“’70s Flashback” Archive
Chris Cummins | '70s Flashback
Saying that the 1970s were a tumultuous decade is an obvious understatement. Crime was up, employment down, and an unpopular war divided the nation. Hmm, sounds familar doesn't it? Anyways, without getting political let's just say that it was time packed with much uncertainty and doubt. This societal upheaval was perfectly reflected in an assortment of shows from the era that really helped cement television's reputation as a legitimate artform. For this installment of '70s Flashback, we'll be looking at the opening credits sequences of several of my favorite shows from the decade. (Be sure to name your favorites in the comments). From the politically incorrect opinions of Archie Bunker to everybody's favorite lollipop-loving detective and beyond, here's a trip down memory lane to the wonderful chaos of the 1970s. Don't be a dingbat or meathead, check out these intros!
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Chris Cummins | '70s Flashback
On this installment of '70s Flashback, we'll be focusing on the 1973 classic Westworld. Written and directed by Michael Crichton, the film stars Richard Benjamin and James Brolin as two pals who take a trip to the adult-oriented amusement park Delos. Separated into Westworld, Medieval World and Roman World, the destination allows visitors to stay in one of the three time periods represented at the park. After a brief voyage (via hovercraft, how 70s!), vacationers find themselves interacting with lifelike androids while indulging their every whim. But before you can say "tourist trap," something goes wrong. Suddenly, Westworld visitors Benjamin and Brolin put aside their plans of sleeping with robot prostitutes and enjoying life on the range to discover how wild the Wild West can be as a relentless robot (Yul Brynner) stalks them. Excitement, chaos, death and Dick Van Patten ensue.
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Chris Cummins | '70s Flashback
In this first 70s Flashback feature--a sporadic examination of some of the me decade's greatest flicks punctuated by various clips--we'll take a look at Logan's Run. The film is one of the most gloriously cheesy efforts of the 1970s (which is really saying something given that the era also gave us such cultural obsessions as pet rocks and The Brady Bunch Variety Hour). But that doesn't mean that it isn't also terrific fun. Based on the classic sci-fi novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, the movie is set in a 23rd-century domed city that seems to be paradise on Earth. As the trailer so eloquently puts it, "there's just one catch." In this society, when you reach the age of 30 you must report to Carousel--a bizarre arena where the city's residents participate in a deadly "renewal" ceremony that has them literally going out in a blaze of glory. Those who refuse to renew face the wrath of status quo-protecting guardians known as Sandmen.
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Tags: TV Shows