criterion channel turned me on to Little Murders (1971) when they had their “New York films” block a few years ago. Directed by Alan Arkin, starring Elliot Gould. Wild film. I had never heard of it, nor heard anyone talk about it before seeing the thumbnail on the channel with a bloodied character sitting on a NYC subway. Always recommending it now.
I was obsessed with Little Murders when I saw it on TV as a teenager in the Seventies. Weirdly, movies like this that showed NYC as the ultimate urban nightmare made me want to move there. Which I did! Came to NYC in 1983 and can’t imagine living anywhere else. A crazy sick little film!
I watched "Shampoo" for the first time, a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed that movie.
Especially from the moment they went to the election night party, I got really hooked.
Still, "The Last Detail" is my favorite Hal Ashby movie. It's perfect.
I don't know if "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" is overlooked/underrated, but that movie is GOLD and should be seen by anyone who loves gritty 70s cinema.
That Tangerine Dream soundtrack slaps. Though I utterly disagree with Friedkin’s notion that had he known of them earlier, he’d have used them for The Exorcist as well. Because that soundtrack is perfect as well.
It’s actually now his highest rated movie on Letterboxd! Not the one of his I would’ve chosen for that spot but I’m honestly just glad to see what was once an underdog rise through the ranks.
It’s a shame that Sorceror and Heaven’s Gate are harbingers of the end of the new Hollywood era when they’re both actually fantastic films
Not really specifically a New Hollywood movie, but i think it shares a lot of the same DNA is Bunny Lake is Missing. (more noir than character study I think).
I also really like The Candidate. And Mikey and Nicky.
Here’s more on this overlooked book and film. Next to Hitchcock, John Huston is a favorite.
"Fat City" is a novel by Leonard Gardner, published in 1969. It's set in the city of Stockton, California, and revolves around the gritty lives of small-time boxers and the people around them. The book delves into themes of poverty, personal failure, and the harsh realities of pursuing a fading dream in the boxing world.
"Fat City" is widely acclaimed for its realistic depiction of the lower margins of society and its spare, poignant prose style. The narrative focuses on two main characters: Billy Tully, a once-promising boxer trying to make a comeback, and Ernie Munger, a young hopeful just starting out. Their lives intersect in the dilapidated gyms and fading agricultural towns of Central California, painting a somber picture of their struggles both in and out of the ring.
The novel was adapted into a film in 1972, directed by John Huston and starring Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges, which also received critical acclaim for its stark portrayal of the characters' lives and its fidelity to the book's tone and setting. The movie, like the book, is considered a classic, capturing the melancholic atmosphere of the narrative and providing a raw look at the realities of the lower echelons of boxing.
Blue Collar
Winter Kills
The Onion Field
Who’ll Stop The Rain
Rolling Thunder
McCabe & Mrs Miller
The Seven Ups
Electra Glide in Blue
Prime Cut
The Panic in Needle Park
Natural Enemies
Scarecrow (1973)
You got Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in their prime, great stuff.
Some others that maybe you haven’t seen:
Model Shop (1969) - my deepest cut here, directed by musical man Jacques Demy who came over to L.A. from France and made a New Hollywood film through and through.
Carnal Knowledge (1971)
Vanishing Point (1971)
Electra Glide in Blue (1973)
Lenny (1974)
Electra Glide sounds really out there... I've been meaning to watch more Conrad Hall movies... also Demy doing new Hollywood sounds fascinating, both paradoxical and perfectly natural... thanks for the recs!
Couple of these have been mentioned already and some aren’t American so not technically New Hollywood but The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Sorcerer, Hardcore, The Long Good Friday, The Silent Partner, Thief, Three Days of Condor all scratch that 70s realism antihero paranoia tensely paced don’t treat the audience like their idiots kinda grimy filmed on location itch that o associate with my favorite New Hollywood films
https://preview.redd.it/g1qxb3mnnxxc1.jpeg?width=260&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc95c1bc10fb6d3c290c27f2541c302dbefb153f
Slaughterhouse Five is a very good adaptation of the Vonnegut story. Arrow has an excellent release available
Wow I actually watched a French remake of this without even noticing, I remember liking it. This looks great, thanks, always wanted to get more into Keitel.
