The Most Underrated Crime Movies of the 1970s

"When you consider the evidence, the 1970s was the greatest crime movie period since the 1930s. Maybe it's because of the grim film stock, but those 10 years were so filled with the criminal element even a highly-rated political journalism feature like All the President's Men (1976) is really an investigation into indictable acts. The decade is defined by Francis Ford Coppola's first two The Godfather movies, but those tell the story of the dons who live in compounds on Long Island. Most illicit infractions are committed on the street, and so many fall between the cracks.Crime and gangster movies historically and consistently break boundaries in motion picture art. This is especially true when independent filmmakers muscle their way in packing something heavy. The 1970s was an experimental decade for motion pictures with wildly varied visions behind the lens. Some of these films were considered old-fashioned, others have proven to be well ahead of their time."