The 70s were filled with gritty crime dramas. This was a time when the gangster genre was thriving, and other, more "down to earth" crime stories were being made by directors like Martin Scorsese. Perhaps its the general grittiness of the 70s themselves that inspired such violent stories, as major cities, like New York City, were going through tough times.
Many gritty dramas have aged exceptionally well, but like anything from the 70s, there are a few that haven't exactly stood the test of time. These are five gritty crime dramas from the 70s that haven't aged well, and five that are timeless.
10 Not Well: Mean Streets (1973)
Mean Streets marked the major studio debut of iconic director Martin Scorsese. It stars some of his favorite actors, including Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro, whose performance as Johnny Boy Civello remains electrifying.
But Mean Streets plays like the first album of a band who would later go on to much greater success. It's certainly not a bad film by any means, but it's overshadowed by Scorsese's more accomplished later works.
9 Timeless: The Godfather (1972)
With a wide release of March 1972, The Godfather is perhaps the greatest crime drama ever made. The movie was exceptionally violent for its time, and its gangster story has proved wildly influential for the genre. All of the impeccable performances hold up to this day, as do the stellar editing and production values.
The Godfather is just as brilliant today as it was in 1972, even with the myriad copycats that have tried (and failed) to replicate its wild success.
8 Not Well: Dillinger (1973)
There's no question that famed bank robber John Dillinger deserves his own movie. But Dillinger isn't it.
To its credit, Dillinger has a few unique aspects, including its narration and the un-romanticized glimpse into its characters and their violent lives, but it borrows a little too much from what came before (primarily 1967's Bonnie and Clyde). The movie is also weirdly over-acted, which could prove annoying, for some, today.
7 Timeless: The Godfather Part II (1974)
No one thought that a Godfather sequel would be a good idea. But The Godfather Part II proved all the skeptics wrong and presented audiences with what is arguably the greatest sequel ever made.
Everything about Part II is bigger and grander than its predecessors - bigger budget, more elaborate sets and locations, and a longer, more epic story. The 200-minute runtime may test the patience for some, but The Godfather Part II is still an exceptional film.
6 Not Well: Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)
Assault on Precinct 13 belongs to John Carpenter. Carpenter made the movie for just $100,000, having directed, written, edited, and scored it himself. And while it's certainly an influential and groundbreaking film - infamous for the scene in which a young girl is shot and killed on screen - it doesn't really hold up.
The movie plays out much like it is - a cheap exploitation film from the 70s. It's a piece of movie history, but that doesn't mean that it has remained entertaining.
5 Timeless: Taxi Driver (1976)
2019's Joker was often compared to Taxi Driver. That just proves how timeless the themes of Taxi Driver truly are.
This movie is often remembered for its final 10 minutes, in which Travis goes on his violent rampage. But the entire movie is truly fantastic, full of grit, violence, depravity, and a stunning performance from Robert De Niro. Its themes of mental health, loneliness, and the inability to fit in will forever remain universal and relatable.
4 Not Well: Across 110th Street (1972)
Across 100th Street is a race and class-related movie that blends the Blaxploitation genre with film noir. The title is taken from New York City's 110th Street, which was quite infamous in the 1970s for dividing poor and squalid Harlem with the rich and prosperous area of Central Park.
It works great as a little history piece, as it richly captures 1970s New York City. But the movie rests a lot on its violence, which is now a little tame, and the Blaxploitation genre, which was left behind in the early 70s.
3 Timeless: The French Connection (1971)
Just squeaking into the 70s is William Friedkin's The French Connection, based on a non-fiction book detailing a prosperous heroin smuggling operation.
This movie is widely known as one of the greatest crime dramas of all time, maybe even one of the greatest movies, period. It took home five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and its screenplay is widely touted as a masterpiece. Even its more technical aspects, like the famous car chase, have not dated.
2 Not Well: Live And Let Die (1973)
By the early 70s, the James Bond franchise was leaning into the popular Blaxploitation genre itself, resulting in Live and Let Die.
This is easily one of the darker and more realistic Bond films, as it follows a drug baron and drug trafficking rather than something outrageous that will cause the end of the world. It even ventures into voodoo, leading the story a somewhat unsettling tone. But aside from the timeless Paul McCartney tune, Live and Let Die is very much a product of its time.
1 Timeless: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Another masterpiece of the crime drama is Sidney Lumet's Dog Day Afternoon, which further proved the total dominance of Al Pacino. The film was released just nine months after The Godfather Part II and it reunited stars Al Pacino and John Cazale, who play bank robbers Sonny Wortzik and Salvatore Naturale.
It's arguably one of the greatest "bank robbery" movies ever made, thanks in large part to its terrific cast and rich characterizations.
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