For most of the seventies and a little way into the eighties, I kept meticulous lists of what movies I saw and where. And what I thought of them! There were separate lists for movies in theaters and movies on television. The peak seemed to be 1974 where I saw 83 movies in theaters as documented on my high school journal blog. By 1981, the great Moviola repertory cinema had opened! But I was an adult--sort of--at age 22 and there were more demands on my time. I guess that's why I only paid to see 56 that year. These 56.1-- Home Movies-Moviola
This was Brian DePalma's film school project movie starring a manic Kirk Douglas and the Director's then-wife, sexy Nancy Allen.
2--Plan Nine From Outer Space-Moviola
First time I had seen this Ed Wood "classic" after reading about it most of my life it seemed!
3--Any Which Way You Can-Florence
Perhaps my least favorite Eastwood picture.
4--Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen-The Studio
More political incorrectness than you would have thought possible by that point but still kinda fun.
5--Red Dust--Emery
Wow! This Gable/Harlow pre-Code classic just blew me away!
6-She Done Him Wrong-Moviola
Was never a big Mae West fan but I had to learn that for myself.
7-Monkey Business-MoviolaThe Marx Brothers, on the other hand...This was the second time I'd seen this one on the big screen!
8--Eyewitness-The Studio
Seemed good at the time but I can barely recall it now. With William Hurt.
9--Targets-Moviola
Peter Bogdanovich's Karloff picture from '68, another one I had long read about!
10--Sunday Lovers-The Studio
A mostly unfunny sex comedy anthology with Gene Wilder, Roger Moore and Lynn Redgrave.
11--The Thing (From Another World)-Moviola
The original Howard Hawks production. I'd seen it on TV but big screen was better!
A most enjoyable Hitchcock homage from Jonathan Demme. Wth Roy Scheider.
13--Excalibur-Florence
The big budget Arthurian legend with the quirky performance by Nicol Williamson as Merlin.
14--Tommy-Moviola
By this point I was a big Who fan but had never seen this. Wasn't impressed.
15--Let It Be-Moviola
This was the third time I had seen this on the big screen. Once in 1970 and once in 1978.
16--Stir Crazy-The Studio
I love Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor but I hated Stir Crazy.
17--Rock Show-Showcase
The long-delayed feature of Wings' 1976 tour. Most of the films I saw in '81, I saw alone but I saw this with my then girlfriend Lisa.
18--Galaxina-SkywalkThe gorgeous but tragic Dorothy Stratten's only starring role was in this horrid sic-fi comedy
19--One Trick Pony-Moviola
I liked it but critics didn't. Paul Simon's semi-autobiographical movie about a band just like his.
20--The Hound of the Baskervilles-Moviola
Dudley Moore was a huge star by this point so his and Peter Cook's Holmes parody (mixed with the Exorcist!) got a belated stateside release in spite of it's being the worst thing either of them had ever done.
21--Three Stooges Festival-Moviola
False Alarms, Pop Goes the Easel, Mummy's Dummies, Whoops I'm An Indian!, Wee Wee Monsieur and Tassels In the Air
22--Seems Like Old Times-Newport
Proving lightning doesn't strike twice, the Foul Play team of Chevy and Goldie reunite without any sparks at all.
23--One Last Score-Cinema X
Some XXX nonsense about gangsters I think. Just happened to be double-featured to the one below.
24--Alice In Wonderland-Cinema X
The delightful seventies adult musical, this was the XXX version with the hardcore scenes added back. It worked much better without them.
25--Superman II-Showcase
Far from the perfect film many seem to recall, I just watched it again this week and it's still super-enjoyable!
26--For Your Eyes Only-Skywalk
On the other hand, I can't recall a single thing about this late Moore Bond.
27--Raiders of the Lost Ark-Showcase
I made the mistake of waiting 'til it had been open a month before I saw it so I had heard all about it and it couldn't possibly live up to its reputation.
