses would have some great suggestions. Keep 'em coming!

[Sarah]

I don't remember whether The Marathon Man is a good movie, but the evil dentistry is pretty disturbing.

[dave from knoxville]

I'm assuming you've seen The Conversation, but if not, that's one to see for sure. Michael Clayton reminded me a lot of that movie for some reason.

Plus, Enemy of the State serves as a unofficial sequel to The Conversation, since Gene Hackman is basically the same character in both.

But you left out the "to be avoided at any cost" part of that sentence.

[Bryan]

I'm assuming you've seen The Conversation, but if not, that's one to see for sure. Michael Clayton reminded me a lot of that movie for some reason.

Plus, Enemy of the State serves as a unofficial sequel to The Conversation, since Gene Hackman is basically the same character in both.

But you left out the "to be avoided at any cost" part of that sentence.

Really? I liked Enemy of the State. Obviously it's a lot dopier than The Conversation, but I thought it was fun, and has at least one cool chase scene.

[gravy boat]

French Connection may be the best film period.

I think All the President's Men may be classified as a 70's thriller.  Dog Day Afternoon?

An overlooked gem is Friends of Eddie Coyle (more of a slower crime-drama, not so much a thriller) starring Robert Mitchum and Peter Boyle.  I saw this on TV, knew nothing about it, and was floored by how good it was.

One of my favorite contemporary thrillers is Sea of Love.  Faster paced than the 70's films but heavy on the atmosphere.

[kray]

my favorite might be de palma's The Fury...