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    1981

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    Blow Out 1981 POSTER

    Blow Out

    1981

    English

    7.4

    62

    88%

    81%

    Action

    audio tape

    Crime

    Drama

    hitman

    Mystery

    paranoia

    philadelphia, pennsylvania

    politics

    presidential election

    Thriller

    Brian De Palma Brian De Palma Director John Lithgow John Lithgow as Burke J. Patrick McNamara J. Patrick McNamara as Detective at Hospital John Travolta John Travolta as Jack John McMartin John McMartin as Lawrence Henry
    While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.
    Presents 1981 POSTER

    Presents

    1981

    English

    6.7

    3

    Action

    Michael Snow Michael Snow Director
    The apparent vertical scratch in celluloid that opens Presents literally opens into a film within the film. When its figure awakens into a woman in a 'real' unreal set, the slapstick satire of structural film begins. It is not the camera that moves, but the whole set, in this first of three material 'investigations' of camera movement. In the second, the camera literally invades the set; a plexiglass sheet in front of the dolly crushes everything in its sight as it zooms through space. Finally, this monster of formalism pushes through the wall of the set and the film cuts to a series of rapidly edited shots as the camera zigzags over lines of force and moving fields of vision in an approximation of the eye in nature. Snow pushes us into acceptance of present moments of vision, but the single drum beat that coincides with each edit in this elegaic section announces each moment of life's irreversible disappearance.
    The Monster Club 1981 POSTER

    The Monster Club

    1981

    English

    5.9

    22

    75%

    39%

    Action

    anthology

    based on novel or book

    Comedy

    Fantasy

    ghost

    Horror

    monster

    Music

    Musical

    stripper

    vampire

    Roy Ward Baker Roy Ward Baker Director Britt Ekland Britt Ekland as Busotsky's Mother Roger Sloman Roger Sloman as Club Secretary - Werewolf Vincent Price Vincent Price as Eramus Liz Smith Liz Smith as Villager
    A vampire attacks a horror author on the street and then invites him to a nearby club as a gesture of gratitude, which turns out to be a meeting place for assorted creatures of the night. The vampire then regales him with three stories, each interspersed with musical performances at the club.
    Who Pulled the Plug? 1981 POSTER

    Who Pulled the Plug?

    1981

    Swedish

    5.8

    3

    Action

    arab sheik

    boat chase

    boating accident

    canal

    Comedy

    debt collector

    race

    Hans Iveberg Hans Iveberg Director Georg Rydeberg Georg Rydeberg as Gustav Magnus Härenstam Magnus Härenstam as Kronofogden Lars Amble Lars Amble as Leif Andersson Bertil Norström Bertil Norström as Slussvakt
    To secure an order for 1 000 cruise ships from an Arab prince, two companies have to compete by racing each other by canal from Stockholm to Gothenburg. A small family owned company on the brink of bankruptcy is pitted against their major competitor and they both have to resort to dirty tricks in order to reach the goal line first. Plot by Mattias Thuresson.
    The Black Cat 1981 POSTER

    The Black Cat

    1981

    Italian

    5.8

    6

    33%

    26%

    black cat

    Horror

    hypnosis

    photographer

    police investigation

    psychic

    Lucio Fulci Lucio Fulci Director Lucio Fulci Lucio Fulci as Doctor Bruno Corazzari Bruno Corazzari as Ferguson Mimsy Farmer Mimsy Farmer as Jill Trevers Patrick Magee Patrick Magee as Prof. Robert Miles
    Townspeople of a small English village begin to die in a series of horrible accidents, and a Scotland Yard inspector arrives to investigate a mysterious local medium who records conversations with the dead.
    The Fox and the Hound 1981 POSTER

    The Fox and the Hound

    1981

    English

    7.2

    51

    75%

    78%

    Action

    Adventure

    animal

    Animation

    based on novel or book

    coming of age

    Drama

    Family

    fox

    friendship

    villain

    David Hand David Hand Director Paul Winchell Paul Winchell as Boomer Kurt Russell Kurt Russell as Copper Corey Feldman Corey Feldman as Young Copper Keith Coogan Keith Coogan as Young Tod
    When a feisty little fox named Tod is adopted into a farm family, he quickly becomes friends with a fun and adorable hound puppy named Copper. Life is full of hilarious adventures until Copper is expected to take on his role as a hunting dog -- and the object of his search is his best friend!
    Attack Force Z 1981 POSTER

    Attack Force Z

    1981

    English

    5.4

    8

    31%

    31%

    Action

    airplane crash

    commando

    Drama

    History

    mission

    pacific theater

    submarine

    War

    world war ii

    Tim Burstall Tim Burstall Director Mel Gibson Mel Gibson as Capt. P.G. Sylvia Chang Sylvia Chang as Chien Hua John Phillip Law John Phillip Law as Lt. J.A. Sam Neill Sam Neill as Sgt. D.J.
    Sent to rescue survivors from the site of a plane crash in the South Pacific during WWII, Captain Kelly and his elite squad of Australian commandos must keep tabs on a defecting Japanese official who could hold the secret to peace.
    The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold 1981 POSTER