28--The Projectionist-Moviola
Chuck McCann's only starring feature and Rodney Dangerfield's first film role I believe.
29--Love Happy-Emery
Bad Marx Brothers is still better than most anything else.
30--A Night in Casablanca-Emery
See above.
31--Blow Out-Skywalk
The first film I liked John Travolta in--Brian DePalma's Blow-up homage.
32--Zorro, the Gay Blade--The Studio
More political incorrectness but Hamilton is a hoot here!
33--Under the Rainbow-Skywalk
Chevy Chase and Carrie Fisher and a whole bunch of munchkins. Could have worked but...
34--Rufus Jones For President-Moviola
Ethel Waters and a very young Sammy Davis Jr. This was the opening show for the next item.
35--Betty Boop's Scandals of 1974-Moviola
I had never seen Betty cartoons before and was supposed to meet my friend Michelle there but couldn't find her! We compare notes later on the phone.
36--Steamboat Bill, Jr.-Moviola
Keaton! He had already become a favorite in recent years and this remains one of his best pictures in my opinion.
37--Why Worry? Moviola
Never got into Harold Lloyd as much but I took any chance to catch his work on the big screen as well.
38--Escape From New York-Skywalk
Loved Carpenter, Russell and Van Cleef. Why didn't I love this movie?
39--The Great Muppet Caper-Florence
I gave it 3 stars so I enjoyed it but I remember nothing about it. Was this the one with Diana Rigg?
40--Wolfen-Newport
Albert Finney horror film. It was just kinda there.
41--The Jolson Story-Moviola
Wow! So much old-fashioned fun! Star Larry Parks' son Andrew, a fun actor himself, is now a FB friend.
42--The First Moviola Cartoon Festival-Moviola
Perhaps the most fun I had all year in a theater with everything from Clampett Daffy Ducks to Fleischer Popeyes and tons of rare stuff including the then-rare Porky Pig "outtake."
43--Assault On Precinct 13-Moviola
My favorite John Carpenter movie and one of my favorite scores of all time as well...also by Carpenter.
44--Heavy Metal-Showcase
Ridiculously overindulgent animated feature based on stories from the adult comics mag. Saw this with Lisa who liked it more than I did.
45--Body Heat-Skywalk
This is the one which caused me to name William Hurt as my favorite actor for a while. Kathleen Turner is hot and even Ted Danson makes a memorable impression.
46--Stripes-Skywalk
I wasn't expecting much and came away quite the fan of Bill Murray. Also with PJ Soles and one of the last major roles for Warren Oates.
47--The Best of Gail Palmer-Cinema X
Can't even recall why I went to see this compilation but I remember it being dull in spite of Gail Palmer's then-positive rep as a genuinely good XXX director.48--Sins Of My Daughter-Cinema X
Who remembers? Again, it was just a second feature. the only thing I rated "BOMB" all year. Can't even find it listed online.
49--Jupiter's Thigh-Moviola
Dear Inspector was a French film I still have never gotten to see after missing it at an art house when it was new. This was its delightful sequel!
50--An American Werewolf in London-Florence
I won tickets to see this on the TV game show Flippo's Screen Test. Lisa went with me.
51-Halloween II-Skywalk
As much as I loved the first one, I hated this Carpenter-less sequel. Truly hated.
52--Time Bandits-ShowcaseLisa accompanied me again and we had to leave early due to my kidney stone attack! It would be years before I saw the rest on TV.
53--The Third Man-Moviola
This was the first film I saw after my mother's death three days earlier. In spite of that, it quickly became a favorite.
54--Ragtime-Showcase
Cagney's return to the big screen was in this disappointing epic, the first picture I saw with friend Terri who would become my film going partner for years afterwards.
55--Ghost Story-Skywalk
The last film for Melvyn Douglas and Fred Astaire. Another one I saw with Terri.
56--The French Lieutenant's Woman-Carousel
Seems like Terri had free passes for this one and neither of us was all too excited about seeing it. I liked it better than she did. My first Streep!
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