Why did people feel bad for Spielberg for not having a hit? The Sugarland Express (1974) was his first big screen film after a string of stuff he directed for tv. The biggies came starting in 1975 when Jaws hit the screen.--Mister Tee wrote:Strange to think of now, but, at the time, people felt really bad for Spielberg -- what did he have to do to get a hit?
1974 Oscar Shouldabeens
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Mister Tee
- Tenured Laureate
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Badlands I believed had played a festival (NY?) in '73, but opened officially in February or March of '74. Unfortunately, it hit theatres at almost precisely the same time as The Sugarland Express and Thieves Like Us. This pile-up of outlaws-on-the-run films had a similar effect to the farm trilogy of 1984 (Places in the Heart, Country, The River) -- each cannibalized the others' audience. In this case, none of them were financial successes, despite all being appreciated by critics. (Strange to think of now, but, at the time, people felt really bad for Spielberg -- what did he have to do to get a hit?)
Day for Night was 1974 in Oscar terms, but it opened in NY in October or so or '73 (and won NYFC and NSFC that year), so I've always considered it a '73 film (just as I consider Amarcord a '74 film, despite its run at Oscar '75). As you point out, '74 was so bountiful, it didn't need the extra credit, where '73 -- while it had its highlights (Tango, Graffiti, Mean Streets) -- was somewhat more limited in its output.
The 70s were in full flower in '74. The run had only a few more years to go, but film-going was immensely exciting at the time. My own choice for the year's best is Chinatown (which, like you, I've seen many times), but obviously any of a dozen films would easily top my choice list these days.
Day for Night was 1974 in Oscar terms, but it opened in NY in October or so or '73 (and won NYFC and NSFC that year), so I've always considered it a '73 film (just as I consider Amarcord a '74 film, despite its run at Oscar '75). As you point out, '74 was so bountiful, it didn't need the extra credit, where '73 -- while it had its highlights (Tango, Graffiti, Mean Streets) -- was somewhat more limited in its output.
The 70s were in full flower in '74. The run had only a few more years to go, but film-going was immensely exciting at the time. My own choice for the year's best is Chinatown (which, like you, I've seen many times), but obviously any of a dozen films would easily top my choice list these days.
Isn't Badlands officially a 1973 release? If it isn't, then that would make 1974 one of the very, very best years for american films. Couple that with international masterpieces from Bergman, Bresson, Resnais, Bunuel, Malle, Fassbinder, Rivette, Fellini, and Truffaut (once again: if Day for Night can be considered a '74 and from what I've read it can't) and it can't be considered anything else besides one for the canon.
I really don't even know how to rank some of these films. I may enjoy The Godfather: Part II more than The Conversation but the latter is maybe the most personal film Coppola ever did, the closest to his personal aesthetic. I've seen Chinatown at least ten times and can no longer be objective; because I'm so currently enamored with Badlands, do I consider that the greater film or the one I've returned to the most times? Altman, De Palma, Scorsese, and Spielberg did some of the most underrated work of their careers (I just saw California Split the other day and it's just pure pleasure). I haven't even seen Murder on the Orient Express, The Night Porter, Female Trouble, or (officially!) A Woman Under the Influence. What. A. Year.
I really don't even know how to rank some of these films. I may enjoy The Godfather: Part II more than The Conversation but the latter is maybe the most personal film Coppola ever did, the closest to his personal aesthetic. I've seen Chinatown at least ten times and can no longer be objective; because I'm so currently enamored with Badlands, do I consider that the greater film or the one I've returned to the most times? Altman, De Palma, Scorsese, and Spielberg did some of the most underrated work of their careers (I just saw California Split the other day and it's just pure pleasure). I haven't even seen Murder on the Orient Express, The Night Porter, Female Trouble, or (officially!) A Woman Under the Influence. What. A. Year.
"How's the despair?"
