Buzz
Often hailed as 'Hollywood’s Second Golden Age,' the 1970s gave us timeless classics like The Godfather, Jaws, and Star Wars, alongside numerous other masterpieces. However, some films from acclaimed directors and starring renowned actors have slipped into obscurity over time.
While these films were highly praised during their release, they’ve largely been forgotten in modern discussions about 1970s cinema. This list highlights 10 such underappreciated gems, aiming to reintroduce them to a new generation of movie enthusiasts.
10. A Rare Richard Pryor Appearance Featuring Steely Dan’s Music
You’ve Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You’ll Lose That Beat, despite its lengthy and peculiar title, remains a hidden treasure from 1971. The film stars Zalman King, who later gained fame as a producer of provocative works like 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) and the TV series Red Shoe Diaries (1992). The cast also includes Robert Downey Sr. and Richard Pryor in one of his early roles, making it a fascinating piece of cinematic history.
Today, the film remains largely obscure, but its soundtrack has kept it from fading into complete oblivion. The music was composed and performed by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen just before they founded Steely Dan. Denny Dias, the guitarist featured on Steely Dan’s first six albums, also contributed to the soundtrack, credited as “The Original Sound Track.” For decades, Steely Dan enthusiasts have sought out the soundtrack album, ensuring the film’s legacy endures.
Director Peter Locke might prefer the film stay forgotten, as he has expressed dissatisfaction with its quality and seems content with its obscurity. However, critics who viewed it at the time commended Richard Pryor’s early performance. Additionally, music fans appreciate the glimpse into Steely Dan’s formative years, keeping curiosity about this peculiar early ’70s film alive.
9. Playboy’s Debut Film Venture
Zoologist Desmond Morris’s book The Naked Ape, published in October 1967, quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Exploring human evolution, Morris argued that our unique sexuality set us apart from other species. Blending scholarly insight with entertainment, the book was ripe for adaptation—perhaps as a BBC documentary. Instead, Hugh Hefner stepped in, aiming to transform The Naked Ape into Playboy’s inaugural Hollywood project in 1973.
Starring Johnny Crawford (The Rifleman) and Victoria Principal before her Dallas fame, the film adaptation of The Naked Ape took considerable liberties with Morris’s work. Animated sequences briefly touched on the book’s themes, while Crawford and Principal played a college couple navigating human courtship rituals. Crawford’s character is drafted into the Vietnam War and, spoiler alert, meets an untimely end. The film was a strange blend of ideas, heavily rooted in early ’70s sensibilities, and quickly vanished from theaters, sinking into obscurity.
Interest in the film’s leads, who appear in mild nude scenes, along with Playboy enthusiasts and fans of 1970s cinema, has prevented it from being entirely forgotten. Although it’s unavailable on home video or streaming platforms, a version recorded from TV broadcasts circulates among underground collectors.
8. A Critically Acclaimed Film That Vanished
Sue Kaufman’s 1967 novel Diary of a Mad Housewife, a sharp and humorous tale of a New York wife and mother struggling with a domineering husband and unappreciative children, was perfectly suited for adaptation during the rise of second-wave feminism. The film, adapted by writer Eleanor Perry and directed by Frank Perry, premiered in August 1970 to critical acclaim. Carrie Snodgress earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and Frank Langella made his film debut, later starring as Dracula (1979) and Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon (2008).
Despite its initial success, Diary of a Mad Housewife faded into obscurity over time. The Perrys’ independent production meant the original film elements weren’t stored in a studio archive, complicating restoration efforts. In 2021, a Blu-ray release was sourced from a well-preserved print, offering hope that the original materials—and other Perry works—might one day resurface for a proper restoration.
7. Samuel L. Jackson’s First Film Role
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Samuel L. Jackson is undoubtedly one of the most iconic actors of his generation. His breakthrough role as Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction catapulted him to fame, and his portrayal of Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has won over a new generation of fans. Few could have foreseen this level of success back in 1972, when he made his film debut in the obscure movie Together for Days.
Together for Days tells the story of a Black activist and a White woman who form a connection amidst the politically and racially turbulent climate of early 1970s America. Jackson played a character named “Stan,” though little else is known about the film, as it has been lost for decades. Jackson has mentioned that he landed the minor role while studying at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where the movie was shot.
During an interview on The Tonight Show, Jay Leno mentioned he had searched for a copy of Together for Days—also known as Black Cream—but came up empty-handed. Jackson responded that he was relieved, leaving fans to speculate about the film’s quality. While it may not be a cinematic gem, Jackson’s admirers are eager to see it. Hopefully, it will resurface someday and become available for home viewing or streaming.
6. A Widely Acclaimed Documentary Featuring Orson Welles
Alvin Toffler’s 1970 bestseller Future Shock captivated readers, selling millions of copies shortly after its release. The book’s central theme revolves around the concept of “future shock,” the overwhelming impact of rapid technological and societal changes on human life. Toffler’s foresight was remarkable, predicting the growing influence of technology, the rise of disposable products with planned obsolescence, and the emergence of internet-driven instant fame—all of which have become defining features of modern life.
