The 1970s were truly an extraordinary time for movie comedies, as many incredible films broke down social and political boundaries. This was an era where it became possible to joke about subjects related to sex and vulgarity that had previously been off-limits, and many iconic comedians became household names. While this was the decade in which filmmakers like Mel Brooks and Woody Allen took Hollywood by storm, even those acclaimed directors had some comedies that barely anyone remembers today.
The verybest comedies of the 1970shave remained beloved classics that film lovers rewatch and enjoy countless times over. However, when digging deep to rediscover some long-forgotten hidden gems, it’s striking just how many underappreciated releases with stars like John Belushi, Jack Nicholson, and Gene Wilder there are out there for those willing to wade through the rough. Althoughthere are some 1970s comedies that have been forgotten for a reason, there are many more that are ripe for reappraisal.
1941
Cast
1941 is a war comedy directed by Steven Spielberg that depicts Los Angeles during the days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as members of a misfit group of soldiers and civilians who panic over a potential Japanese invasion. 1941 explores the ensuing chaos and hijinks as the characters try to defend the city.
After achieving astounding back-to-back success withJawsandClose Encounters of the Third Kind, it seemeddirector Steven Spielbergcould do no wrong. That was until the release of his World War II screwball comedy,1941. Despite boasting an incredibly talented cast that included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Christopher Lee, and John Candy, this story based on Los Angeles panic following the attack on Pearl Harbor lacked the magic of Spielberg’s best work and was a rare misstep in this early part of his career.
While1941was a visually spectacular showcase of Spielberg’s skill as a director, it was overlong and suffered from an uneven tone. More so than anything, it showcased that outright comedies were not Spielberg’s strong suit, and he would much more effectively depict the Second World War in later successes likeSaving Private RyanandSchindler’s List. Spielberg himself considered the film a disappointment (viaEW), stating that he was “not embarrassed by it” but that “it wasn’t funny enough.”
What’s Up, Doc?
What’s Up, Doc? is a screwball comedy directed by Peter Bogdanovich, featuring Barbra Streisand, Ryan O’Neal, and Madeline Kahn. The film revolves around four identical plaid overnight bags that get mixed up during a chaotic stay at a San Francisco hotel. Combining slapstick humor with rapid-fire dialogue, the film pays homage to classic comedies of the 1930s and 1940s.
Despite being one of the most successful movies of 1972,What’s Up, Doc?hasn’t really maintained much of a lasting legacy among mainstream audiences. This can often be the case with comedies, as what made viewers of the 1970s laugh hysterically can feel stuffy and outdated today. While it’s no slight against the film itself,What’s Up, Doc?was a screwball comedy that paid homage to themovies of the 1920sthrough the 1940s, and itsreferences to films like 1938’sBringing Up Babymay be lost on modern viewers.
Although these are some reasonsWhat’s Up, Doc?may not be as well known as the greatest comedies of the 1970s, but for those in on the joke, it’s still truly hilarious. Barbra Streisand gave an energetic performance, and Ryan O’Neal was never funnier than in this outrageous comedic farce. References to old Warner Bros. cartoons likeBugs Bunnyhave certainly maintained their relevance, and lovers of an older style of slapstick comedy should be sure to check out this underappreciated hidden gem.
The Kentucky Fried Movie
The Kentucky Fried Movie, directed by John Landis and written by the Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker trio, is a satirical sketch comedy film comprising various segments. This 1977 release is known for its adult humor, parodying contemporary culture, movies, and television, thereby reflecting the unique comedic style that the creative team would later bring to Airplane! and The Naked Gun series.
The Kentucky Fried Moviewas the first film by the comedy writing trio known as Zaz, which consisted of Jim Abrahams and brothers David and Jerry Zucker. This release tends to be overshadowed by their later work, which included classics likeAirplane!andThe Naked Gun, but it was no less funny and has sadly fallen by the wayside when speaking about the most hilarious movies of this decade. Packed with over-the-cop carnage,The Kentucky Fried Moviefocused on the daily life of a fictional TV channeland included plenty of off-the-wall sketches.
