16 Great Comedies From The ’70s That Soon Faded Away
The 1970s was a golden age for comedy films, producing classics we still quote today. But for every ‘Blazing Saddles’ or ‘Animal House’ that achieved lasting fame, dozens of genuinely funny movies slipped through the cracks of pop culture memory.
These forgotten gems delivered big laughs but somehow didn’t stick around in our collective consciousness like their more famous counterparts.
1. The Hot Rock (1972)
Robert Redford traded his heartthrob image for bumbling thief John Dortmunder in this crime comedy about stealing a diamond… repeatedly. Every time they nabbed the precious stone, something went comically wrong.
With a screenplay by William Goldman and co-starring George Segal, this gem (pun intended) delivered sophisticated laughs.
Despite its stellar pedigree, The Hot Rock cooled off quickly in public memory, becoming a footnote in Redford’s illustrious career.
2. Harold and Maude (1971)
While it’s achieved cult status today, this dark comedy about young man falling for an 79-year-old free spirit bombed spectacularly upon release. Audiences in 1971 weren’t ready for its quirky blend of morbid humor and life-affirming message.
I still remember discovering it on late-night TV as a teenager and being completely mesmerized. The Cat Stevens soundtrack perfectly complemented this oddball romance that dared to challenge conventional attitudes about age and life’s ending.
3. Cold Turkey (1971)
Norman Lear’s satirical masterpiece starred Dick Van Dyke as a minister convincing his entire town to quit smoking for a $25 million prize. The film skewered American consumerism with razor-sharp wit.
Eagle Rock residents’ withdrawal symptoms created hilarious chaos as cigarette companies panicked. Despite its brilliant premise and stellar cast including Bob Newhart, this biting comedy vanished faster than smoke in the wind.
4. The Groove Tube (1974)
Before SNL revolutionized comedy, this raunchy sketch film lampooned television with unrestrained glee. Featuring a young Chevy Chase, it pioneered the format later perfected by Kentucky Fried Movie and Amazon Women on the Moon.
Highlights included a children’s show host accidentally snorting cocaine on air and hilariously inappropriate commercials.
Despite its groundbreaking approach to satirizing TV, The Groove Tube faded from memory as its more polished successors took the spotlight.
5. The Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Brian De Palma’s rock opera mashed up Phantom of the Opera, Faust, and The Picture of Dorian Gray into a glam-rock extravaganza. Paul Williams composed the catchy soundtrack while also playing the villainous music producer Swan.
My dad was an extra in the concert scenes and always told me how electric the atmosphere was on set. Though it bombed in America, it developed devoted followings in Winnipeg and Paris.
This wildly inventive musical comedy deserved far more recognition than it received.
6. Bank Shot (1974)
George C. Scott took a comedic turn as master criminal Walter Upjohn Ballentine in this wacky heist film. Rather than breaking into a bank, his gang decides to steal the entire temporary bank building! The absurd premise delivered genuine laughs as they hauled the portable structure across town.
Despite Scott’s legendary status and the film’s inventive concept, Bank Shot bounced right out of public consciousness, rarely mentioned even among ’70s comedy aficionados.
7. Where Does It Hurt? (1972)
Peter Sellers shined as corrupt hospital administrator Albert T. Hopfnagel in this scathing satire of the American healthcare system. His schemes to maximize profits at patients’ expense feel eerily relevant today.
The film pulled no punches, showing Hopfnagel ordering unnecessary surgeries and inflating bills with abandon. Sadly, this biting commentary vanished from the cultural radar almost immediately after release.
8. The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973)
Disney’s zany comedy starred Jan-Michael Vincent as Nanu, a Tarzan-like jungle dweller recruited to save a college’s failing athletic program. His supernatural abilities and cultural confusion generated genuine belly laughs.
I watched this repeatedly at summer camp, where counselors would show it during rainy days. Tim Conway and John Amos provided perfect comedic support as the coaches. However, this family-friendly romp somehow slipped through the cracks of nostalgic remembrance.