    The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold

    1981

    English

    6.1

    9

    50%

    50%

    Action

    Animation

    Comedy

    Family

    Fantasy

    holiday

    Musical

    Jules Bass Jules Bass Director Ken Jennings Ken Jennings as Dinty Doyle / Father Leprechaun Peggy Cass Peggy Cass as Faye Bob McFadden Bob McFadden as Lord of the Leprechauns Art Carney Art Carney as Narrator / Blarney Kilakilarney
    Sent in search of a Christmas tree, cabin boy Dinty Doyle lands on a mysterious, uncharted Irish island where he accidentally releases a bad-tempered banshee from her pine tree prison. Leprechaun Blarney Kilakilarney knows that in order to survive, the banshee will try to swipe his clan's pot of Christmas gold. With some magical assistance from Lord Patrick, the king of the wee folk, Dinty and Blarney make a plan to outwit the gold-hungry hag before Christmas morning dawns.
    Mommie Dearest 1981 POSTER

    Mommie Dearest

    1981

    English

    6.7

    11

    50%

    72%

    Action

    adoption

    biography

    Biography

    child abuse

    Drama

    hollywood

    lawyer

    sociopath

    Frank Perry Frank Perry Director Diana Scarwid Diana Scarwid as Christina Crawford Margaret Fairchild Margaret Fairchild as Mother Superior Cathy Lind Hayes Cathy Lind Hayes as Nurse Peter Jason Peter Jason as Pepsi Executive #4
    Renowned film star Joan Crawford's abuse towards Christina, her adopted daughter, intensifies as her professional and romantic relationships turn sour.
    Hands Up! 1981 POSTER

    Hands Up!

    1981

    Polish

    6.5

    4

    Drama

    essay film

    medical profession

    poland

    politics

    post-apocalyptic future

    refugee train

    Jerzy Skolimowski Jerzy Skolimowski Director Fred Zinnemann Fred Zinnemann as Self Alan Bates Alan Bates as Self Bruno Ganz Bruno Ganz as Self David Essex David Essex as Self
    The reunion of a group of former medical students results in a flood of bitter memories.
    Possession 1981 POSTER

    Possession

    1981

    English

    7.2

    99

    85%

    77%

    Action

    adultery

    berlin, germany

    Drama

    Horror

    marriage crisis

    monster

    police

    violence

    Andrzej Zulawski Andrzej Zulawski Director Isabelle Adjani Isabelle Adjani as Anna / Helen Carl Duering Carl Duering as Detective Sam Neill Sam Neill as Mark Leslie Malton Leslie Malton as Sara, woman with club foot
    A young woman left her family for an unspecified reason. The husband determines to find out the truth and starts following his wife. At first, he suspects that a man is involved. But gradually, he finds out more and more strange behaviors and bizarre incidents that indicate something more than a possessed love affair.
    The Howling 1981 POSTER

    The Howling

    1981

    English

    6.5

    47

    76%

    61%

    Action

    adultery

    based on novel or book

    Horror

    murder

    secret society

    shapeshifting

    woods

    Joe Dante Joe Dante Director Noble Willingham Noble Willingham as Charlie Barton Kevin McCarthy Kevin McCarthy as Fred Francis Elisabeth Brooks Elisabeth Brooks as Marsha Quist Meshach Taylor Meshach Taylor as Shantz
    After a bizarre and near fatal encounter with a serial killer, a newswoman is sent to a rehabilitation center whose inhabitants may not be what they seem.
    Adieu Galaxy Express 999 1981 POSTER

    Adieu Galaxy Express 999

    1981

    Japanese

    7.0

    10

    Action

    Animation

    Drama

    Sci-Fi

    space opera

    Rintaro Rintaro Director Makio Inoue Makio Inoue as Captain Harlock Chiyoko Kawashima Chiyoko Kawashima as Kei Noriko Ohara Noriko Ohara as Mime John Payne John Payne as Tochiro / Meowdar
    Two years after the events of Galaxy Express 999, Earth has become a battlefield, and Tetsuro is summoned to board the Three-Nine once more. In this, the shattering, full-length theatrical conclusion to Leiji Matsumoto's epic story, all questions will be answered and all mysteries will be revealed as Tetsuro embarks on a journey which will reveal a secret so awful, even Maetel herself can hardly bear to speak of it.
    Mobile Suit Gundam I 1981 POSTER