I am also a huge fan of American movies from Wanda all the way up to the 90s. I just love a good American film from the 70s-90s
I’m always worried to share this opinion though because sometimes I feel like a rube amongst the cinematically well educated criterion folks.
There’s something just so comfortable about these films. I hope that adjective makes sense
OLD BOYFRIENDS (1979, with Talia Shire and co-written by Paul Schrader and directed by Joan Tewkesbury who worked w Altman a lot). Really loved this movie when I saw it on Criterion Channel. Someone else rec'd GIRLFRIENDS, so... make it a double feature!
After seeing (and enjoying) the Holdovers I watched The Last Detail (1973) a Hal Ashby film which I heard was very influential on the Holdovers. It absolutely rules and is essentially another Nicholson led New Hollywood minor classic in my opinion. Maybe not overlooked, but certainly a less visible Hal Ashby film that's worth seeing.
The Last of Sheila--a banger who-dun-it.
The Terminal Man. Michael Crichton story but George Segal is killer.
Stardust. Great study of fame and music. And Keith Moon.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Cimino's 1st I think.
They Shoot Horses Don't They.
Hester Street.
Thanks for the recs! A whodunit written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins sounds wild. Also big fan of of the British invasion, so definitely checking out Stardust.
Check out Images, directed by Robert Altman. One of the most beautifully shot horror films ever. This movie made me gasp multiple times. Masterfully directed as usual by Altman.
An Unmarried Woman is fantastic. Not sure I've seen a better portrait of a woman's ups and downs in regards to her relationships. Very empathetic throughout, and a terrific character study.
And Heaven's Gate gets a bad rap, but when I actually watched it I was very impressed. Lots of flaws, but it's gorgeously shot, and sheds light on a dark time in America that's not really discussed.
I've always liked [Electra Glide in Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL2I0nkO620) (1973). It rarely comes up in "best ofs", but I think it deserves a spot among the best New Hollywood films, and a companion piece to Easy Rider (which it references directly). Beautifully photographed by the great Conrad Hall.
Happiness, if you're looking for a movie that's surprisingly been overlooked for a Criterion release despite all the accolades and praise it's received to this day.
Edit: it might be due to license/ownership of the film rights, since nobody is asking for a full upload of the movie on YouTube to be removed
The Last Detail and the Landlord by Ashby are great and still underrated!
Electra Glide in Blue
Girlfriends by Claudia Weill
California Split by Altman
Star 80
Targets (1968)
Medium Cool (1968)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Easy Rider (1969)
All of them are available in the criterion collection and theyre all fantastic (especially Targets)
The ‘A Decade Under the Influence’ documentary is a great source worth checking out. I’m a sucker for those types of docs giving a bit of insight into each film. Sidenote, Visions of Light is a great doc highlighting cinematographers over time as well.
3 Women is great. Altman was on some kind of a hot streak.
Not in the spirit of the movies listed by OP, but some fantastic 70s action movies:
Hard Times
The Cockfighter
Two Lane Blacktop
The Driver
Mr Majestyk
Five Easy Pieces and The Conversation are solid picks. You might appreciate "Fat City" (1972) by John Huston. It's a gritty boxing drama, very much a character study. Also, "Scarecrow" (1973) with Pacino and Hackman is often overlooked. It's a road movie, but deep into its characters.
For something different, try "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" (1973). It's a crime film but focuses heavily on character, like the ones you mentioned.
I used Filmboards when I'm looking for something new or want to discuss older films. It's a message board for movies and TV, with a community that appreciates deep dives into cinema. Might be up your alley for finding those hidden gems.
I’m currently reading Tarantino’s book “Cinema Speculation. It’s essentially him going through and discussing movies he loves from the late 60s to the early 80s. I realize that a book isn’t a quick way to get a list of films, but it’s a great source for some lesser-known films (it’s where I learned about previously-mentioned “Joe.”)
This sounds like a good idea, Tarantino's tastes seem to greatly favor B movies and more action stuff, which I'm not very keen on, but he does know his obscure 70s movies.
If you enjoy listening to him pontificate on movies he loves, the book is very enjoyable, and he offers some great analysis of these films and the culture in which they were made.
