This November and December, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will reach the ultimate destination of its time-skipping journey through cinema history, 1974. It was a year of audacious filmmaking from genre-defining mavericks that would shape the cinematic landscape for decades to come. This sixth and final entry in Alamo Drafthouse’s yearlong odyssey backwards through time, Time Capsule 1974, sees eighteen classic titles head back to the big screen at over forty Alamo Drafthouse locations across the country.
Selections include:
Tickets are on sale now at drafthouse.com/1974.
“Our approach with repertory programming is to have the past speak to the present moment,” says film programmer Jake Isgar. “American culture, and its film culture, were at an inflection point in 1974 – not unlike the moment we find ourselves in today. To us, the program has been built to this point, and we hope audiences have a chance to enjoy them with us.”
There’s also still time for fellow film historians to collect some rare artifacts of their own from our limited-edition Alamo Time Capsules Pint Glass series. All five glasses in the series were created by Chris Bilheimer, the acclaimed artist behind legendary album designs for Neutral Milk Hotel, R.E.M., and Green Day.
The Time Capsule 1974 series isn’t the only classic cinema programming Alamo Drafthouse has in store this November and December. In addition to a cheerful selection of holiday classics (to be announced soon), guests can expect to enjoy animated favorites from the World of Animation series, queer-eyed examinations of essential titles in Queer Film Theory 101, and more.
This November/December at Alamo Drafthouse
Beginning November 1st
Graveyard Shift: “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
It’s the grotesque, despicable, and powerfully frightening grindhouse flick that made the critics clutch their pearls and still revs engines to this day. Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is horror royalty, with an all-time villain and a beautifully gnarly aesthetic that reshaped genre cinema as we know it.
“The Parallax View” (1974)
Alan J. Pakula’s paranoid thriller pulled from the messy state of American politics and the uneasy international relationships emblematic of the time to craft a memorable tale of intrigue and subterfuge. “The Parallax View” also features a standout performance from star Warren Beatty in a career filled with memorable roles.
“The Great Dictator” (1940)
Charlie Chaplin set the gold standard for political satire with “The Great Dictator,” an anti-facist black comedy that took a well-placed shot at Nazi regime. Aside from being one of the greatest comedies of all time, it’s a potent reminder of the dangers of fascism that we could all use right now.
“Breakfast of Champions” (1999)
One of the rare Kurt Vonnegut stories to break containment from the page, “Breakfast of Champions” transposes the author’s mid-century blast of suburban anxiety to pre-Y2K heights. Adapted by Alan Rudolph (“The Moderns,” “Choose Me”) and featuring a radical ensemble (Bruce Willis, Nick Nolte, Albert Finney, Barbara Hershey, among many), we’re proud to present a gorgeous new restoration from Shout! Studios and Films We Like throughout the month of November.
“They Live” (1988)
Obey. Watch. Enjoy. What could be insidious subliminal messaging is in this case friendly advice to revisit John Carpenter’s iconic 1988 sci-fi horror satire, “They Live.” Featuring a wildly entertaining performance from “Rowdy” Roddy Piper sporting some of the coolest shades in cinema, this is a conspiratorial classic that will have you rightfully questioning all the messages around you.
Beginning November 8th
“Blazing Saddles” (1974)
“Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!” If you walked by a theater door in 1974 and heard roars of laughter bursting out, there’s a very good chance that Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” was playing. Brooks’ breakout film was a smash hit with audiences across the country, simultaneously upending the romantic vision of the Wild West and satirizing racial tensions of the ‘70s. It’s arguably Brooks’ greatest film, and remains hysterical and pertinent today.
“California Split” (1974)
Robert Altman’s “California Split” is a film about gamblers written by a gambler, specifically actor Joshua Walsh. Walsh, who struggled with a gambling addiction for much of his life, wanted to portray what a life of gambling was really like, something he felt wasn’t adequately addressed on screen. The result was a George Segal and Elliot Gould-starring comedic drama filled with the thrills of winning and the devastating lows that come with that lifestyle.
“Phase IV” (1974)
While Saul Bass is a legend in the world of design, his work as a film director is limited to the 1974 sci-fi horror film “Phase IV.” A masterclass in tone and balancing ambiguity, speculative fiction, and science-fact, PHASE IV is an eerie experience that dips into cosmic horror and existential philosophy. Incredible macro photography of actual ants and Bass’ eye for design make this an event not to be missed on the big screen.
