Top 10 Hollywood Movies of the 70s

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Some of us probably spent too many happy hours in the movie theatres back in the Seventies. Those were the days when Miramar, Cathay, Capitol, Lido, Rex, Odeon and many other cinemas were still going strong in Kuching.


Do you know what were the top grossing Hollywood movies of the 70s? I'm sure you'll have no problem guessing some of them. But here's the official top 10 list (courtesy of "People" magazine) ... hope it helps trigger some fond memories.

#1
Star Wars (1977)

The phenomenal success of this movie surprised many, even the director George Lucas himself.  This movie spawned two sequels and four prequels over the next three decades, not to mention raking in huge merchandising revenues.


Mark Hamill, 25, was making his film debut as Luke Skywalker. Carrie Fisher (Princess Laea) was only 20. And Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter when he got the part of Han Solo.


The special effects in the movie were state-of-the-art during its time, and a company called Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) was created, which is still doing extremely well. And we can all whistle the Star Wars theme music, can't we?


Total gross: US$ 798 million






#2
Jaws (1975)

This top grossing film was directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's blockbuster novel of the same name. 


The story is about a police chief (Roy Scheider) of a summer resort town who tries to protect beach-goers from a giant man-eating great white shark by closing the beach, only to be over-ruled by the town council, which wants the beach to remain open for the summer tourist season. Several attacks later, the police chief enlists the help of a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfus) and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw).


This film got many Westerners paranoid over sharks. Of course this storyline wouldn't have made much sense if set in Asia. All we'd have to do was unleash a bunch of Chinese chefs and harvest a bumper crop of delicious sharksfins. ...


Total gross: US$ 471 million

#3
Grease (1978)

To many "Grease" wasn't just a movie, it was a phenomenon that influenced a whole generation. I recently watched a DVD of the 30th anniversary reunion of the cast of Grease. John and Olivia did a reprisal of their classic "You're the One that I Want" and it was just great.


The plot of Grease is simple: Good girl Sandy and tough guy Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance?


Many of the songs, like "Summer Loving", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "Greased Lightnin" and "Grease" have all become classics.


Total gross: US$ 387 million


#4
The Exorcist (1973)

This scary movie was based on the book by William Peter Blatty


Linda Blair plays a girl possessed by the devil, Ellen Burstyn as her mother and the Max von Sydow as the Catholic priest who tries to drive the demon out. 


"The Exorcist" was voted the scariest movie of all time by many publications.


Some gross scenes in the movie - lots of spewing of greenish vomit,  heads rotating 360 degrees and the girl doing awful things to her own body ... in other words, pretty normal stuff that you'd find on Saturday morning kid TV these days.


Total gross: US$ 358 million





#5
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Most who have seen this movie will remember the five notes that were used to communicate with the alien visitors. C'mon, altogether hum it now ... doo-doo-doo-doo-doo ...


Another Steven Spielberg masterpiece, this film starred Richard Dreyfus, who is "contacted" by alien beings. He feels curiously drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.


Pretty nice special effects for that time.


The key message of the film: "We are NOT alone"


Total gross: US$ 304 million





#6
Superman (1978)

Christopher Reeve played a very authentic looking Man of Steel (really, really looked like the comic character!).


The movie also starred Gene Hackman (as villain Lex Luthor), Margot Kidder (as girlfriend Lois Lane) and Marlon Brando (as Superman's father Jor-El, back on the ill-fated planet Krypton).


This was the first of a number of Superman movies, but I still liked it the best. For its time, the special effects were quite spectacular. The marketing tagline I still remember from the film was "You'll believe a man can fly".


Of course, I can't think of Superman without remembering the sad ending to Christopher Reeve's life.


Total gross:  US$ 300 million


#7
Saturday Night Fever (1977)

This was the film that shot John Travolta to fame, and remains the classic film of the disco generation.


Travolta is Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent at a local Brooklyn discothèque, with fellow dance partners and girlfriends. While in the disco, Tony is the king. His care-free youth and weekend dancing help him to temporarily forget the reality of his life: a dead-end job, clashes with his unsupportive and squabbling parents, racial tensions in the community, and his links with a street gang.


The music soundtrack - mainly by the Bee Gees - has become a classic and collector's item. Other artistes featured were Yvonne Elliman, Tvares, and KC and the Sunshine Band.


Total gross: US$ 285 million



#8
The Godfather (1972)

He will make you an offer you can't refuse. Dare to cross him and you may find a horse's head in your bed. He is of course Don Corleone, the Godfather. This unforgettable role was played by Marlon Brando in the movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Also starred Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall.


Gave rise to two very successful sequels - The Godfather - Part II (1974) and Part III (1990)..


Total gross: US$ 245 million.

#9
Moonraker (1979)

Some liked Sean Connery as the suave secret agent James Bond. Others prefer Tim Dalton or Daniel Craig.  But I kinda like the cool Roger Moore, with his somewhat light humoured portrayal of Bond.


The Bond babe was Lois Chiles as astronaut Dr Holly Goodhead (who comes up with these names ??? Ha ha ha !!!). The notable villain was the huge Richard Kiel, better known as "Jaws"


There's a great part at the end of the movie, when Bond and Goodhead are making love in the space shuttle on the way back to Earth. They get back into video range of Ground Control - prompting the memorable exchange between Sir Frederick Gray and Q: "My God, what's Bond doing?" Gray demands, and Q, not looking at the visual monitor but instead reading a tracking scanner, replies, "I think he's attempting re-entry, Sir."


Total gross: US$ 210 million

#10
Jaws 2 (1978)

Most movie sequels don't do very well, but this one surprisingly did.


Roy Schneider reprises his role as Police Chief Martin Brody who must deal with another great white shark terrorizing the waters of Amity Island, the fictional seaside resort


I remember the marketing tagline for the movie: "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water".


Total gross: US 209 million