Black History Month: '70s Black Cinema

All of your favorite films from the '70s are remembered.

'70s Black Cinema - Black movies in the '70s ranged from Oscar-nominated films to Blaxploitation flicks. Check out our list of favorites.

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'70s Black Cinema - Black movies in the '70s ranged from Oscar-nominated films to Blaxploitation flicks. Check out our list of favorites.

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song - Many credit 1971's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as the first blaxploitation flick. The movie was a labor of love from Melvin Van Peebles, who wrote, produced, directed and starred (along with his son Mario Van Peebles) in the gritty drama. Bill Cosby even gave him a loan to complete the project, which went on to earn a place in Black cinema history.(Photo: Courtesy New World Pictures)

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Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song - Many credit 1971's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song as the first blaxploitation flick. The movie was a labor of love from Melvin Van Peebles, who wrote, produced, directed and starred (along with his son Mario Van Peebles) in the gritty drama. Bill Cosby even gave him a loan to complete the project, which went on to earn a place in Black cinema history.(Photo: Courtesy New World Pictures)

Blacula - Blacula debuted in 1972, and was the first horror movie of its kind. Starring William Marshall in the title role, Blacula was named the “Best Horror Film of 1972” by the Academy of Horror Films and Science Fiction Films.(Photo: American International Pictures)

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Blacula - Blacula debuted in 1972, and was the first horror movie of its kind. Starring William Marshall in the title role, Blacula was named the “Best Horror Film of 1972” by the Academy of Horror Films and Science Fiction Films.(Photo: American International Pictures)

Super Fly - Super Fly debuted in 1972 and is a crowd favorite. This film is credited with capturing the fashion, mood and culture of the hood during this time period. Super Fly aka Youngblood Priest (Ron O’Neal) is a cocaine dealer who decides to make one last big score so he can retire. The only problem is that the Mob does not want him to retire.(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Super Fly - Super Fly debuted in 1972 and is a crowd favorite. This film is credited with capturing the fashion, mood and culture of the hood during this time period. Super Fly aka Youngblood Priest (Ron O’Neal) is a cocaine dealer who decides to make one last big score so he can retire. The only problem is that the Mob does not want him to retire.(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Foxy Brown - It's the film that spawned the biggest star of the Blaxploitation era — Pam Grier — and its most famous catchphrase — "I'm a whole lotta woman." An abundance of sex, violence and drugs made this film flop with critics at the time of release, but turned it into a cult favorite for decades to come.(Photo: Courtesy American International Pictures)

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Foxy Brown - It's the film that spawned the biggest star of the Blaxploitation era — Pam Grier — and its most famous catchphrase — "I'm a whole lotta woman." An abundance of sex, violence and drugs made this film flop with critics at the time of release, but turned it into a cult favorite for decades to come.(Photo: Courtesy American International Pictures)

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Lady Sings the Blues - This seminal biopic about jazz legend Billie Holiday was nominated for five Oscars in 1973, including a Best Actress nod for Diana Ross. The film, based on Holiday's autobiography and named for one of her most popular songs, spawned a hugely successful soundtrack album as well.(Photo: Courtesy Motown Pictures)

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Lady Sings the Blues - This seminal biopic about jazz legend Billie Holiday was nominated for five Oscars in 1973, including a Best Actress nod for Diana Ross. The film, based on Holiday's autobiography and named for one of her most popular songs, spawned a hugely successful soundtrack album as well.(Photo: Courtesy Motown Pictures)

Uptown Saturday Night - A buddy caper movie starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby? Yes, please! This 1974 film, also directed by Poitier, was adapted into a pilot for NBC in 1979 and caught the eye of Will Smith, who expressed interest in remaking it, decades later.(Photo: Courtesy First Artist Pictures)

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Uptown Saturday Night - A buddy caper movie starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby? Yes, please! This 1974 film, also directed by Poitier, was adapted into a pilot for NBC in 1979 and caught the eye of Will Smith, who expressed interest in remaking it, decades later.(Photo: Courtesy First Artist Pictures)

Claudine - In a decade where Blaxploitation was all the rage, 1974's Claudine was one of the few mainstream films with a mostly African-American cast. The film stars Diahann Carroll as a single mother in Harlem who strikes up a romance with garbage man James Earl Jones.(Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)

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Claudine - In a decade where Blaxploitation was all the rage, 1974's Claudine was one of the few mainstream films with a mostly African-American cast. The film stars Diahann Carroll as a single mother in Harlem who strikes up a romance with garbage man James Earl Jones.(Photo: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Pictures)

Sheba, Baby - Sheba, Baby debuted in 1975 with the popular Pam Grier playing the starring role. Sheba (Grier) returns to her hometown to confront thugs who are trying to intimidate her father into handing over the family business. (Photo: Courtesy American International Pictures)

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Sheba, Baby - Sheba, Baby debuted in 1975 with the popular Pam Grier playing the starring role. Sheba (Grier) returns to her hometown to confront thugs who are trying to intimidate her father into handing over the family business. (Photo: Courtesy American International Pictures)

Sparkle - Sparkle debuted in 1976. This drama tells the rags-to-riches tale of three sisters from Harlem who become singers. Set in the 1950s and early 1960s, this film tackles issues of racism, sexism, jealousy and chemical-physical abuse. A remake starring Whitney Houston is due in theaters in August 2012.(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

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Sparkle - Sparkle debuted in 1976. This drama tells the rags-to-riches tale of three sisters from Harlem who become singers. Set in the 1950s and early 1960s, this film tackles issues of racism, sexism, jealousy and chemical-physical abuse. A remake starring Whitney Houston is due in theaters in August 2012.(Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The Wiz - A revisionist version of The Wizard of Oz, this film is an adaptation of the 1975 Tony-winning musical that brought down the house on Broadway. In the 1978 film version, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, Dorothy — now a Harlem school teacher — isn't in Kansas anymore.(Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)

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The Wiz - A revisionist version of The Wizard of Oz, this film is an adaptation of the 1975 Tony-winning musical that brought down the house on Broadway. In the 1978 film version, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, Dorothy — now a Harlem school teacher — isn't in Kansas anymore.(Photo: Courtesy Universal Pictures)