Acting only:
1974
Best Supporting Actor
John Cazale ... The Godfather Part II *
Robert DeNiro ... The Godfather Part II
Peter Falk ... A Woman Under The Influence
John Huston ... Chinatown
Alfred Lutter ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Best Supporting Actress
Valentina Cortese ... Day For Night
Diane Ladd ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore *
Cloris Leachman ... Young Frankenstein
Valerie Perrine ... Lenny
Talia Shire ... The Godfather Part II
Best Actor
Gene Hackman ... The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman ... Lenny
Jack Nicholson ... Chinatown *
Al Pacino ... The Godfather Part II
Martin Sheen ... Badlands
Best Actress
Ellen Burstyn ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll ... Claudine
Faye Dunaway ... Chinatown
Gena Rowlands ... A Woman Under The Influence *
Liv Ullmann ... Scenes From A Marriage
1974
Best Supporting Actor
John Cazale ... The Godfather Part II *
Robert DeNiro ... The Godfather Part II
Peter Falk ... A Woman Under The Influence
John Huston ... Chinatown
Alfred Lutter ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Best Supporting Actress
Valentina Cortese ... Day For Night
Diane Ladd ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore *
Cloris Leachman ... Young Frankenstein
Valerie Perrine ... Lenny
Talia Shire ... The Godfather Part II
Best Actor
Gene Hackman ... The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman ... Lenny
Jack Nicholson ... Chinatown *
Al Pacino ... The Godfather Part II
Martin Sheen ... Badlands
Best Actress
Ellen Burstyn ... Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll ... Claudine
Faye Dunaway ... Chinatown
Gena Rowlands ... A Woman Under The Influence *
Liv Ullmann ... Scenes From A Marriage
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Precious Doll
- Emeritus
- Posts: 4453
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- Location: Sydney
- Contact:
Best Film
1. Female Trouble
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. The Night Porter
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Conversation Piece
Best Director
1. John Waters, Female Trouble
2. Liliana Cavani, The Night Porter
3. Paul Morrissey, Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Paul Morrissey, Blood for Dracula
5. Luchino Visconti, Conversation Piece
Best Actor
1. Warren Oates, Cockfighter
2. Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
3. Alan Bates, Butley
4. Divine, Female Trouble
5. Dirk Bogarde, The Night Porter
Best Actress
1. Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
2. Brigitte Mira, Fear Eats the Soul
3. Valerie Perrine, Lenny
4. Charlotte Rampling, The Night Porter
5. Mariangela Melato, Swept Away
Best Supporting Actor
1. Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part 2
2. John Cazale, The Godfather Part 2
3. Joel Grey, Man on a Swing
4. Arno Juerging, Blood for Dracula
5. Garret Graham, Phantom for the Paradise
Best Supporting Actress
1. Mink Stole, Female Trouble
2. Maxine McKendry, Blood for Dracula
3. Edith Massey, Female Trouble
4. Karen Black, Law and Disorder
5. Elena Fiore, The Seduction of Mimi
Best Screenplay
1. Female Trouble
2. The Night Porter
3. Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Conversation Piece
Best Screenplay Adaptation
1. Cockfighter
2. Lenny
3. Man on a Swing
4. Martha
5. The Godfather Part 2
Best Cinematography
1. The Godfather Part 2
2. The Night Porter
3. Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Lenny
Best Editing
1. Female Trouble
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Blood for Dracula
4. The Night Porter
5. Lenny
Best Sound
1. The Godfather Part 2
2. Lenny
3. The Towering Inferno
4. Phantom of the Paradise
5. Mahler
Best Art Direction
1. Flesh for Frankenstein
2. Phantom of the Paradise
3. Mahler
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Dark Star
Best Costume Design
1. Blood for Dracula
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Female Trouble
4. Mahler
5. Murder on the Orient Express
Best Music
1. Blood for Dracula
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Phantom of the Paradise
4. The Godfather Part 2
5. The Parallax View
1. Female Trouble
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. The Night Porter
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Conversation Piece
