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Top 10 Unmissable Exploitation
Films of the Seventies Part 2.
| 5) Don't Torture a Duckling
( Lucio Fulci, 1971 ) |
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| Atmospheric and shocking exploitation film
located in the southern Italian mountain village Accendura which is ravaged by
a series of child murders. The fine photography by Sergio D'Offizi (Cannibal
Holocaust) and the dreamy score is from Riz Ortolani (Kill Bill
Vol.2). The movie includes a highly unpleasant sequence in which some
villagers kill an innocent old woman which already shows Fulci's penchant for
sadistic and gory details he later displayed in his horror movies. >
Tomas
Milian is
effectively cast as the detective who investigates the case and who's
supported by the always mesmerizing Barabara Bouchet. One of the best Giallo's.
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4) Rolling Thunder ( John Flynn, 1977 )
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Perfectly executed symbiosis of cold-blooded
revenge story and character study. When major Rane (William Devane) returns
from Vietnam he is cheered as a war hero and receives a valuable coin
collection. After ruthless criminals, in order to get his coin collection,
kill his wife and kid and leave him for dead he's got only one vengeful
mission left. Devane is terrific as the stoic avenger who's assisted by his
groupie (Linda Haynes) and former colleague (Tommy Lee Jones in an early
performance). The intriguing screenplay is from >
Paul Schrader
(Taxi Driver). Violent...Uncomprimising...A Classic!
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3) Assault on Precinct 13 ( John Carpenter, 1976 )
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A nearly abondoned police station in Los
Angeles is under siege by a heavily armed gang who are after one of their
victims who's hiding in the station. Carpenter's second feature and his
breakthrough is an homage to Howard Hawk's western masterpiece Rio Bravo,
but here placed in an urban setting. Like Hawks Carpenter is interested in the
machinations within a group of people who, under pressure, have to
depend on each other. A stylish economically paced dark action-thriller with a
great music score (as usual by the director himself) and good performances all
around (in particular Darwin Joston as the cool convict Napoleon Wilson).
Remade in 2005 by the French director Jean-François Richet.
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2) Milano Calibro 9 ( Fernando Di Leo, 1972 )
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The release of the criminal Ugo Piazza (Gastone
Moschin) increases the tension within a criminal organization because they
suspect him of hiding the loot. This is the first noir film (and the best!) of
Di Leo's 'Milieu Trilogy' which was followed by Manhunt and ended with Wipeout!.
A magnificent exploitation film on crime exploring its sociological,
anthropological and philosopical aspects. What makes this a successful picture
is besides the sublime soundtrack composed by Luis Bacalov and the profound
script, the meticulous casting of comedy actor Gastone Moschin in a dramatic
role, > Barbara Bouchet as the
Femme Fatale, Mario Adorf as a sadistic villain and Hollywood coryphee Lionel
Stander as crime boss l'Americano.
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1) The Outfit ( John Flynn, 1973 )
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Superb revenge thriller (Flynn's speciality)
with Robert Duvall as the stoic ex-convict who avenges himself, with the help
of his girl-friend Bett Harrow (Karen Black) and loyal compagnon Cody (Joe Don
Baker), on the crime syndicate responsible for the death of his brother. The
Outfit is a fantastic homage to the crime pics of the 40s and 50s
including many of its familiar faces in the supporting cast such as Jane
Greer, Marie Windsor, Timothy Carey, Elisha Cook and Richard Jaekel. Robert
Ryan is striking as the arrogant crime boss Mailer in one of his last onscreen
performances. Beautifully paced in austere settings and masterly shot by Bruce
Surtees. An unjustly overlooked crime classic.
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>
Click here for more Top 10 film lists !
Other recommended 70s exploitation films
(chronological order by release date):
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
(Russ Meyer, 1970)...Meyer's most expensive and cheered film!
Compañeros (Sergio
Corbucci, 1970)...Two spaghetti western icons in one of the 70s best!