Perhaps the reasonThe Kentucky Fried Moviehasn’t had the same lasting power as other Zaz-written films was its sketch-like set-up, which lacked the narrative hook of their later successes. However, this John Landis movie perfectly balanced incredible wit with pure juvenile humor and set the director up nicely for his iconic follow-up film,National Lampoon’s Animal House.The Kentucky Fried Moviehas been upstaged by the more well-known later work of its creators, but for those in the know, it’s got everything a viewer could want out of a 1970s comedy.
The Groove Tube (1974) dupe
By blending highly recognizable parodies of classic properties like2001: A Space Odysseyand painfully dated references to 1970s television,The Groove Tubewas a mixed bag that will likely alienate younger viewers. A true product of its time, this forgotten comedy was comprised of skits that make fun of 1970s television. However, it’s notable for featuring early appearances from future stars like Chevy Chase, who would go on to utilize some of the material here onSaturday Night Live.
The Groove Tubewas just one of many examples of movies that achieved great success at the box office when they were released but became quickly dated. Like the worst spoof films such asMeet the SpartansorEpic Movie,The Groove Tubewas aimed at viewers who were innately familiar with the topics they were making fun of, and today, it’s not got a lot to offer. While there’s the glimmer of stars like Chase’s bright future, it’s also a prime example of the reason some comedies get forgotten about over time.
The Fortune
The Fortune is a 1975 comedy film directed by Mike Nichols. It stars Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson as a pair of con men who concoct a scheme to swindle a wealthy heiress, played by Stockard Channing. Set in the 1920s, the film explores themes of greed and deception as the characters navigate a complex web of lies and misadventures.
Coming just afterChinatownand right beforeOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the 1970s was packed with so manyiconic Jack Nicholson moviesthat it’s no surprise some have since fallen under the radar. One release that rarely gets a mention these days was the 1975 comedyThe Fortune,starring Nicholson opposite Warren Beatty. As the story of two bumbling hustlers in the 1920s trying to gain a heiress’s fortune, these con men are determined that nothing will stand in their way, not even murder.
The Fortunewas a total farce that echoed the kind of comedies most prominently produced during the 1920s. With an old-fashioned style that boasted a cast including some of the 1970s most prominent performers,The Fortunefelt like it paid homage to the past while still remaining modern and relevant. However, this merging of eras did not have the same narrative heft as similar 1970s classics likeThe Stingand has been mostly forgotten by modern viewers.
Love and Death
Love and Death is a comedy film that satirizes Russian literature, particularly the works of Leo Tolstoy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the film follows the misadventures of Boris Grushenko, a cowardly and uncertain Russian soldier who becomes embroiled in a series of absurd and fantastical events.
Before making comedy history when his rom-comAnnie Halltook home Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Woody Allen had spent the 1970s making outright comedies that focused on slapstick and absurd humor. This led to acclaimed releases likeBananasandSleeper, although one great movie that often gets overlooked wasLove and Death. Asa satire of Russian literature,Love and Deathmay have leaned a little too heavily into Allen’s more intellectual influences, as it risked alienating some viewers.
Love and Deathpaired Allen with his frequent collaborator Diane Keaton as he parodied the greats of Russian literature like Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy while also paying homage to slapstick icons such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. As characters during the Napoleonic Era engaged in mock-serious philosophical debates,Love and Deathsimultaneously celebrates and laughs at the ridiculousness of serious art and philosophy. While the pastiche ofLove and Deathmay not have as much broad appeal as Allen’s most acclaimed work, for those in on the joke, it’s truly hysterical.
The Big Bus (1976)
The Big Bus is a satirical disaster film directed by James Frawley, featuring Joseph Bologna as the driver of the world’s first nuclear-powered bus. Set on a cross-country journey from New York to Denver, the film humorously parodies the disaster movie genre through a series of farcical scenarios and eccentric characters, including a twisted subplot involving sabotage. The ensemble cast includes Stockard Channing, John Beck, and René Auberjonois.
BeforeAirplane!earned its reputation as the definitive disaster spoof movie of the 1970s, there wasThe Big Bus, a cult classic that’s packed with jokes. Following the maiden cross-country trip of an enormous bus named Cyclops,The Big Bussaw this extraordinary vehicle utilize nuclear fuel for a non-stop trip from Denver to New York. Of course, things don’t go exactly according to plan as a mysterious group allied with the oil lobby attempts to derail the journey.
