What some would call the grooviest decade is officially 50 years old. Many films of the early 1970s can be considered a part of the New Hollywood movement, which saw filmmakers testing uncharted waters in storytelling. Television during this time benefited, too, since it had experienced two decades of trial and error. Ironically, 1971 was also the year that Philo Farnsworth, an early television pioneer, passed away.
Iconic movies and TV shows were born in the 1970s, and some featured more diverse casts, too. There are so many films and programs to come out of 1971, and now that they're 50, it's time to revisit some of them.
10 All In The Family
All in the Family's importance in the sitcom stratosphere is not forgotten as the show reaches its 50th birthday. Produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, the series was based on Till Death Do Us Part, a British sitcom that aired in the 1960s and 70s. All in the Family focused on Archie and Edith Bunker in Queens, New York, along with their daughter, Gloria, and her husband, Mike. These four characters were played by Carroll O'Conner, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers, and Rob Reiner, respectively.
Archie is notoriously bigoted, a trait that the writers used to broaden the show's themes into wider social commentary. The very first episode came with a disclaimer about putting a "humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns." All in the Family spanned all of the decade, ending in 1979 after setting in motion an equally iconic line of spin-offs, most notably, The Jeffersons.
9 Jackson 5ive
The Jackson 5 band was discovered and brought into the Motown family in the late 1960s. Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, and Michael Jackson topped the charts with "I Want You Back" in 1969.
This famous family group got their own animated series on ABC beginning in 1971, Jackson 5ive. The Jacksons would later be given a place of honor in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but years before that, they were brought to the Saturday morning screen in a co-production between Rankin/Bass and Motown Records. The series loosely depicted the Jacksons' lives as star musicians.
8 Bedknobs And Broomsticks
Based on children's books by Mary Norton, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is one of Disney's rare live-action/animated hybrids. The musical film is often compared to Mary Poppins for the obvious similarities, and it even starred David Tomlinson (George Banks from Mary Poppins) as Emelius Browne, the love interest for Miss Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury).
On their magical adventure with the Rawlins children, Emelius and Miss Price also meet animated characters like King Leonidus (a lion), Secretary Bird, Fisherman Bear, and Codfish.
7 Soul Train
Soul Train deserves great recognition as it turns 50. The series was on the air for 35 years, and the first 20 years included its creator, Don Cornelius, as host. The late Don Cornelius once said of the show, “I had a burning desire to see Black people depicted on television in a positive light.”
Starting with a hip theme song, there was a lot to dance about on this musical series. Acts ranged in genre from pop and hip-hop to R&B, soul, and funk. As Cornelius had hoped, Soul Train shined a light on a huge variety of Black artists. These included The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye, to name a few.
6 The Electric Company
When it comes to educational kids' shows, The Electric Company is one of the most nostalgic of its time. The PBS show was produced by the Children's Television Workshop (Sesame Street), and it featured a diverse cast of children and adults.
Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno were among the series regulars. The Electric Company was the coolest way to learn about grammar and phonics with live-action and animated segments. The show was rebooted in 2009.
5 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Children of multiple generations have seen Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and many have read the 1964 book it is based on, Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There's nothing quite like stepping into Charlie's world and grabbing hold of that golden ticket with him.
Though the film can be frightening for smaller children, its eye-catching effects and bright colors lend to its one-of-a-kind story. In addition to the 2005 film, Dahl's characters will come to the screen anew in a prequel movie set for 2023.
4 Diamonds Are Forever
James Bond was born in Ian Fleming's 1953 novel, Casino Royale. But before Fleming's Bond works were complete, the character went to the big screen in 1962 and the Bond stories would gradually develop into a huge dynasty of films.
Sean Connery portrayed James Bond for the last time in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever. He had played the role in the first five Bond movies, George Lazenby took over for the sixth, and Connery finished his run with the seventh. In the film, Agent 007 must shut down a diamond smuggling ring in this aptly named installment.
3 Dirty Harry
This movie was the first in the Dirty Harry franchise. Clint Eastwood established himself as "Dirty Harry" Callaghan, an inspector looking for a psychopathic sniper with the help of an inexperienced partner named Chico Gonzalez.
The film was based on the true events of the Zodiac Killer, who was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Eastwood's line from the film, "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?" has been quoted too many times to count.
2 Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece Theatre has been bringing the finest dramatic content to public television viewers for half a century now. The program "has won 83 Primetime Emmys and 18 Peabody Awards, seven Golden Globes and two Oscars."
From Jude the Obscure and Bleak House to Upstairs, Downstairs and Wuthering Heights, the smart features of Masterpiece Theatre have provided hours of worthy entertainment to devoted fans of the program.
1 Fiddler On The Roof
Fiddler On the Roof was adapted from Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein's 1964 Broadway musical, which was based on Sholem Aleichem's stories.
The movie musical examines Jewish life and systemic anti-Semitism in a Ukrainian village in 1905 as Tevye deals with marrying off his daughters. The music of the award-winning film is a pillar of musical theatre with songs like "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man," "To Life," and "Sunrise, Sunset" established as musical mainstays for decades now.
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