With limited access to cinemas, I'm still having fun discovering new films and revisiting old favourites at home. Back in June 2020 I started an ambitious viewing project: #1930to2020. Each day I’d watch at least one film from that day’s year. Over the past 20 days I've watched 52 films from 1970 - 1989. 32 were new to me, 20 were re-visits.
You can read my blog on the 59 films I watched from 1930 – 1949 here. You can read about the 68 films I watched from 1950 - 1969 here.
You can read my comments on all the films on my twitter @cheshellen on #1930to2020 hashtag or on my letterboxd. The full list is below.
For those interested in knowing more about films directed by women, from the films I watched over these two decades 21 of the 51 films were by female filmmakers. I managed to watched one film directed by a woman from each year in this 1970 - 1989 period. Very few films by the same director which was a refreshing change. The only 'repeat' director was Joan Micklin Silver who directed three films I watched from these two decades.
In a separate viewing passion of mine I watched 6 time travel movies in the 1979 to 1989 period: The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan, Time After Time, Somewhere in Time, Time Bandits, Timestalkers and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. David Warner (right) appeared in two of these: Time Bandits & Time After Time.
Top 5 new to me films
1976: Daguerréotypes d. Agnes Varda
The most exquisite doc you could hope to see. Varda's love letter to her local shopkeepers on the Rue Daguerre, Paris. Enjoyed seeing them in action and in wittily edited interviews. Also see a local magic show. A real treasure from a lost past.
1977: Peppermint Soda d. Diane Kurys
A year in the life of two French sisters: 13 year old Anne (Eléonore Klarwein) and 15 year old Frederique (Odile Michel). Everything and nothing happens, triumphs and tribulations of one girl keen to be a woman, and her younger sister trying to keep up. A delight.
1979: My Brilliant Career d. Gillian Armstrong
Set in late 19th-century Australia yet reflecting 1970s concern. Sybylla’s (Judy Davis) desire to be a writer and not to marry marks her out as an oddity. Her spirit attracts the attention two men (Sam Neill and Robert Grubb). Lovely.
1985: Just One of the Guys d. Lisa Gottlieb
When Terry (Joyce Hyser) loses a writing competition to 2 boys, she thinks it's cos she's a girl, so transfers to another school posing as a boy. What follows is what you'd expect from a high school gender swapping comedy. A real gem.
1989: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure d. Stephen Herek
Failing history, two slackers Bill (Winter) and Ted (Reeves) have 24 hours to put together their high school history presentation, so of course they travel through time picking famous/infamous historical figures. Excellent! Party on Dudes!
Top 5 re-visits
1979: Time After Time d. Nicholas Meyer
H G Wells (Malcolm McDowell) shows off his time machine to his mates, little realising that one of them is secretly Jack the Ripper (David Warner), who uses the machine to escape the police and head into the future, Wells swiftly follows. Ace!
1980: Private Benjamin d. Howard Zieff
When Judy's (Goldie Hawn) husband dies on their wedding night, she joins the army. Comedic basic training led by tough Captain (Eileen Brennan) brings friendships/rewards. A romance with Henri (Armand Assante) really shows what she's made of.
1981: Body Heat w/d. Lawrence Kasdan
Sultry sexy Maddy (Kathleen Turner) seduces schlubby lawyer Ned (William Hurt) in this stunning stylish riff on the classic film noirs of the 40s/50s. Maddy a fabulous example of the femme fatale at work (and play). A must-see movie.
1986: Little Shop of Horrors d. Frank Oz
Suddenly and without warning... I found myself watching once again one of the sweetest, catchiest musicals about a carnivorous plant there is! Despite the odd murder or two, a delight from beginning to end, especially as film end, less dark than stage show.
1988: Salaam Bombay! d. Mira Nair
11 year old Krishna (Shafiq Syed) abandoned by a travelling circus finds himself in Bombay where he has to struggle to survive amongst the other, elder street kids, drug dealers/users, prostitutes/pimps. Devastating/beautiful - full of life/sadness.
And Here's the full list...
1. 1970: Wanda w/d. Barbara Loden
2. 1970: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever d. Vincente Minnelli
3. 1970: The AristoCats d. Wolfgang Reitherman
4. 1970: I Clowns d. Federico Fellini
5. 1971: Velvet Vampire d. Stephanie Rothman
6. 1972: The Seduction of Mimi d. Lina Wertmüller
7. 1972: The Heartbreak Kid. d. Elaine May
8. 1972: Another Fine Mess d. Bob Einstein
9. 1973: The Satanic Rights of Dracula d. Alan Gibson
10. 1973: The Way We Were d. Sydney Pollack
11. 1974: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot d. Michael Cimino
12. 1974: Je Tu Il Elle d. Chantal Akerman
13. 1975: The Naked Civil Servant d. Jack Gold
14. 1975: Hester Street d. Joan Micklin Silver
15. 1976: Daguerréotypes d. Agnes Varda
16. 1977: The Rescuers d. Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery & Art Stevens. Read my blog on The Rescuers here.
17. 1977: Come Spy With Me d. Philip Casson
18. 1977: Between the Lines d. Joan Micklin Silver
19. 1977: Peppermint Soda d. Diane Kurys
20. 1978: Return From Witch Mountain d. John Hough
21. 1978: Death on the Nile d. John Guillermin
22. 1978: Ice Castles d. Donald. Wrye
23. 1978: Girlfriends d. Claudia Weill
24. 1979: The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan d. Frank De Felitta
25. 1979: My Brilliant Career d. Gillian Armstrong
26. 1979: Time After Time d. Nicholas Meyer
27. 1980: Somewhere in Time d. Jeannot Szwarc
28. 1980: The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter d. Connie Field
29. 1980: Private Benjamin d. Howard. Zieff
30. 1981: Body Heat w/d. Lawrence Kasdan
31. 1981: Anybody’s Woman d. Bette Gordon
32. 1981: Time Bandits d. Terry Gilliam
33. 1982: Tron d. Steven Lisberger
34. 1982: Grease 2 d. Patricia Birch
35. 1983: Valley Girl d. Martha Coolidge
36. 1984: Blood. Simple d. Coen Brothers
37. 1984: Full Moon in Paris d. Eric Rohmer
38. 1984: Hookers...On Davie d. Janis Cole/Holly Dale
39. 1985: Thirteen at Dinner d. Lou Antonio
40. 1985: Just One of the Guys d. Lisa Gottlieb
41. 1985: Prizzi's Honor d. John Huston
42. 1986: Dead Man’s Folly d. Clive Donner
43. 1986: Murder in Three Acts d. Gary Nelson
44. 1986: Little Shop of Horrors d. Frank Oz
45. 1986: 2 Friends d. Jane Campion
46. 1987: Timestalkers d. Michael Schultz
47. 1987: Back to the Beach d. Lyndall Hobbs
48. 1988: Salaam Bombay! d. Mira Nair Read my blog on another Mira Nair film, Mississippi Masala here.
49. 1988: Appointment with Death d. Michael Winner
50. 1989: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure d. Stephen Herek
51. 1989: Loverboy d. Joan Micklin Silver
52. 1989: Edge of Sanity d. Gérard Kikoïne
Taking a week off from this project so I can enjoy the 5th Femme Filmmakers Festival, read more here.