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The 10 most offensive movies of the 1970s
The article distinguishes films that provoked controversy in the 1970s from those it considers genuinely offensive, arguing that debates about artistic provocation can distract from harmful stereotypes and treatment of performers. It highlights examples whose content or production practices, in its view, go beyond simply seeming dated.
Among the examples are Disney’s *The Aristocats*, whose character Shun Gon is described as a racist East Asian stereotype and which carries a content disclaimer on Disney+; *Diamonds Are Forever*, criticised for stereotyped gay characters and crude treatment of women; and *Last Tango in Paris*, whose butter scene was filmed without Maria Schneider being told in advance. The supplied article text ends mid-sentence while discussing how much Marlon Brando was responsible.
In short
- The article separates provocative films from content it considers harmful.
- It criticises stereotypes in *The Aristocats* and *Diamonds Are Forever*.
- It says Maria Schneider was not told about a key scene in advance.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The article’s case is that some films cross a line beyond artistic provocation: racist and homophobic stereotypes can demean groups, crude portrayals of women can reinforce unequal attitudes, and filming an intimate scene without an actor’s informed agreement raises serious questions about consent. Examining both what audiences see and how performers were treated helps distinguish historical controversy from harm that should not be dismissed as mere datedness.
The case against
A good-faith counterargument is that films should be judged in their historical and artistic context, and that depicting offensive characters does not necessarily endorse their views. Critics may also argue that revisiting older works through present-day standards risks flattening differences between their intentions, effects and production circumstances; content notices and contextual discussion may be preferable to treating a film as simply beyond the pale.
Explained simply
Films from the 1970s are often judged in light of changing views about race, gender and sexuality, as well as the conditions in which they were made. Some films were deliberately provocative, but that can be a separate question from whether their portrayals relied on harmful stereotypes or whether performers were treated fairly.
The examples discussed include Disney’s The Aristocats, the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever and Last Tango in Paris. Their relevance lies both in what audiences see on screen and, in the case of Last Tango in Paris, in questions about what actor Maria Schneider was told before filming a scene.