More from the movie magazines of the 1970s...
Every Christmas, the Photoplay Film Annual would summarise the highlights of the year and preview a few productions on the way. Often with half-a-dozen, full-page, glossy portraits of the stars (usually, Burt Reynolds with his shirt open...)
Photoplay Film Annual, 1974 |
Photoplay Film Annual, 1974 |
A look at The Final Programme and the many other wonders directed by Robert Fuest, here.
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, starring John Phillip Law and Caroline Munro, was a big hit for Ray Harryhausen as he resurrected his Arabian Nights' stories for two further films. Until Star Wars came along, Ray's special effects were the high point for what was possible with fantastic, as in fantasy, creatures.
Photoplay Film Magazine, January |
Films and Filming, February |
Films and Filming, February |
Films and Filming magazine championed movies that they knew were going to be controversial, giving them far more than usual coverage, while they only received scant, toned-down mentions in other movie magazines. As with A Clockwork Orange and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, they'd devote up to six full pages of nothing but publicity photographs.
Zardoz was certainly different, and at the time, mostly taken seriously as a science-fiction parable. Decades later, it's still a muddle, best known for the unusual costumes of Sean Connery.
Films and Filming, March |
Films and Filming, March |
Films and Filming, March |
The huge production of The Three Musketeers was split into two big summer films, with The Four Musketeers following in 1975. Despite the producers being sued for only paying their stars for one, not two films, they tried repeating this trick with Superman - The Movie a few years later (but ran into far more trouble with the stars and director, Richard Donner).
More about this version of The Three Musketeers here.
Films Illustrated, May |
Decisions, decisions. Who to have on the front cover? Robert Redford as The Great Gatsby, or runaway satanic hit The Exorcist?
Photoplay Film Magazine, May |
Photoplay Film Magazine, May |
In this issue, there's also an interview with Linda Blair, to reassure us all that she's not been freaked out by her experiences on The Exorcist.
Film Review, October |
Ken Russell's Tommy was his most successful film. Having visualised the music of many classical composers, Russell was unafraid of doing the same for an entire 'concept' double-album of new music by The Who. Before 'pop videos' existed, Russell made one, movie-length. The entire album was also re-recorded so that the actors and guest singers could perform their own versions of the songs.
Films and Filming, July |
Tommy was also the start of an acting career for lead singer of The Who, Roger Daltrey.
The birth of Australian cinema was a two-pronged success, with unique arthouse films from the likes of Peter Weir (The Cars Who Ate Paris (above) and Picnic At Hanging Rock) as well as exploitation comedies like The Adventures of Barry McKenzie and the action-heavy madness described in documentary Not Quite Hollywood.
Bruce Lee was still breaking as a star around the world, despite having passed away before all his movies were completed. Whole films were built around any of his unused fight scenes.
Films and Filming, September |
Films and Filming, September |
Photoplay Film Magazine, December |
Photoplay Film Magazine, December |
Films and Filming, December |
Previous magazine flashbacks...
Blow Up, The Trip... from 1967
Barbarella, Witchfinder General... from 1968
Rosemary's Baby, When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth, Women In Love... from 1969
M*A*S*H and more Myra Breckinridge... from 1970
The Devils, Deep End, double-bills... from 1971
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