Best Director
1. John Waters, Female Trouble
2. Liliana Cavani, The Night Porter
3. Paul Morrissey, Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Paul Morrissey, Blood for Dracula
5. Luchino Visconti, Conversation Piece
Best Actor
1. Warren Oates, Cockfighter
2. Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
3. Alan Bates, Butley
4. Divine, Female Trouble
5. Dirk Bogarde, The Night Porter
Best Actress
1. Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
2. Brigitte Mira, Fear Eats the Soul
3. Valerie Perrine, Lenny
4. Charlotte Rampling, The Night Porter
5. Mariangela Melato, Swept Away
Best Supporting Actor
1. Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part 2
2. John Cazale, The Godfather Part 2
3. Joel Grey, Man on a Swing
4. Arno Juerging, Blood for Dracula
5. Garret Graham, Phantom for the Paradise
Best Supporting Actress
1. Mink Stole, Female Trouble
2. Maxine McKendry, Blood for Dracula
3. Edith Massey, Female Trouble
4. Karen Black, Law and Disorder
5. Elena Fiore, The Seduction of Mimi
Best Screenplay
1. Female Trouble
2. The Night Porter
3. Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Conversation Piece
Best Screenplay Adaptation
1. Cockfighter
2. Lenny
3. Man on a Swing
4. Martha
5. The Godfather Part 2
Best Cinematography
1. The Godfather Part 2
2. The Night Porter
3. Flesh for Frankenstein
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Lenny
Best Editing
1. Female Trouble
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Blood for Dracula
4. The Night Porter
5. Lenny
Best Sound
1. The Godfather Part 2
2. Lenny
3. The Towering Inferno
4. Phantom of the Paradise
5. Mahler
Best Art Direction
1. Flesh for Frankenstein
2. Phantom of the Paradise
3. Mahler
4. Blood for Dracula
5. Dark Star
Best Costume Design
1. Blood for Dracula
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Female Trouble
4. Mahler
5. Murder on the Orient Express
Best Music
1. Blood for Dracula
2. Flesh for Frankenstein
3. Phantom of the Paradise
4. The Godfather Part 2
5. The Parallax View
Last edited by Precious Doll on Sat Jul 27, 2019 1:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
"I want cement covering every blade of grass in this nation! Don't we taxpayers have a voice anymore?" Peggy Gravel (Mink Stole) in John Waters' Desperate Living (1977)
Picture:
*Chinatown*
The Conversation
The Godfather Part II
Scenes From A Marriage
Young Frankenstein
Actor:
Gene Hackman – The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman – Lenny
*Jack Nicholson – Chinatown*
Al Pacino – The Godfather Part II
Gene Wilder – Young Frankenstein
Actress:
Ellen Burstyn – Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway - Chinatown
Brigitte Mira – Fear Eats The Soul
Gena Rowlands – A Woman Under The Influence
Liv Ullmann – Scenes From A Marriage
Supporting Actor:
Charles Boyer – Stavisky
*Robert De Niro – The Godfather Part II*
Marty Feldman – Young Frankenstein
John Huston – Chinatown
Lee Strasberg – The Godfather Part II
Supporting Actress:
Terri Garr – Young Frankenstein
Madeline Kahn – Blazing Saddles
Dianne Ladd – Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Cloris Leachman – Young Frankenstein
Valerie Perrine - Lenny
Director:
Ingmar Bergman – Scenes From A Marriage
Mel Brooks – Young Frankenstein
Luis Bunuel – The Phantom Of Liberty
Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather Part II
*Roman Polanski – Chinatown*
Original Screenplay:
Ingmar Bergman – Scenes From A Marriage
Luis Bunuel & Jean-Claude Carriere – The Phantom Of Liberty
John Cassavetes – A Woman Under The Influence
Francis Ford Coppola – The Conversation
*Robert Towne – Chinatown*
Adapted Screenplay:
Robert Altman, Joan Tewkesbury & Calder Willingham - Thieves Like Us
Julian Barry – Lenny
Robert Bresson – Lancelot Of The Lake
Mel Brooks & Gene Wilder - Young Frankenstein
Francis Ford Coppola & Mario Puzo - The Godfather Part II
Foreign Film:
Amarcord (Italy)
The Ceremony (Japan)
Lacombe, Lucien (France)
The Phantom Of Liberty (France)
*Scenes From A Marriage (Sweden)*
*Chinatown*
The Conversation
The Godfather Part II
Scenes From A Marriage
Young Frankenstein
Actor:
Gene Hackman – The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman – Lenny
*Jack Nicholson – Chinatown*
Al Pacino – The Godfather Part II