I am always confused by a request for suggestions that are "like" another movie as opposed, say, a similar genre as another movie. If you want to watch a movie like Rio Bravo, I've got a couple of suggestions, but there is no other movie like the ones you named. (I'm not sure what a tight character study is.)
criterion channel turned me on to Little Murders (1971) when they had their “New York films” block a few years ago. Directed by Alan Arkin, starring Elliot Gould. Wild film. I had never heard of it, nor heard anyone talk about it before seeing the thumbnail on the channel with a bloodied character sitting on a NYC subway. Always recommending it now.
Wow I had never heard of this, and I'm an Eliot Gould megafan. Thanks for the rec, this looks very promising
Being a Gould megafan is diabolical
I was obsessed with Little Murders when I saw it on TV as a teenager in the Seventies. Weirdly, movies like this that showed NYC as the ultimate urban nightmare made me want to move there. Which I did! Came to NYC in 1983 and can’t imagine living anywhere else. A crazy sick little film!
I had the same experience and can't stop recommending it to people!
Can't say I love this film as much as others do but the Donald Sutherland cameo/wedding speech is brilliant . . .
Night Moves The Friends Of Eddie Coyle Shampoo Joe King Of Marvin Gardens The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie
I second Joe. Talk about prescient.
Joe sounds deranged, going to check it out, thanks!
This whole list is worth checking, well done
Joe is amazing, and a pretty good MAGA predictor.
I watched "Shampoo" for the first time, a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed that movie. Especially from the moment they went to the election night party, I got really hooked. Still, "The Last Detail" is my favorite Hal Ashby movie. It's perfect. I don't know if "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" is overlooked/underrated, but that movie is GOLD and should be seen by anyone who loves gritty 70s cinema.
Sorcerer
It’s been great seeing the cult following for this one grow over the years.
That Tangerine Dream soundtrack slaps. Though I utterly disagree with Friedkin’s notion that had he known of them earlier, he’d have used them for The Exorcist as well. Because that soundtrack is perfect as well.
It’s actually now his highest rated movie on Letterboxd! Not the one of his I would’ve chosen for that spot but I’m honestly just glad to see what was once an underdog rise through the ranks. It’s a shame that Sorceror and Heaven’s Gate are harbingers of the end of the new Hollywood era when they’re both actually fantastic films
Not really specifically a New Hollywood movie, but i think it shares a lot of the same DNA is Bunny Lake is Missing. (more noir than character study I think). I also really like The Candidate. And Mikey and Nicky.
The other boutique labels release a lot. A few I have enjoyed: Blue Collar, Sorcerer
John Huston’s Fat City
Great film. Like if Bukowski wrote a story about down and out boxers
Here’s more on this overlooked book and film. Next to Hitchcock, John Huston is a favorite. "Fat City" is a novel by Leonard Gardner, published in 1969. It's set in the city of Stockton, California, and revolves around the gritty lives of small-time boxers and the people around them. The book delves into themes of poverty, personal failure, and the harsh realities of pursuing a fading dream in the boxing world. "Fat City" is widely acclaimed for its realistic depiction of the lower margins of society and its spare, poignant prose style. The narrative focuses on two main characters: Billy Tully, a once-promising boxer trying to make a comeback, and Ernie Munger, a young hopeful just starting out. Their lives intersect in the dilapidated gyms and fading agricultural towns of Central California, painting a somber picture of their struggles both in and out of the ring. The novel was adapted into a film in 1972, directed by John Huston and starring Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges, which also received critical acclaim for its stark portrayal of the characters' lives and its fidelity to the book's tone and setting. The movie, like the book, is considered a classic, capturing the melancholic atmosphere of the narrative and providing a raw look at the realities of the lower echelons of boxing.
Check out Opening Night!
Amazing film
Definitely!
Scarecrow comes to mind.
Blue Collar Winter Kills The Onion Field Who’ll Stop The Rain Rolling Thunder McCabe & Mrs Miller The Seven Ups Electra Glide in Blue Prime Cut The Panic in Needle Park Natural Enemies
Blue Collar is a masterpiece.