9. The North Avenue Irregulars (1979)
Based on a true story, this Disney comedy featured Edward Herrmann as a minister who recruits church ladies to take down local mobsters. The unlikely crime fighters included Cloris Leachman and Barbara Harris, creating a perfect blend of action and laughs.
The suburban housewives-turned-vigilantes used station wagons for chase scenes and purses to hide surveillance equipment.
Despite its clever premise and talented cast, this charming comedy faded into obscurity while lesser Disney live-action films enjoyed repeated cable TV runs.
10. Smile (1975)
Michael Ritchie’s razor-sharp satire skewered beauty pageants. Following contestants and organizers at the fictional Young American Miss Pageant, it exposed the manufactured wholesomeness with brilliant precision.
Bruce Dern excelled as a car salesman/pageant judge, while Barbara Feldon portrayed the former winner coaching contestants. The film’s mockumentary style felt revolutionary for its time.
Sadly, Smile disappeared from cultural conversation almost immediately.
11. Foul Play (1978)
Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn sparkled in this romantic comedy-thriller about a librarian who accidentally becomes entangled in an assassination plot. The film perfectly balanced genuine suspense with laugh-out-loud moments.
My aunt worked at the San Francisco library where they filmed and got to meet both stars. She said Goldie was exactly as bubbly in person as on screen!
Despite its box office success and star power, Foul Play gradually faded from memory while other Chase comedies enjoyed enduring popularity.
12. Which Way Is Up? (1977)
Richard Pryor showcased his comedic genius by playing three different roles in this remake of Italian film ‘The Seduction of Mimi.’ As orange picker Leroy Jones, his accidental involvement in labor activism upends his life hilariously.
Pryor’s physical comedy and perfect timing elevated what could have been a standard farce. His portrayal of Leroy’s elderly father remains a masterclass in character work.
Unfortunately, this comedy has been largely forgotten compared to his stand-up or later buddy comedies.
13. Americathon (1979)
This prophetic satire imagined a bankrupt America in 1998, where a telethon is the last hope to save the nation. The eerily accurate predictions included China becoming a capitalist superpower and Russia embracing consumerism.
John Ritter starred as the reluctant president chosen for his telegenic appeal. The film featured actual bands like Meat Loaf and Elvis Costello performing in the telethon segments.
Despite its remarkably prescient premise, Americathon bombed spectacularly and vanished from public consciousness almost immediately.
14. The End (1978)
Burt Reynolds directed and starred in this dark comedy about a man trying to commit suicide after receiving a terminal diagnosis. The premise sounds grim, but Reynolds’ comedic touch created surprising laughs from the morbid situation.
Dom DeLuise stole every scene as the mental patient who enthusiastically helps with the suicide attempts.
Despite featuring Reynolds at his peak popularity and a supporting cast including Sally Field and Joanne Woodward, The End quickly faded from public memory.
15. Fun With Dick and Jane (1977)
George Segal and Jane Fonda portrayed an upper-middle-class couple who turn to robbery when unemployment threatens their suburban lifestyle. Their transformation from respectable citizens to bumbling criminals created genuine laughs with social commentary.
The film cleverly satirized America’s obsession with materialism and keeping up appearances. While it received a 2005 remake with Jim Carrey, the original’s sharper edge and perfect chemistry between its leads make it the superior version, despite being largely forgotten today.
16. House Calls (1978)
Walter Matthau played a womanizing surgeon who meets his match in independent divorcée Glenda Jackson in this romantic comedy. Their chemistry sizzled as his playboy lifestyle collided with her no-nonsense attitude.
The hospital setting provided perfect opportunities for Matthau’s trademark sardonic humor. My grandmother was a nurse in the ’70s and always insisted this film captured medical workplace humor perfectly.
Sadly, House Calls has been largely overshadowed by other Matthau comedies.