It’s January 2025, and time to rewind back to 1975 as I watch seven films from that year that I’ve never seen before. Plus, a revisit of my favourite film from that year, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Will one of my seven new discoveries bump it from the top spot?
The Seven Films:
Sholay (1975, Ramesh Sippy) A tale of friendship, love, and vengeance: two ex-cons (Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra) are hired by a cop (Sanjeev Kumar) to capture a ruthless thug (Amjad Khan). With its likeable leads, intense drama, action, emotion, humour, and unforgettable music, it’s easy to see why this has become a Bollywood classic.
Strange New World (1975, Robert Butler) A sci-fi adventure in which three scientists (John Saxon, Kathleen Miller, Keene Curtis) wake from suspended animation after 180 years to a post-apocalyptic Earth. Originally two episodes of an aborted TV series, the first half is engaging, but the second half loses momentum.
The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975, Volker Schlöndorff & Margarethe von Trotta) Katharina (Angela Winkler) faces a nightmare after a brief encounter with a fugitive lands her on the front pages and in a prison cell. A low-key yet tense drama exposing media sensationalism and societal hypocrisy.
Fox and His Friends (1975, Rainer Werner Fassbinder) Fox (Fassbinder), a working-class gay man, wins the lottery and is drawn to the allure of the middle classes, only to fall victim to greed and manipulation at the hands of his new lover (Peter Chatel). A tragic tale of love, betrayal, and disillusionment.
Seven Beauties (1975, Lina Wertmüller) This darkly comic masterpiece follows Pasqualino (Giancarlo Giannini) through pre-war misadventures, a harrowing time in a concentration camp, and his post-war survival. A scathing critique of Fascist Italy, toxic masculinity, and moral compromise, grounded by Giannini’s compelling performance.
Lisztomania (1975, Ken Russell) As expected from Russell, this completely bonkers rock-opera biopic (using the term loosely) stars Roger Daltrey as Franz Liszt. A wild ride of surreal visuals, outrageous satire, and larger-than-life musical antics. Part history, part fever dream—100% insane.
Black Moon (1975, Louis Malle) Giving off strong Alice in Wonderland vibes, this surrealist tale follows a mysterious girl (Cathryn Harrison) navigating a dreamlike dystopia of war, talking animals, nonsensical dialogue, and cryptic characters. Haunting and enigmatic—not quite sure what to make of it!
Revisiting a Classic:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, Jim Sharman)
Queer. Kitsch. Saucy. Sexy. Silly. Intertextual. Love it! Rocky Horror remains my favourite film of 1975—an endlessly rewatchable cult classic bursting with unforgettable performances from Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Richard O’Brien.
Bonus Watch: Looking for Laughs
Shampoo (1975, Hal Ashby) Not many laughs in this somewhat tiresome satire starring Warren Beatty as a womanising hairdresser whose personal and professional lives collide. Goldie Hawn and Julie Christie play two of his paramours, but overall, this one wasn’t for me.
The Verdict:
Did one of the new-to-me films bump Rocky Horror from the top spot? No—nothing quite matches its chaotic brilliance. But Lisztomania gave it a run for its money with its sheer audacity, and Fox and His Friends left a lasting impact.
Ranked:
Lisztomania (1975, Ken Russell)
Fox and His Friends (1975, Rainer Werner Fassbinder)
Seven Beauties (1975, Lina Wertmüller)
Sholay (1975, Ramesh Sippy)
The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975, Volker Schlöndorff & Margarethe von Trotta)
Black Moon (1975, Louis Malle)
Bonus watch: Shampoo (1975, Hal Ashby)
Strange New World (1975, Robert Butler)
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