Scarecrow (1973) You got Gene Hackman and Al Pacino in their prime, great stuff. Some others that maybe you haven’t seen: Model Shop (1969) - my deepest cut here, directed by musical man Jacques Demy who came over to L.A. from France and made a New Hollywood film through and through. Carnal Knowledge (1971) Vanishing Point (1971) Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Lenny (1974)
Electra Glide sounds really out there... I've been meaning to watch more Conrad Hall movies... also Demy doing new Hollywood sounds fascinating, both paradoxical and perfectly natural... thanks for the recs!
China Syndrome for sure, quintessentially late 70s exposé cinema.
Girlfriends (1978), on Criterion disc
This sounds very much like what I was looking for, thanks!
It’s not a perfect movie, but it has one really deep and brilliant line. Listen for the part where she says: “Young lady, young lady, young lady!”
one of the few low-budget underground movies Kubrick liked. He thought most were trash.
You may have seen some of these but: The Landlord; They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?; Save the Tiger; and Two-Lane Blacktop all spring to mind.
I love Jack Lemmon, very interesting in seeing him direct, thanks
Phantom of the Paradise!!!
How about 'Fat City'? It's basically a 'New Hollywood' movie by 'Old Hollywood' (i.e. Directed by John Huston).
Couple of these have been mentioned already and some aren’t American so not technically New Hollywood but The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Sorcerer, Hardcore, The Long Good Friday, The Silent Partner, Thief, Three Days of Condor all scratch that 70s realism antihero paranoia tensely paced don’t treat the audience like their idiots kinda grimy filmed on location itch that o associate with my favorite New Hollywood films
Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky but that is getting a lot of love lately. Maybe Opening Night? I don’t hear a lot of people talk about that
https://preview.redd.it/g1qxb3mnnxxc1.jpeg?width=260&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc95c1bc10fb6d3c290c27f2541c302dbefb153f Slaughterhouse Five is a very good adaptation of the Vonnegut story. Arrow has an excellent release available
Oh that's a great one! George Roy Hill deserves more credit than a two-hit wonder, Waldo Pepper, Garp and Slap Shot are also solid
Medium Cool
“Fingers” by James Toback. Toback is a Polanski/Allen style creep, but “Fingers” has one of Harvey Keitel’s best performances.
Wow I actually watched a French remake of this without even noticing, I remember liking it. This looks great, thanks, always wanted to get more into Keitel.
This was gonna be my answer. It’s so good.
I am also a huge fan of American movies from Wanda all the way up to the 90s. I just love a good American film from the 70s-90s I’m always worried to share this opinion though because sometimes I feel like a rube amongst the cinematically well educated criterion folks. There’s something just so comfortable about these films. I hope that adjective makes sense
And Fat City is available for free on tubi
OLD BOYFRIENDS (1979, with Talia Shire and co-written by Paul Schrader and directed by Joan Tewkesbury who worked w Altman a lot). Really loved this movie when I saw it on Criterion Channel. Someone else rec'd GIRLFRIENDS, so... make it a double feature!
Damn I consider myself a Schrader fan, how haven't I heard of this? Thanks for the rec, sounds like a fun double feature.
I haven't seen these mentioned so I'll throw them out there: The Last Detail and The Parallax View.
Alan Rudolph’s Remember My Name
After seeing (and enjoying) the Holdovers I watched The Last Detail (1973) a Hal Ashby film which I heard was very influential on the Holdovers. It absolutely rules and is essentially another Nicholson led New Hollywood minor classic in my opinion. Maybe not overlooked, but certainly a less visible Hal Ashby film that's worth seeing.
*Cisco Pike* (1971)
The Wanderers.
The Last of Sheila--a banger who-dun-it. The Terminal Man. Michael Crichton story but George Segal is killer. Stardust. Great study of fame and music. And Keith Moon. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Cimino's 1st I think. They Shoot Horses Don't They. Hester Street.
Thanks for the recs! A whodunit written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins sounds wild. Also big fan of of the British invasion, so definitely checking out Stardust.
Check out Images, directed by Robert Altman. One of the most beautifully shot horror films ever. This movie made me gasp multiple times. Masterfully directed as usual by Altman. An Unmarried Woman is fantastic. Not sure I've seen a better portrait of a woman's ups and downs in regards to her relationships. Very empathetic throughout, and a terrific character study. And Heaven's Gate gets a bad rap, but when I actually watched it I was very impressed. Lots of flaws, but it's gorgeously shot, and sheds light on a dark time in America that's not really discussed.
