Gritty, Natural, Realistic Movies of the 1970s

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

Never thought of Buffalo 66 as gritty.

Me neither, it's a highly stylised film.

[zomgmouse]

I remember seeing the Jon Voight-starring The Revolutionary at one point, might fit the bill.

A modern version of what you're looking for might be something like Heaven Can Wait.

[PeasOnSticks]

Some great examples above, especially "Wise Blood" (who also dreicted "Fat City")

"Payday" is on YouTube in full, as is one of my favorite movies, "MIkey and Nicky".... "Stroszek" is a fine movie, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l12ZoYDTkMg

'Payday' was a good tip - thanks. Lots of seedy desperation. Michael C.Gwynne as the road manager is excellent.

[willbo]

I watched a really good 70s obscure/art film called Wanda on youtube. It's basically just about a woman who has extreme ennui and drifts from place to place. It kind of touched me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsIh8DWq_PU

[Barney Sloane]

Straight Time

[buzby]

Junior Bonner - directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Steve McQueen as an aging rodeo rider who returns to his hometown in Arizona to ride in a competition and reuniting with his estranged family. One of Peckinpah's lowest-key films. It was a flop at the time of it's release, but it's well worth watching.

[prwc]

Natural Enemies, starring the late, great Hal Holbrook fits this bill perfectly. It's on YouTube and well worth a watch if you're in the mood for something grim but compelling.

Short Eyes and Skinflicker would be some other solid choices.

[MortSahlFan]

I watched a really good 70s obscure/art film called Wanda on youtube. It's basically just about a woman who has extreme ennui and drifts from place to place. It kind of touched me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsIh8DWq_PU

Barbara starred, wrote, and directed.. Unfortunately, she died very young.. Interesting movie, might like it more with a second viewing (unfortunately, I'm too busy deciding on what I HAVENT seen that I end up not seeing anything)



"Junior Bonner" was a good Peckinpah, "Straw Dogs" was very gritty.

[MortSahlFan]

The Honeymoon Killers (1970)

[jobotic]

The Honeymoon Killers (1970)

great film.