I’m a massive movie fan. I have been ever since I was a kid. Trips to the cinema were wondrous events… not least because back in the 80’s we still had usherettes who sold chocolate and ice creams in the screen. they also sold cigarettes – and people could smoke in the screen – so I’m gald somethings have changed since then.
I was lucky enough to live near a really nice cinema in Barnet. It was actually built in 1935 on the site where my paternal grandmother was born and raised. Screen one was an amazing screen to watch movies in back in the 80’s and 90’s when I was going there… with a sweeping area between the seats and the screen where they occasional put on pre-movie events for special screenings. We also had the majestic Pheonix Cinema in East Finchley not too far away which was more art house and foreign movie orientated. The Pheonix only has one screen and opened in 1912 and claims to be the oldest purpose-built cinema in continuous use in the UK. It was made immortal in Interview With The Vampire as the interior of the movie theatre were Louis watches a sunrise, for the first time in 200 years, on film.
Over the next few weeks I’m going to be looking back over some of my favourite movies which were released each year, from 1980 until more recently. These aren’t films that I neccessarily saw in that year (I didn’t see The Long Good Friday when I was 8 for instance!) but are what I consider my favourite movies released in each given year.
So, let’s travel back to the start of the 80’s….
“Flash Gordon” was one of my favourites when I saw it at the time, and has remained a movie I’m always happy to watch even to this day. My first exposure of it was actually through a kids TV program we have in the UK called ‘Blue Peter’ as one of the shows presenters (Peter Duncan) actually had a small part in the movie and the show did a segment on it. Peter plays the poor lad who is undertaking the test of manhood by putting his arm into a hole in a hollow stump to see if the creature inside bites him (it does and Prince Barin kills him to stop the madness taking him to a slow and unimaginable death).
My next exposure to the movie was the fantastic soundtrack by Queen – with the main track getting plenty of airtime. I ended up seeing the movie one Saturday afternoon with my father and loved it. It had such a great supporting cast with the likes of Timothy Dalton, Max von Sydow, Richard O’Brien and Brian “Gordon’s Alive!!!” Blessed and I loved the main pairing of Sam Jones and Melody Anderson as Flash and Dale Arden (even if I couldn’t recall seeing either of them in anything again other than Sam’s appearence in Ted as himself).
I had always loved pulp and had enjoyed watching the old black and white Flash Gordon ‘matinees’ serials that the BBC used to play either after school or on Saturday mornings, so I’d already been primed for this movie well before it came out.
Writing this is actually making me want to rewatch it again now!
Director John Carpenter was on fire in the late 70’s and thoughout the 80’s. His 1980 release, “The Fog”, is certainly not the only time he’ll be appearing in this series. I’m not sure when I first saw The Fog, but I wasn’t that old. My Dad had either rented it from the chap who ran a mobile video library from the back of his car (he used to come over once a week and we’d all crowd round deciding on what we should rent for the week… I remember seeing Alien for the first time from a video rented from him) or I caught the film late one night on TV when I was maybe 10-12 years old. In either case I was certainly way too young – but obviously loved it.
It’s probably one of the horror films I’ve watched the most over the years, along with the likes of The Omen (which being from 1976 sadly won’t be making an appearence in this column apart from the occasional name check).
Dolly Parton’s debut as an actress is a fantastic comedy. I’ve not seen it in years, although have made a pledge with one of my housemates to rewewatch every film that appears in these columns that we’ve not seen in the last few years again – but I reckon it’ll stand the test of time.
With a fantastic trio of leading ladies (Dolly being joined by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) the film follows the three women having to navigate around an egotisical and sexist boss, with them dreaming about how they’d kill him. After a mishap and a case of mistaken identity occurs the ladies believe they have actually killed their boss, only for them to later realise their mistake. Their boss discovers the attempted murder and blackmails Doralee into having sex with him, which she refuses, resulting in them kidnapping and imprisoning the boss whilst they get together evidence of him embezzling from the company.
Whilst he’s “occupied” they bring in a raft of measures at work, pretending to come from him, such as equal pay, flexible hours, an inhouse day care centre and a job sharing program – which all end up being incredibly successful and boosting the companies productivity.
Anyway, he manages to escape before they can get all the evidence together and gets all the credit for the changes and success – to the extent that he gets an unwanted promotion and tranfer to Brazil.
It’s a brilliant comedic movie and certainly worth watching if you’ve never seen it. Plus it has the memorable ‘9 to 5’ song from Dolly that became a massive hit.
“The Long Good Friday” is a 1980 British crime thriller directed by John Mackenzie. The film follows Harold Shand, a London gangster aiming to legitimize his criminal enterprise through a property deal, but faces unforeseen challenges as his associates are murdered, threatening his plans. With his empire crumbling, Shand seeks revenge, uncovering a conspiracy involving the IRA and powerful figures. His ruthless tactics and escalating violence lead to a suspenseful showdown, questioning loyalty and trust. The movie’s gritty portrayal of organized crime, Bob Hoskins’ compelling performance as Shand, and its unexpected twists make it a classic in the crime genre, depicting the cost of ambition and power.
Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren are both great in the movie, and it’s also the first movie role for Pierce Brosnan.
I love a good gangster film. Be it Italian mafioso, East End London Gangsters, Narco drug lords, etc. The Long Good Friday is up there as one of the best of its kind. Definitely worth a watch (or a rewatch as will hopefully be in my case).
This one had to make an appearance on this list. A bit of the case of saving the best for last perhaps? I’m pretty sure this was the first Star Wars movie I saw at the cinema. I think my father took me to a double bill of Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back. I’d already seen Star Wars on video (numerous times) and along with one of my sisters was fairly addicted to it. I think we used to watch it almost on loop at times!!!
“The Empire Strikes Back” is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner and released in 1980. The film continues the epic saga as the Rebel Alliance, led by Princess Leia, faces the oppressive Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker, who is growing stronger as a Jedi under the guidance of Master Yoda, seeks to further his training while Han Solo and Princess Leia evade the Empire’s pursuit.
The storyline is darker than the original Star Wars, as the Empire relentlessly hunts the Rebels. Darth Vader intensifies his pursuit of Luke Skywalker, revealing a shocking revelation that alters the young Jedi’s path. The movie encompasses an array of iconic moments, including the Battle of Hoth, the dynamic relationship between Han and Leia, and the emotionally charged confrontation between Luke and Vader.
As the story unfolds, the characters face personal trials and the Rebel forces suffer setbacks, highlighting the Empire’s might. The film’s climax takes place on Cloud City, where a pivotal duel between Luke and Vader leads to the revelation of their familial connection (as well as the loss of an appendage). The movie concludes on a bittersweet note, leaving characters fractured and the Rebellion in disarray, setting the stage for the final chapter in the trilogy. “The Empire Strikes Back” is celebrated for its depth, character development, and unexpected plot twists, cementing its place as one of the most beloved films in cinematic history and a placement in my top five films of 1980.
Of course there were lots of other great films released in 1980. Some certainly more commercially, or critically successful, than the five above. Some of the other films released in 1980 include:
- The Shining
- Raging Bull
- Airplane!
- The Blues Brothers
- Fame
- Friday the 13th
- Cannibal Holocaust
- The Blue Lagoon
- Private Benjamin
- Superman II
- Altered States
- Xanadu
- Gregory’s Girl
- Hawk the Slayer
- The Elephant Man
Voices From The Pulpit 