I was thinking a lot about thrillers that I watched as a kid and how many of them stayed with me longer than more kid-friendly genres. It is probably because I found them confusing and it forced my kid-brain to work twice as hard trying to figure them out. On this week’s episode, I wanted to look at some of these thrillers from the 70s and 80s that stuck with me after seeing them on cable TV. They were so evocative that years later I would purposefully seek them out to fill in the blanks.

First up, we have "The Conversation" from 1974, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This thriller stars Gene Hackman as Harry Caul, a surveillance expert who becomes paranoid after recording a mysterious conversation. Coppola wrote the script in the mid-1960s but couldn't get it made until after the success of "The Godfather"? So her directed it between that film and its sequel. Worth it alone for the sound design, it is groundbreaking, earning Walter Murch an Academy Award nomination.

Next is "Marathon Man" from 1976, directed by John Schlesinger. This film features Dustin Hoffman as a graduate student who gets caught up in a conspiracy involving a former Nazi war criminal, played by Laurence Olivier. One of the most famous scenes involves Olivier's character using dental torture. It is not fun.

Moving on, we have "Blow Out" from 1981, directed by Brian De Palma. This neo-noir thriller stars John Travolta as a sound effects technician who accidentally records evidence of a political assassination. De Palma was inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blow-Up" (1966) and the real-life Chappaquiddick incident. Like “The Conversation,” the film's complex sound design plays a crucial role in the storytelling, making it a tremendous audio-visual experience.

Finally, we have "Body Heat" from 1981, directed by Lawrence Kasdan. This steamy thriller features William Hurt and Kathleen Turner in a story of lust, deception, and murder. Turner’s amazing performance as the femme fatale made her an instant star. The film was heavily influenced by classic film noir, particularly "Double Indemnity," and it brought the noir genre into the modern era with its explicit content and stylish direction.

That's it for this episode of the Video Store Podcast. I hope you enjoy these picks as much as I do. Each of these films offers something unique, whether it's groundbreaking sound design, gripping suspense, or unforgettable performances. Until next time I see you in the shop, remember, be kind rewind.

Subscribe to the Video Store Podcast

* The Video Store Podcast

* Apple Podcast

* RSS

Thanks for reading Video Store Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com