Hollywood in the 1970's Pt. I

There are two books that I have read within the past year that are in many ways unlike other books I have read: Easy Riders, Raging Bulls and You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again. Both books revolve around the state of the motion picture industry in the 1970's and provide a truthful insight regarding the players in the game. Some key points I have gathered from Easy Riders, Raging Bulls:


If anyone has slept with more women that Wilt Chamberlin, it was Warren Beatty.

The nerds of Hollywood were Spielberg and Lucas.

If there is a director who makes films solely for the purposes of the unconventional, it is Robert Altman.

Leonard Cohen does an amazing soundtrack for McCabe and Mrs. Miller. But, throughout the movie - one frequently asks - WTF is the purpose of the western period peace.

Martin Scorsese had a terrible coke problem and is sort of a hypochondriac.

Jackson Browne's music video in Taxi Driver was the only song used from the period. The rest was a haunting and original score from Elmer Bernstein.

All the President's Men (Redford, Hoffman) is really a story about good journalism, not Watergate.

Terrence Malick is a literary, script-writing genius who never gets the credit he deserves (and then exiles himself, temporarily - abroad).

Martin Sheen is the man. My God. What a talent. Especially in Badlands.

Godfather Pt.II is the best film in the trilogy. If you disagree, I can convince you otherwise. But it accordingly goes to the tune of: Young Vito's (De Niro) rise is totally in sync with Michael/the family's demise - which is often overlooked. Brilliant, Francis.

Jaws, may likely have ruined Hollywood. While still a great film and can still scare the Hell out of me, it was the beginning of the Summer Blockbuster - which has since been known to produce feces.

Mark Hamill ruined his face in a car accident after Star Wars. Look closely in Empire Strikes Back (opening scene, when he get's whacked off of his snow llama). Yes, that mug was somewhat shifted.

Harrison Ford evolved in to an actual real-life pilot (thanks, Millenium Falcon). I was in the Grand Tetons one summer. My cab driver told me about some mountain climbers who got stuck on South Teton. Old Harry Ford took his chopper up and saved them. Then was fined by the state for some reason along the lines of a license, or using a radio signal out of his jurisdiction.

The Deer Hunter is my favorite movie with Huge, Huge flaws. Character building, racism, story-line. We can talk about it if you disagree. I've read four essays on the flaws of The Deer Hunter. I hated reading them, but I couldn't argue.

The Day of the Jackal - later inspired The Jackal (Bruce Willis, Richard Gere). Great movie. Keeps one guessing.

More to come later.