Hammer of the Gods (Jimmy Wang Yu, 1970)...One of
the finest martial-arts scenes of the 70s!
Goodbye Uncle Tom (Jacopetti/ Prosperi,
1971)...Infamous slavesploitation!
A Lizard In a Woman's Skin (Lucio Fulci,
1971)...Beautifully photographed and harrowing giallo!
Across 110th Street (Barry Shear, 1972)...Simply
one of the best blaxploitation films!
Five Fingers of Death (Chang-hwa Jeong,
1972)...Caused the breakthrough of kung-fu in the US!
Last House on the Left (Wes Craven,
1972)...Brutal exploitation film debut of Wes Craven!
Manhunt (Fernando Di Leo, 1972)...Violent
crime-thriller with Mario Adorf as an one-man army!
Trouble Man (Ivan Dixon, 1972) ...Cool slick
blaxploitation flick!
The Complete Baby Cart-series (Kenji Misumi,
1972/73)...Endless fountains of blood!
Ito's Female Prisoner Scorpion-series (Shunya
Ito, 1972/73)...WIP at its most violent!
Black Snake (Russ Meyer, 1973)...Rough and sexy
slave adventure!
The Candy Snatchers (Gordon Trueblood,
1973)...Great kidnap go wrong exploiter!
Coffy (Jack Hill,
1973)...Pam Grier is excellent as the sexy and lethal avenging angel!
The Mack (Michael Campus, 1973)...Coolest pimp
movie ever...Period!
Walking Tall (Phil Karlson, 1973)...Joe Don Baker
hits back with a vengeance!
Wipeout! (Fernando
di Leo, 1973)...See how Tarantino got his idea of the black and white
enforcers!
Bone (Larry Cohen,
1974)...Cohen's bizarre one of a kind satire on racism!
The Streetfighter (Shigehiro Ozawa, 1974)...One
of Sonny Chiba's best martial arts films!
Thriller: A Cruel Picture (Bo Arne Vibenius,
1974)...One of the most depraved revenge flicks of the 70s!
Breaking Point (Bo Arne Vibenius, 1975)...The
murderous porn adventures of a clerk!
Deep Red (Dario Argento, 1975)...Probably the
most celebrated Giallo!
Johnny Firecloud (William A. Castleman,
1975)...Very amusing redskin revenge film!
Supervixens (Russ Meyer, 1975)...Charles Napier
is great as the 'explosive' psychopath!
Death Weekend (William Fruet, 1976)...Grim
thriller in the style of Straw Dogs!
Up! (Russ Meyer, 1976)...One of the best erotic
comedies ever including an hilarious scene involving a sadomasochistic Hitler!
Young, Violent and Dangerous (Romolo Guerrieri,
1976)...Provoking kids-out-of-control exploitation film!
Fight For Your Life (Robert A. Endelson,
1977)...Unpleasant shocker on racism, humiliation and sexual violence!
Hitch-hike (Pasquale Festa Campanile,
1977)...David Hess in his usual (...)psycho(pa)tic form!
Jungle Holocaust (Ruggero Deodato, 1977)...Worthy
predecessor of Cannibal Holocaust!
Martin (George A. Romero, 1977)...Original take
on the vampire theme!
The Psychic (Lucio Fulci, 1977)...One of Fulci's
most thoughtful films!
Beyond the Door II (Mario Bava, 1977)...Mario
Bava's last but not least!
Shock Waves (Ken Wiederhorn, 1977)...Second World
War zombies causing mayhem!
Suspiria (Dario
Argento, 1977)...Visually stunning horror masterpiece!
Day of the Woman (Meir Zarchi,
1978)...Influential rape/revenge shocker!
The Lady in Red (Lewis Teague, 1979)...The best
crime movie out of the Corman stable!
Mad Max (George Miller, 1979)...An unforgettable
eerie action-thriller!
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