The Big Busfeatured nonstop humor that truly holds up to this day, but disappointingly, it underperformed at the box office and only built up its underappreciated cult status through TV airings over the years. With a healthy mix of clever wit and truly mindlessly silly sequences,The Big Busfeatured plenty of send-ups toward the then hugely popular disaster movie genre. While it does not have the same timeless quality asAirplane!It’s a solid parody that’s well worth seeking out.
Silent Movie
Silent Movie (1976) is a satirical comedy directed by and starring Mel Brooks. The story follows a down-on-his-luck director who attempts to save a failing movie studio by creating a silent film in the modern era. Featuring an ensemble cast including Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise, and Bernadette Peters, the film humorously explores the challenges of making a silent movie amid a world dominated by sound-driven cinema.
While iconic Mel Brooks classics likeBlazing SaddlesandYoung Frankensteinparodied the still popular Western and horror movie genres, it’s not surprising thatSilent Moviehas had less of a lasting impact. By producing the film in the style of already defunct silent movie practices, with title cards instead of dialogue and an orchestral accompaniment,Silent Moviealready risked alienating viewers in 1976. However, many of these viewers also grew up before the advent of sound pictures and could appreciate, relate to, and recognize the conventions that were being spoofed.
This is less true today, as most contemporary viewers don’t spend much time going back and rewatching classic silent movies of the past. However, those who outright dismissSilent Moviewill be doing themselves a disservice, as its affectionate look back on the style of cinematic greats like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton was truly effective. It may not resonate with all viewers, butSilent Moviewas packed with gagsand was just as funny as Brooks' other, more palatable films.
A New Leaf
A New Leaf is a 1971 comedy film directed by Elaine May and based on a short story by Jack Ritchie. The film stars Walter Matthau as Henry Graham, a broke playboy who plots to marry a wealthy woman and then dispose of her for her money. Elaine May plays Henrietta Lowell, the naive botanist and heiress he targets.
A New Leafwas the directional debut of Elaine May, which stood as a historical moment as not since the success of Ida Lupino in the 1950s had a woman achieved a Hollywood directing deal (viaNew York Times.) As a writer, director, and actress, May excelled inA New Leaf, a dark comedy featuringWalter Matthau as a playboy who ran out of money. In search of a rich bride-to-be, Matthau wooed May, although his carefully laid plans to poison her quickly went awry.
A hit with critics upon release,A New Leafhas not since gained the iconic status that it deserves and, although it’s well-loved by film enthusiasts, has not achieved long-lasting mainstream success. Equal parts funny and tender,A New Leafsignaled the beginnings of May’s career as a writer and director who would subsequently makeThe Heartbreak KidandMikey and Nickeyduring the 1970s. WhileA New Leafrarely gets mentioned when it comes to 1970s comedies, for those in the know, it’s one of the very best.
Where’s Poppa
Where’s Poppa is a black comedy directed by Carl Reiner, featuring George Segal as Gordon, a middle-aged lawyer in New York City who is struggling to care for his demanding, senile mother, played by Ruth Gordon. The film explores Gordon’s increasingly desperate attempts to balance his professional life and his personal responsibilities, leading to a series of darkly comedic situations.
The black comedyWhere’s Poppatook the dark subject matter of a man trying to offload his senile old mother and played it for laughs. With George Segal as the frustrating son and Ruth Gordon as his 87-year-old mother who won’t stop interfering in his love life,Where’s Poppawas appropriately recommended by film criticRoger Ebertto viewers “who want to laugh and like being offended.” The outrageous nature of this story was part of its appeal as Gordon played the confused, senile, rude, obscene, and vulgar matriarch to perfection.
Where’s Poppawas foul-mouthed and vulgar by 1970s standards, which is part of the reason it holds up so well today. By pushing contemporary viewers past their comfort zone,Where’s Poppadoes not feel as dated as other, more subdued 1970s comedies dealing with controversial issues. Directed by Carl Reiner,Where’s Poppahas not gained the same kind of recognition as his later 1970s work with Steve Martin onThe Jerk, but it’s still a hidden gem from this hilarious decade.
