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The 10 best opening movie lines of the 1970s
The article argues that memorable opening lines helped make 1970s cinema’s scripts endure, even as acting styles, special effects and directorial choices have changed. It presents a selection of ten film openings to show how writers established a film’s tone, introduced its world and drew audiences into its story.
The examples in the supplied text include Woody Allen’s direct-to-camera opening in *Annie Hall*, which brings his stand-up persona into a story about relationships, and the newsreel-style narration that introduces Metropolis in *Superman: The Movie*. It also discusses the comic opening of Mel Brooks’s western spoof *Blazing Saddles*, which uses familiar genre details for humour. The article frames the decade as a period of greater creative freedom and new voices in film writing.
In short
- The article selects ten memorable opening lines from 1970s films.
- It links strong scripts with the decade’s cinematic legacy.
- Examples include *Annie Hall*, *Superman* and *Blazing Saddles*.
Explained simply
Film openings are the first moments of a story, and a line of dialogue or narration can quickly introduce its mood, setting or characters. The 1970s brought a range of new approaches to screenwriting, as filmmakers experimented with storytelling and genre.
The examples span very different films: Woody Allen’s *Annie Hall* begins with its main character speaking to the audience, while *Superman: The Movie* uses a newsreel-style narration to introduce the city of Metropolis. Mel Brooks’s *Blazing Saddles* opens by turning familiar western conventions into comedy.