1969 Marathon
By 1969, Hollywood had shifted away from the studio system, and toward an era driven by maverick screenwriters and daring directors. This resulted in many creatively ambitious films, which have since become classics. To honor this landmark year in cinema, we decided to look at six of these classic films. They are:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Wild Bunch
Midnight Cowboy
Easy Rider
The Italian Job
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Which of these cinematic titans stands head and shoulders above the rest, and which should remain in the dustbins of history? Grab your cowboy hat, rev up your engines, and let’s talk about movies
BRAD’S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: OHMSS Swiss Alps
Best Character: TWB Pike Bishop & Deke Thornton
Best Screen Duo: BCatSK Butch & Sundance
Best Villain/Antagonist: OHMSS Blofeld
Best Hero/Protagonist: OHMSS James Bond
Best Kill/Defeat: TWB The Final Shootout
WTF: TIJ Driving the Alps at break neck speeds
Best Score or Soundtrack: TIE OHMSS & ER Louis Armstrong & Donn Cambern
Best Quote: TWB Don Jose: “We all dream of being a child again, even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all.”
Best Screenplay: MC Waldo Salt
Best Special Achievement: TIE MC & ER Pioneers
Best Supporting Actor/Actress: MC Dustin Hoffman
Best Lead Actor/Actress: OHMSS George Lazenby
Best Scene: OHMSS Death of Tracy Bond
Defining Moment: ER Opening watch scene
Best Director: TWB Sam Peckinpah
Worst Picture: The Italian Job
Wildcard: OHMSS Best Bond Girl Award
Best Picture: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Total after deductions:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: 8
The Wild Bunch: 4
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: 1
The Italian Job: Negative 1
Easy Rider: 3
Midnight Cowboy: 3
NATHAN’S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: OHMSS Piz Gloria
Best Character: BCatSK The Sundance Kid
Best Screen Duo: BCatSK Butch & Sundance
Best Villain/Antagonist: OHMSS Blofeld
Best Hero/Protagonist: TIJ Charlie Croker
Best Kill/Defeat: TWB General Mapache gets gunned down
WTF: BCatSK Butch masters the bicycle overnight
Best Score or Soundtrack: OHMSS John Barry
Best Quote: TIJ Charlie Croker: “Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea.”
Best Screenplay: TIJ Troy Kennedy Martin
Best Special Achievement: TIE OHMSS & TIJ Cinematography
Best Supporting Actor/Actress: MC Dustin Hoffman
Best Lead Actor/Actress: TIE OHMSS & TIJ George Lazenby & Michael Caine
Best Scene: BCatSK Opening card game
Defining Moment: TWB Children holding on to each other during the shootout
Best Director: MC John Schlesinger
Worst Picture: Easy Rider
Wildcard: BCatSK The Big Revelation Award
Best Picture: The Italian Job
Total after deductions:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: 5
The Wild Bunch: 2
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: 4
The Italian Job: 6
Easy Rider: Negative 1
Midnight Cowboy: 2
MATT’S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: MC Manhattan
Best Character: MC Joe Buck
Best Screen Duo: BCatSK Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Villain/Antagonist: TWB General Mapache
Best Hero/Protagonist: OHMSS James Bond
Best Kill/Defeat: TWB Angel Kill
WTF: TIJ Literal Cliffhanger Ending
Best Score or Soundtrack: ER Modern Rock Songs
Best Quote: MC Joe: “To tell the truth, I ain’t a for-real cowboy, but I am one hell of a stud!”
Best Screenplay: BCatSK William Goldman
Best Special Achievement: ER First independent film released by a major studio
Best Supporting Actor/Actress: MC Dustin Hoffman
Best Lead Actor/Actress: MC Jon Voight
Best Scene: ER Coffee Shop Scene
Defining Moment: ER Opening Credits Sequence
Best Director: ER Dennis Hopper
Worst Picture: The Italian Job
Wildcard: OHMSS Best Depiction of a Woman Award
Best Picture: Easy Rider
Total after deductions:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: 2
The Wild Bunch: 2
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: 2
The Italian Job: Negative 1
Easy Rider: 8
Midnight Cowboy: 5
APRIL’S GOLDEN IDOLS
Best Location: TWB Countryside
Best Character: TWB Deke Thornton
Best Screen Duo: BCatSK Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Villain/Antagonist: BCatSK Sundance Kid
Best Hero/Protagonist: TWB Pike Bishop
Best Kill/Defeat: OHMSS Death of Tracy Bond
WTF: BCatSK Butch masters the bicycle overnight
Best Score or Soundtrack: ER Modern Rock Songs
Best Quote: TWB Coffer: [annoyed] It's covered, ya two-bit, redneck peckerwood!
Best Screenplay: ER Dennis Hopper
Best Special Achievement: ER Pioneer
Best Supporting Actor/Actress: MC Dustin Hoffman
Best Lead Actor/Actress: BCatSK Paul Newman
Best Scene: MC TV sex scene montage
Defining Moment: TWB Pike Bishop being chastised but still riding to Mexico
Best Director: ER Dennis Hopper
Worst Picture: Midnight Cowboy
Wildcard: BCatSK Best Cowboy/Mustache Award
Best Picture: Easy Rider
Total after deductions:
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: 1
The Wild Bunch: 5
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: 4
The Italian Job: 0
Easy Rider: 7
Midnight Cowboy: 1