Gene Wilder – Young Frankenstein
Actress:
Ellen Burstyn – Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway - Chinatown
Brigitte Mira – Fear Eats The Soul
Gena Rowlands – A Woman Under The Influence
Liv Ullmann – Scenes From A Marriage
Supporting Actor:
Charles Boyer – Stavisky
*Robert De Niro – The Godfather Part II*
Marty Feldman – Young Frankenstein
John Huston – Chinatown
Lee Strasberg – The Godfather Part II
Supporting Actress:
Terri Garr – Young Frankenstein
Madeline Kahn – Blazing Saddles
Dianne Ladd – Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Cloris Leachman – Young Frankenstein
Valerie Perrine - Lenny
Director:
Ingmar Bergman – Scenes From A Marriage
Mel Brooks – Young Frankenstein
Luis Bunuel – The Phantom Of Liberty
Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather Part II
*Roman Polanski – Chinatown*
Original Screenplay:
Ingmar Bergman – Scenes From A Marriage
Luis Bunuel & Jean-Claude Carriere – The Phantom Of Liberty
John Cassavetes – A Woman Under The Influence
Francis Ford Coppola – The Conversation
*Robert Towne – Chinatown*
Adapted Screenplay:
Robert Altman, Joan Tewkesbury & Calder Willingham - Thieves Like Us
Julian Barry – Lenny
Robert Bresson – Lancelot Of The Lake
Mel Brooks & Gene Wilder - Young Frankenstein
Francis Ford Coppola & Mario Puzo - The Godfather Part II
Foreign Film:
Amarcord (Italy)
The Ceremony (Japan)
Lacombe, Lucien (France)
The Phantom Of Liberty (France)
*Scenes From A Marriage (Sweden)*
-
Aceisgreat
- Temp
- Posts: 459
- Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 7:56 am
BEST PICTURE
*Chinatown
The Conversation
The Godfather Part II
Lenny
Murder On The Orient Express
BEST DIRECTOR
Francis Ford Coppola, The Conversation
Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Bob Fosse, Lenny
Sidney Lumet, Murder On The Orient Express
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown
BEST ACTOR
Albert Finney, Murder On The Orient Express
Gene Hackman, The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
BEST ACTRESS
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll, Claudine
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under The Influence
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Fred Astaire, The Towering Inferno
*Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
Michael V. Gazzo, The Godfather Part II
John Gielgud, Murder On The Orient Express
Lee Strasberg, The Godfather Part II
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*Ingrid Bergman, Murder On The Orient Express
Karen Black, The Great Gatsby
Wendy Hiller, Murder On The Orient Express
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Edited By Big Magilla on 1101115521
*Chinatown
The Conversation
The Godfather Part II
Lenny
Murder On The Orient Express
BEST DIRECTOR
Francis Ford Coppola, The Conversation
Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Bob Fosse, Lenny
Sidney Lumet, Murder On The Orient Express
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown
BEST ACTOR
Albert Finney, Murder On The Orient Express
Gene Hackman, The Conversation
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
BEST ACTRESS
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll, Claudine
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under The Influence
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Fred Astaire, The Towering Inferno
*Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
Michael V. Gazzo, The Godfather Part II
John Gielgud, Murder On The Orient Express
Lee Strasberg, The Godfather Part II
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
*Ingrid Bergman, Murder On The Orient Express
Karen Black, The Great Gatsby
Wendy Hiller, Murder On The Orient Express
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Edited By Big Magilla on 1101115521
"I can't stand a naked light bulb any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action." -- Blanche DuBois
1974 Oscar Shouldabeens
1974
Best Picture
*Chinatown
The Godfather Part II
Lenny
Murder on the Orient Express
The Night Porter
Best Actor
Dirk Bogarde, The Night Porter
Albert Finney, Murder on the Orient Express
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
Best Actress
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Brigitte Mira, Ali: Fear Eats The Soul