World of Animation: “Grave of the Fireflies” (1988)
“Grave of the Fireflies” is an unforgettable film that, according to Roger Ebert, “belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made.” This beautiful and devastating story of life in Japan during WWII offers a glimpse of the horrors the war inflicted on the innocents caught up in the international conflict. Directed by Isao Takahata and produced by the legendary Studio Ghibli, it’s undoubtedly one of the most stunning and affecting animated films of all time that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Beginning November 15th
“Chinatown” (1974)
“Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.” A crowning achievement of the New Hollywood, and one equally fraught with contradictions and complications, “Chinatown” set the standard to which nearly all neo-noirs have been judged since its release. Low rent P.I. Jack Nicholson takes a case from an alluring Faye Dunaway, encircling him in a conspiracy involving land, water, and power in 1940s Los Angeles. But, as always, the devil is in the details.
“The Godfather Part II” (1974)
Under a lesser filmmaker, the task of following up “The Godfather” with a satisfactory sequel would have been impossible, but Francis Ford Coppola managed to meet and in many ways exceed the quality of his original masterwork in “The Godfather Part II.” The two stories following Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) rise to power and his father’s, Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), own struggle to establish dominance in NYC decades prior pair beautifully with each other, providing deeper insight and poignancy to Michael’s descent into darkness.
“A Woman Under the Influence” (1974)
The creative partnership between husband and wife team John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands is one of the most enduring in all of cinema. With “A Woman Under the Influence,” Rowlands’ titanic performance as Mabel, a wife and mother undergoing a nervous breakdown, reaches a level of realism, vulnerability, and theatricality that few seldom reach.
Queer Film Theory 101: “In a Lonely Place” (1950)
Featuring tormented lovers, despicable murder, and nuanced performance from Humphrey Bogart, “In a Lonely Place” was an ambitious noir that bucked contemporary views of 1950’s masculinity. One of the bleakest Hollywood pictures of its day, close to its contemporary “Sunset Boulevard,” Nicholas Ray’s twisted noir unpacks the lies that grow between men and women and the falseness of identity in Hollywood in a way not-too-far from the reality of its co-stars and director.
Beginning November 29th
“Foxy Brown” (1974)
“That’s my sister, baby, and she’s a whole lotta woman.” Gather ‘round and come watch a real shakedown with the meanest chick in town, “Foxy Brown!” It’s the wildly entertaining urban actioner that made the boundary-breaking Pam Grier an icon and set the standard for mid-century cool with a killer soundtrack by Motown legend Willie Hutch.
“Murder on the Orient Express” (1974)
Long before Kenneth Branaugh donned Poirot’s famed mustache, Albert Finney brought Agatha Christie’s iconic detective to life on the big screen in the original adaptation of “Murder on the Orient Express.” Directed by Sidney Lumet and starring the likes of Ingrid Bergman (in a role that would win her a Best Supporting Actress win at the Academy Awards), Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Balsam, and many more of the period’s greatest performers, it’s a thrilling watch that remains engaging even if you know at this point who committed the titular crime.
Beginning December 6th
“Female Trouble” (1974)
“Crime is beauty!” Inspired by and dedicated to infamous Manson murderer Charlie “Tex” Watson, John Waters’ “Female Trouble” is a down and dirty dive into the depths of bad taste that has only gotten more fun with age. The Dreamland troupe from “Pink Flamingos” returns, this time anchored around an all-time take-no-prisoners performance from Divine as Dawn Davenport – a woman whose wretched life finally finds meaning when she enters a life of crime. If only her parents had gotten her those cha-cha heels that she wanted for Christmas…
“Batman Returns” (1992)
It’s just not the holidays without Tim Burton’s ambitious and captivating followup to his groundbreaking 1989 original. With iconic performances from Danny DeVito as the sinister Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as the mysterious Catwoman, “Batman Returns” stands as one of the most unique and bold visions of the Caped Crusader ever played on the big screen.
“Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia” (1974)
A savage, down and dirty revenge film from Sam Peckinpah with a mesmerizing performance from Warren Oates. “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia” follows a small-town bartender and his girlfriend on a tequila-fueled trek across the desolate Mexican frontier, which grows more intense, gruesome and bloody with every savage murder they leave in their wake.
“The Sugarland Express” (1974)
Steven Spielberg’s first theatrically-released American film is a rowdy road movie following two parents (Goldie Hawn, William Atheron) desperately trekking across the Lone Star state with the police in pursuit in an effort to reunite with their son. Notable as one of Spielberg’s earliest efforts and his first collaboration with composer John Williams, “The Sugarland Express” showcases the legendary filmmaker’s remarkable command of cinematic language and tenderness towards family, all within the package of a walloping slice of life of 1970s Texas.
World of Animation: “Klaus” (2019)
This gorgeously rendered Christmas story is the debut film of filmmaker Sergio Pablos and features an all-star voice cast led by Jason Schwartzman and J.K. Simmons. This tale of a greedy postman and a reclusive woodsman working together to deliver toys to all the children of a town ripped apart by a familial feud brings the cheer in a big way and will make you believe in the magic of the season all over again.
Beginning December 13th
“Black Christmas” (1974)
Before the warm and nostalgic blast of “A Christmas Story,” Bob Clark crafted a far darker holiday tale in the form of “Black Christmas.” A proto-slasher of the highest order and predating John Carpenter’s other seasonal slashterpiece, “Halloween,” “Black Christmas” leaves a lump of coal in your cinematic stocking unlike any other. New 4k presentation courtesy of the American Genre Film Archive.
“The Conversation” (1974)
It’s exceedingly rare for any creative to release two masterpieces in a given year, but sure enough, Francis Ford Coppola delivered on that front. A finely-tuned study in loneliness and paranoia, “The Conversation” centers on Gene Hackman’s low-key wiretapping expert and his burgeoning obsession with uncovering a truth that may or may not exist. Newly restored in 4K, courtesy of Rialto Pictures.
“The Longest Yard” (1974)
With a background as a stunt man and college football star, Burt Reynolds’ physicality shines through as a tough guy in a film directed by one of the greatest purveyors of machismo cinema, Robert Aldrich (“The Dirty Dozen”). “The Longest Yard” stands as one of the great vehicles for a movie star at his apex and one of the best sports films period.
“The Great Gatsby” (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola once again makes an appearance in our series, though this time purely in a writing capacity for an adaptation of the iconic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. This incarnation of the tale stars Robert Redford as Gatsby, Mia Farrow as Daisy, Bruce Derrn as Tom, and Sam Waterston as Nick. You’ve never seen such beautiful shirts before or since!
Queer Film Theory 101: “Querelle” (1982)
Our monthly Queer Film Theory 101 program closes out the year with a celebration of the filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In the German iconoclast’s final completed work, a sailor navigates a tangled web of love and desire around a brothel in Brest. Featuring Euro legends Jeanne Moreau and Franco Nero and an exquisitely hyper-real production style, there are fewer gifts you could give yourself this cinematic holiday season.
Beginning December 27th
“South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” (1999)
Outrageous, filthy, and wildly entertaining like only Trey Parker and Matt Stone can deliver, “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” is exactly what it sounds like – more of the hysterical, foul-mouthed comedy viewers had come to expect after three seasons on the show. It’s got big musical numbers, a war between the US and Canada over Terrance and Phillip, and even the ups and downs of Satan and Saddam Hussein’s relationship in Hell. In other words, this thing’s got everything.
“Paris, Texas” (1984)
Wim Wenders’ tender portrayal of heartbreak, featuring one of legendary actor Harry Dean Stanton’s few leading roles, stands as one of his crowning achievements. We’re proud to screen the new 4k restoration, courtesy of Janus Films.
About Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-seven years later, with 41 locations and counting, Alamo Drafthouse has been called “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly and “the best theater in the world” by Wired. Alamo Drafthouse has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining best-in-class food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star-studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse created Fantastic Fest, a world-renowned genre film festival dubbed “The Geek Telluride” by Variety featuring independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. Alamo Drafthouse continues to expand its brand in new and exciting ways, including the American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit film archive dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing film, and with eight new theaters announced for this year and beyond.