The 10 Best 70s Action Movies

Guy Vizard and ComingSoon present The 10 Best 70s Action Movies.  First of all hats off to Vizard on his list.  Usually I have to create my own Top 3 photo for the top of the post.  My top three matched Vizard’s photo perfectly.  With that said, using just Vizard’s list, here are his comments (and mine) for my top three:

Dirty Harry (1971)

When a crazed sniper attacks random citizens in San Francisco, Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan is charged with bringing the madman to justice. Between this role, and his Western roles, it’s easy to see why Clint Eastwood is the bad-ass who inspired generations of bad-asses to come. Callahan is the original tough-guy cop who carries a big gun. He doesn’t need words. He just understands that scum breeds more scum, and a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Dirty Harry offers some extreme violence for the time, and brings up very realistic fears which are still relevant to this day. This movie, along with The French Connection, laid the ground work for every cop movie and TV show that followed.

Craig’s comments:  Dirty Harry is a classic.  I was 13 when I saw it on its initial theatrical release.  I don’t know how many times I’ve seen DH over the years, but it hasn’t lost any of its luster.  Vizard is on point when he says Dirty Harry “laid the ground work for every cop movie and TV show that followed.”

Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon is one of the most important martial arts movies of all time. This was the first time Hollywood had produced this type of film, and it brought Bruce Lee into the mainstream American cinema. The story follows a secret agent who must go undercover at a madman’s martial arts competition on an isolated island to uncover a secret opium-selling operation. Bruce Lee choreographed the amazing fights and stunt work. There are some truly notable fights in this movie, including the scene where Lee single-handedly takes on 50 men. The importance of this movie for both Chinese and American cinema, plus video-games and cartoons, cannot be overstated. There would be no Mortal Kombat without this movie.

Craig’s comments:  Enter the Dragon is probably the movie I’ve seen more times than any other outside of Rocky.  It was the first VHS movie I ever owned and I watched it repeatedly.  Enter the Dragon was Bruce Lee’s tour de force and is THE best martial acts movie of all time.

The Warriors (1979)

Based on a novel by Sol Yurick and directed by Walter Hill, The Warriors is a taut little action flick about a tough street gang wrongfully accused of killing the most powerful gang leader in the city. They must fight their way back to their home turf while avoiding every other gang that’s out for blood. Walter Hill brings such a cool style to this story about rival thugs, capturing some of the most fun characters and fistfights of the time. The music, lingo, and clothing are all fantastic. This is a fun, funky ride with crazy street warfare, all wrapped up in a colorful bow with a nice quick run time. Can you dig it?

Craig’s comments: Like Dirty Harry and Enter the Dragon, The Warriors is a classic action film.  No matter how many times you view The Warriors you can’t help but get sucked into the film as they battle their way back to safe ground.