This year marks the 40th anniversary of two legendary Oscar-winning films: Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather," which won best picture, and Bob Fosse' innovative version of the musical "Cabaret," which walked away with eight Academy Awards, including for director, lead actress (Liza Minnelli) and supporting actor (Joel Grey).
The last golden age of motion pictures was in full swing in 1972. It was a year when a female director (Elaine May) was given a major studio picture to helm, two veteran directors made comebacks (John Huston and Joseph Mankiewicz), and Martin Scorsese made his second film, the cult favorite "Boxcar Bertha," for producer Roger Corman.
It was the year that saw the release of a number of strong dramas, westerns, thrillers and comedies that deserve to be remembered. On Thursday, the American Cinematheque's Aero Theatre is celebrating two films from 1972, both starring Stacy Keach — "Fat City," Huston's gritty drama based on Leonard Gardner's novel with Keach as a fighter on his way down, Jeff Bridges as a young pugilist and Oscar-nominated Susan Tyrrell as Keach's character's boozy girlfriend; and the cop drama "The New Centurions," based on Joseph Wambaugh's first bestseller that also stars George C. Scott and Jane Alexander.
Here are a few other gems from 1972 worth checking out:
'Junior Bonner'
When one thinks of Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah, the first film that comes to mind is the thriller "The Getaway." But earlier in the year, McQueen and Peckinpah collaborated on this quiet, contemporary tale of an aging rodeo cowboy who returns to his hometown of Prescott, Ariz., for his first rodeo in a year. McQueen was acclaimed for his performance and equally praised were Robert Preston as his irascible father, Ida Lupino as his tough-minded mom and Joe Don Baker as his über-successful brother Curly. "Junior Bonner" wasn't a hit when it was released, but it has grown in prestige over the past four decades.
'The Heartbreak Kid'
Forget the Farrelly brothers' crude, poorly received 2007 remake with Ben Stiller and seek out the original bittersweet comedy. Directed by May, it features a script by Neil Simon that was far darker than most of the comedies he was writing at the time. Charles Grodin, in his first major film role, plays Lenny, a New York sporting goods salesman who meets the unsophisticated Lila (May's daughter, Oscar-nominated Jeannie Berlin) and they soon marry. While on their honeymoon in Miami Beach, Lenny is appalled at his wife's eating habits and her neediness, and he meets and falls in love with a beautiful, blond college student (Cybill Shepherd). Eddie Albert also earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actor as Shepherd's stern father, who disapproves of Lenny.
'Sleuth'
Mankiewicz, who directed such films as "Letter to Three Wives" and "All About Eve," took his final curtain as a filmmaker in this adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's two-character mystery thriller, earning an Oscar nomination for direction. Laurence Olivier won the New York Film Critics Circle Award and an Oscar nomination for lead actor as Andrew Wyke, a famous mystery novelist whose country mansion resembles a fun house of games. He invites over his wife's younger lover, a hairdresser named Milo (Michael Caine, who also earned a lead actor Oscar nomination). Of course nothing goes according to plan. Ironically, Caine played the Andrew part in Kenneth Branagh's much-derided 2007 reinvention, which also starred Jude Law.
'Play It Again, Sam'
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton made their first screen appearance together in this celebrated adaptation of Allen's 1969-70 Broadway hit comedy about a divorced nebbish who seeks romantic advice from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart. Allen and Keaton's pairing in the comedy marked a beautiful movie collaboration that included 1973's "Sleeper," 1975's "Love and Death" and 1977's classic "Annie Hall." Unlike those other films, Allen didn't direct "Sam" — Herbert Ross did.
susan.king@latimes.com
The last golden age of motion pictures was in full swing in 1972. It was a year when a female director (Elaine May) was given a major studio picture to helm, two veteran directors made comebacks (John Huston and Joseph Mankiewicz), and Martin Scorsese made his second film, the cult favorite "Boxcar Bertha," for producer Roger Corman.
Here are a few other gems from 1972 worth checking out:
'Junior Bonner'
When one thinks of Steve McQueen and director Sam Peckinpah, the first film that comes to mind is the thriller "The Getaway." But earlier in the year, McQueen and Peckinpah collaborated on this quiet, contemporary tale of an aging rodeo cowboy who returns to his hometown of Prescott, Ariz., for his first rodeo in a year. McQueen was acclaimed for his performance and equally praised were Robert Preston as his irascible father, Ida Lupino as his tough-minded mom and Joe Don Baker as his über-successful brother Curly. "Junior Bonner" wasn't a hit when it was released, but it has grown in prestige over the past four decades.
'The Heartbreak Kid'
Forget the Farrelly brothers' crude, poorly received 2007 remake with Ben Stiller and seek out the original bittersweet comedy. Directed by May, it features a script by Neil Simon that was far darker than most of the comedies he was writing at the time. Charles Grodin, in his first major film role, plays Lenny, a New York sporting goods salesman who meets the unsophisticated Lila (May's daughter, Oscar-nominated Jeannie Berlin) and they soon marry. While on their honeymoon in Miami Beach, Lenny is appalled at his wife's eating habits and her neediness, and he meets and falls in love with a beautiful, blond college student (Cybill Shepherd). Eddie Albert also earned an Oscar nomination for supporting actor as Shepherd's stern father, who disapproves of Lenny.
'Sleuth'
Mankiewicz, who directed such films as "Letter to Three Wives" and "All About Eve," took his final curtain as a filmmaker in this adaptation of Anthony Shaffer's two-character mystery thriller, earning an Oscar nomination for direction. Laurence Olivier won the New York Film Critics Circle Award and an Oscar nomination for lead actor as Andrew Wyke, a famous mystery novelist whose country mansion resembles a fun house of games. He invites over his wife's younger lover, a hairdresser named Milo (Michael Caine, who also earned a lead actor Oscar nomination). Of course nothing goes according to plan. Ironically, Caine played the Andrew part in Kenneth Branagh's much-derided 2007 reinvention, which also starred Jude Law.
'Play It Again, Sam'
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton made their first screen appearance together in this celebrated adaptation of Allen's 1969-70 Broadway hit comedy about a divorced nebbish who seeks romantic advice from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart. Allen and Keaton's pairing in the comedy marked a beautiful movie collaboration that included 1973's "Sleeper," 1975's "Love and Death" and 1977's classic "Annie Hall." Unlike those other films, Allen didn't direct "Sam" — Herbert Ross did.
susan.king@latimes.com
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