Capitalizing on the success of Future Shock, director Alex Grasshof adapted the book into a 1972 documentary narrated by the iconic Orson Welles. Welles’ commanding presence adds a layer of authority to this retrospective exploration of the future. Despite the book’s cultural significance at the time, the documentary has largely faded from public memory, though its predictions remain strikingly relevant today, even if some aspects feel dated.
The documentary is not officially available on any home media platform, but fan-restored versions can be found on YouTube (video above). It’s a fascinating watch, offering a glimpse into the fears and expectations people had about the future half a century ago.
5. A Significant Early Directorial Work
John G. Avildsen is most celebrated for directing Rocky and The Karate Kid. He earned an Academy Award for Best Director for the original Rocky and later helmed Rocky V and the first three Karate Kid movies. His early career breakthrough came with the 1970 film Joe, featuring Peter Boyle as a blue-collar man pushed to the edge by societal upheaval. Avildsen followed this success with another critically acclaimed project, 1971’s Okay, Bill.
Variety praised Okay, Bill as “innovative and original.” Audiences who saw it also responded positively, but the film’s limited release by the small studio Four Star-Excelsior hindered its reach. Since then, Okay, Bill has become a sought-after title on lists of lost films. Dedicated fansites have compiled all available information, hoping for its rediscovery. For now, it remains a mystery how a well-received film from a renowned director could vanish so completely.
4. A Critically Praised Film Starring George Segal and Robert De Niro
From the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, George Segal enjoyed a string of remarkable roles, blending an everyman charm with undeniable star quality. However, one of his most praised performances from this period, 1971’s Born to Win, has largely been forgotten. Featuring a standout supporting cast, including Karen Black, Hector Elizondo, and a young Robert De Niro, the film is a raw comedy-drama about a heroin addict juggling his addiction and personal life, leading to inevitable complications.
The fate of Born to Win remains a mystery, as it received strong critical acclaim, particularly for Segal’s performance, which Paste Magazine hailed as “one of the great unsung performances of the ’70s.” Given Segal’s peak popularity in 1971 and Black’s rising fame, it’s surprising how the film faded into obscurity. Today, it’s often found in bargain DVD bins—making it a worthwhile discovery for anyone who stumbles upon it.
3. A Family Drama Packed with Star Power
In the wake of the 1960s counterculture movement, many films from the ’60s and ’70s explored themes of parents grappling with their children’s drug use. 1970’s The People Next Door stands out as a prime example. As Roger Ebert noted in his review, “It’s the best movie so far about parents, kids, and drugs, and probably the best we’re likely to get.”
The People Next Door boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Eli Wallach, Julie Harris, Hal Holbrook, and Cloris Leachman. The film was well-received by both critics and audiences at the time, yet it somehow faded into obscurity. Perhaps it was overshadowed by other, less impactful films about the generational divide and drug-related struggles, leading to its eventual neglect.
Thankfully, The People Next Door is finally receiving the recognition it deserves as a standout film in its genre. In 2021, it was restored in 4K and released on Blu-Ray in the UK, and it’s also available for streaming on various platforms. It’s worth watching not only as a nostalgic snapshot of its era but also as a compelling drama.
2. Early Sci-Fi by a Young Spielberg
Every great director has humble beginnings, and for Steven Spielberg, that meant starting in television. Many film enthusiasts are aware that his 1971 TV movie Duel eventually saw a theatrical release, paving the way for his film career. However, earlier that same year, he directed another TV movie.
“L.A. 2017” was an episode of the NBC series The Name of the Game, a 90-minute weekly show. Spielberg cleverly used a dream sequence to introduce a sci-fi narrative into the series. The story paints a grim dystopian future where pollution forces humanity underground, and America has become a fascist regime. The dream framework allowed Spielberg, at just 24, to showcase his innovative camera work and storytelling skills.
Since The Name of the Game is largely forgotten today, Spielberg’s “L.A. 2017” is primarily known only to his most dedicated fans. While it has never been officially released, fan-restored versions from TV broadcasts can be found online for those eager to explore this early work.
1. A Dennis Hopper-Led Western
The early 1970s saw the rise of the “revisionist Western,” a fresh take on the classic Hollywood genre. Films like Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch (1969), Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), and Peter Fonda’s The Hired Hand (1971) resonated with counterculture audiences. Among the best of this wave was 1973’s Kid Blue, a film that has since faded into obscurity.
Dennis Hopper plays the titular character, a train robber in the early 20th century who realizes the Old West is vanishing. Determined to reform, he attempts to leave his criminal life behind, only to discover that escaping his past is far from simple.
Despite positive reviews, Kid Blue failed to make a lasting impact upon its release. As The New Beverly, a Los Angeles revival theater, noted in 2017, “The film earned some revenue but didn’t capture the public’s imagination. While some in Texas claim it’s a cult classic, it has largely vanished from memory.” Fortunately, 20th Century Fox now offers it through their on-demand DVD Archive Collection.