Charlotte Rampling, The Night Porter
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
Best Supporting Actor
John Cazale, The Godfather, Part II
*Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
John Gielgud, Murder on the Orient Express
John Huston, Chinatown
Harvey Korman, Blazing Saddles
Best Supporting Actress
Ingrid Bergman, Murder on the Orient Express
Wendy Hiller, Murder on the Orient Express
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
*Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Best Director
Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles
Liliana Cavani, The Night Porter
Francis Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Bob Fosse, Lenny
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown
Best Picture
*Chinatown
The Godfather Part II
Lenny
Murder on the Orient Express
The Night Porter
Best Actor
Dirk Bogarde, The Night Porter
Albert Finney, Murder on the Orient Express
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
Best Actress
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Brigitte Mira, Ali: Fear Eats The Soul
Charlotte Rampling, The Night Porter
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
Best Supporting Actor
John Cazale, The Godfather, Part II
*Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
John Gielgud, Murder on the Orient Express
John Huston, Chinatown
Harvey Korman, Blazing Saddles
Best Supporting Actress
Ingrid Bergman, Murder on the Orient Express
Wendy Hiller, Murder on the Orient Express
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
*Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Best Director
Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles
Liliana Cavani, The Night Porter
Francis Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Bob Fosse, Lenny
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown
Last edited by Reza on Sat Feb 17, 2024 10:43 am, edited 10 times in total.
-
Big Magilla
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19336
- Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 3:22 pm
- Location: Jersey Shore
1974 Oscar Shouldabeens
1974
Best Picture
Amarcord
*Chinatown
The Godfather Part II
Murder on the Orient Express
Scenes from a Marriage
Best Actor
Art Carney, Harry & Tonto
Albert Finney, Murder on the Orient Express
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
Best Actress
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Brigitte Mira, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
Liv Ullmann, Scenes from a Marriage
Best Supporting Actor
*Fred Astaire, The Towering Inferno
Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
John Huston, Chinatown
Holger Lowenadler, Lacombe, Lucien
Lee Strasberg, The Godfather Part II
Best Supporting Actress
*Ingrid Bergman, Murder on the Orient Express
Jennifer Jones, The Towering Inferno
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Best Director
Ingmar Bergman, Scenes from a Marriage
Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Federico Fellini, Amarcord
Sidney Lumet, Murder on the Orient Express
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown
Best Picture
Amarcord
*Chinatown
The Godfather Part II
Murder on the Orient Express
Scenes from a Marriage
Best Actor
Art Carney, Harry & Tonto
Albert Finney, Murder on the Orient Express
Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
*Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
Al Pacino, The Godfather Part II
Best Actress
*Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Faye Dunaway, Chinatown
Brigitte Mira, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Gena Rowlands, A Woman Under the Influence
Liv Ullmann, Scenes from a Marriage
Best Supporting Actor
*Fred Astaire, The Towering Inferno
Robert De Niro, The Godfather Part II
John Huston, Chinatown
Holger Lowenadler, Lacombe, Lucien
Lee Strasberg, The Godfather Part II
Best Supporting Actress
*Ingrid Bergman, Murder on the Orient Express
Jennifer Jones, The Towering Inferno
Madeline Kahn, Blazing Saddles
Diane Ladd, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Valerie Perrine, Lenny
Best Director
Ingmar Bergman, Scenes from a Marriage
Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II
Federico Fellini, Amarcord
Sidney Lumet, Murder on the Orient Express
*Roman Polanski, Chinatown