The Warriors (1979)
QFS No. 178 -The Warriors is one in a line of post-apocalyptic New York films, John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981, QFS No. 61) being one of the preeminent in the subgenre which we saw a few years ago together. Throw in a little Soylent Green (1976), I Am Legend (2007), Cloverfield (2008), the terrible End of Days (1999) and top it off with this week’s selection and you’ve got yourself the makings of a viable subgenre.
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
QFS No. 170 - Sam Peckinpah is one of those filmmakers who’s beloved by a lot of people – especially filmmakers – and was known primarily for the Western genre, first as a writer then director. The Wild Bunch (1969) remains a classic (and violent) reinvention of the Western and a favorite of many. Straw Dogs (1971), The Getaway (1972), Convoy (1978), Cross of Iron (1977) are all revered in their own ways and I challenge you to find a better title than Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974).
Death Race 2000 (1975)
QFS No. 146 - The late great Roger Corman produced this film about a dystopic, mayhem-ridden future. And I, for one, have been keen on seeing it. It takes place in the distant future, the year 2000! What will life be like then? Who knows! Well, the late great Roger Corman will tell you!
A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
QFS No. 145 - We haven’t yet selected a John Cassavetes film here at Quarantine Film Society and this shortcoming has sent shockwaves throughout the organization.* What’s just as shocking is that I, your humble narrator, have never seen a Cassavetes film. In 2013, The New Yorker, wrote that Cassavetes “may be the most influential American director of the last half century” and A Woman Under the Influence (1974) Cassavetes’ most beloved work.
Wanda (1971)
QFS No. 138 - Woah, what’s that you say? You’ve never heard of Wanda? You uncivilized movie ignoramus. That’s outrageous, well I oughta…
Okay fine. Neither had I.
Klute (1971)
QFS No. 128 - Alan Pakula is one of the great workman filmmakers who seemingly gets overlooked in conversations about the best directors of an era. His films speak for themselves. All the President’s Men (1976) is just an utterly stellar film that really showcases an incredibly adept filmmaker at the top of his game. Throw in The Parallax View (1974), Sophie’s Choice (1982), Presumed Innocent (1990), The Pelican Brief (1993) along with Klute and that alone would be enough to call it a career.