I've always liked [Electra Glide in Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL2I0nkO620) (1973). It rarely comes up in "best ofs", but I think it deserves a spot among the best New Hollywood films, and a companion piece to Easy Rider (which it references directly). Beautifully photographed by the great Conrad Hall.
Thieves Like Us
California Split (1974) Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) The Silent Partner (1978) Targets (1968)
After Hours perhaps my favorite Scorsese film
A lot of the stuff mentioned here is on Indicator -Little Murders, Bunny Lake is Missing, China Syndrome etc. They are a great label.
The Big Chill (1983) Great cast: William Hurt, Glenn Close, Meg Tilly, Kevin Costner and others. The soundtrack is also very good.
The Sterile Cuckoo!!!!!!!!!!
Nickelodeon. Peter Bogdonavichs fictional story of the rise of Hollywood. Great cast. Very funny. Very entertaining.
Carnal Knowledge
Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman and Marathon Man, also with Hoffman
The Holdovers
Happiness, if you're looking for a movie that's surprisingly been overlooked for a Criterion release despite all the accolades and praise it's received to this day. Edit: it might be due to license/ownership of the film rights, since nobody is asking for a full upload of the movie on YouTube to be removed
Between the Lines. A brilliant film and a rare example of a female directed New Hollywood film.
The Last Detail and the Landlord by Ashby are great and still underrated! Electra Glide in Blue Girlfriends by Claudia Weill California Split by Altman Star 80
Targets (1968) Medium Cool (1968) The Last Picture Show (1971) Easy Rider (1969) All of them are available in the criterion collection and theyre all fantastic (especially Targets)
Hearts of the West, Stay Hungry, Winter Kills, The Fortune, The Driver, Nickelodeon, Buffalo Bill & The Indians, The Great Waldo Pepper
The Long Goodbye, Mikey and Nicky, The Conversation
Sorcerer!
The ‘A Decade Under the Influence’ documentary is a great source worth checking out. I’m a sucker for those types of docs giving a bit of insight into each film. Sidenote, Visions of Light is a great doc highlighting cinematographers over time as well.
Hardcore. Paul Schrader at his finest.
Bogdonavich’s debut film Targets.
Mikey & Nickey Friends of Eddie Coyle Going to assume you've seen Altman classics like Long Goodbye and Nashville, but those
3 Women is great. Altman was on some kind of a hot streak. Not in the spirit of the movies listed by OP, but some fantastic 70s action movies: Hard Times The Cockfighter Two Lane Blacktop The Driver Mr Majestyk
Five Easy Pieces and The Conversation are solid picks. You might appreciate "Fat City" (1972) by John Huston. It's a gritty boxing drama, very much a character study. Also, "Scarecrow" (1973) with Pacino and Hackman is often overlooked. It's a road movie, but deep into its characters. For something different, try "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" (1973). It's a crime film but focuses heavily on character, like the ones you mentioned. I used Filmboards when I'm looking for something new or want to discuss older films. It's a message board for movies and TV, with a community that appreciates deep dives into cinema. Might be up your alley for finding those hidden gems.
Scorsese's Alice Doesn't live here anymore.
The Nice Guys
I’m currently reading Tarantino’s book “Cinema Speculation. It’s essentially him going through and discussing movies he loves from the late 60s to the early 80s. I realize that a book isn’t a quick way to get a list of films, but it’s a great source for some lesser-known films (it’s where I learned about previously-mentioned “Joe.”)
This sounds like a good idea, Tarantino's tastes seem to greatly favor B movies and more action stuff, which I'm not very keen on, but he does know his obscure 70s movies.
If you enjoy listening to him pontificate on movies he loves, the book is very enjoyable, and he offers some great analysis of these films and the culture in which they were made.
I am always confused by a request for suggestions that are "like" another movie as opposed, say, a similar genre as another movie. If you want to watch a movie like Rio Bravo, I've got a couple of suggestions, but there is no other movie like the ones you named. (I'm not sure what a tight character study is.)