    Mobile Suit Gundam I

    1981

    Japanese

    7.0

    15

    80%

    80%

    Action

    Adventure

    Animation

    Crime

    Drama

    giant robot

    History

    mecha

    military

    Romance

    Sci-Fi

    space battle

    space colony

    space war

    War

    Ryôji Fujiwara Ryôji Fujiwara Director Diane Michelle Diane Michelle as Crowley Hamon Katsunosuke Hori Katsunosuke Hori as Eschenbach Dai Matsumoto Dai Matsumoto as Krampe Takkô Ishimori Takkô Ishimori as Reed
    In the year Universal Century 0079, humans have colonized the area of space lying in between the Earth and the moon. However, the ambitious Zabi family, rulers of the Duchy of Zeon, the grouping of colonies furthest from the earth, has sparked a war.
    Fort Apache the Bronx 1981 POSTER

    Fort Apache the Bronx

    1981

    English

    6.7

    10

    bronx, new york city

    Crime

    Drama

    nypd

    police

    police protagonist

    police station

    Daniel Petrie Daniel Petrie Director Daryl Edwards Daryl Edwards as Black Rookie Rachel Ticotin Rachel Ticotin as Isabella Paul Newman Paul Newman as Murphy Kim Delgado Kim Delgado as Suspect #1
    From the sight of a police officer this movie depicts the life in New York's infamous South Bronx. In the center is "Fort Apache", as the officers call their police station, which really seems like an outpost in enemy's country. The story follows officer Murphy, who seems to be a tuff cynic, but in truth he's a moralist with a sense for justice.
    Beware of the Jonsson Gang! 1981 POSTER

    Beware of the Jonsson Gang!

    1981

    Swedish

    6.3

    6

    Action

    Comedy

    Crime

    criminal

    jönsson gang

    Jonas Cornell Jonas Cornell Director Lillemor Planck Lillemor Planck as Berusad kvinna Gösta Ekman Gösta Ekman as Charel-Ingvar 'Sickan' Jönsson Nils Brandt Nils Brandt as Rocky Jean-Paul Chakbazof Jean-Paul Chakbazof as Shejken
    The movie begins with the Jönsson gang making a minor burglary. It goes wrong and the gang leader, Sickan, gets caught. After he has spent 10 months in jail, Vanheden and Rocky come to welcome him when he's released. But he doesn't take notice of them, and he's picked up by the mysterious banker Wall-Enberg Jr. instead. He wants Sickan to perform a burglary in Switzerland, in order to retrieve the famous Bedford Diamonds. Sickan does this but is fooled by Wall-Enberg and nearly gets caught. When he returns to Sweden and re-unites with his old gang members, he's set on revenge, both physically and psychologically...
    Prince of the City 1981 POSTER

    Prince of the City

    1981

    English

    7.4

    18

    93%

    81%

    1970s

    Action

    corruption

    Crime

    Drama

    new york city

    police

    police corruption

    wiretap

    Sidney Lumet Sidney Lumet Director Norman Parker Norman Parker as Assistant U.S. Atty. Rick Cappalino Lance Henriksen Lance Henriksen as D.A. Burano Carmine Caridi Carmine Caridi as Detective Gino Mascone Bob Balaban Bob Balaban as Santimassino
    New York City detective Daniel Ciello agrees to help the United States Department of Justice help eliminate corruption in the police department, as long as he will not have to turn in any close friends. In doing so, Ciello uncovers a conspiracy within the force to smuggle drugs to street informants.
    Vernon, Florida 1981 POSTER

    Vernon, Florida

    1981

    English

    7.0

    1

    100%

    79%

    1980s

    Documentary

    eccentric

    florida

    small town

    Errol Morris Errol Morris Director George Harris George Harris as Self Albert Bitterling Albert Bitterling as Self Roscoe Collins Roscoe Collins as Self Joe Payne Joe Payne as Self
    Early Errol Morris documentary intersplices random chatter he captured on film of the genuinely eccentric residents of Vernon, Florida. A few examples? The preacher giving a sermon on the definition of the word "Therefore," and the obsessive turkey hunter who speaks reverentially of the "gobblers" he likes to track down and kill.
    Fear No Evil 1981 POSTER

    Fear No Evil

    1981

    English

    4.7

    4

    50%

    28%

    gay interest

    Horror

    revenge

    satan

    Frank LaLoggia Frank LaLoggia Director John Quinn John Quinn as Apostle Frank Birney Frank Birney as Father Daly Elizabeth Hoffman Elizabeth Hoffman as Mikhail / Margaret Buchanan John Holland John Holland as Rafael / Father Damon
    Brilliant and aloof teenager Andrew is always the butt of his classmates' jokes — but little do they know that he is actually the demon Lucifer. As the evil wells up within him, he avenges himself in acts of demonic murder and destruction. But his foe, the archangel Gabriel, has assumed the form of 18 year old student Julie.
    Enter the Ninja 1981 POSTER

    Enter the Ninja

    1981

    English

    5.3

    10

    43%

    37%

    Action

    chase

    Crime

    Drama

    fight

    mafia

    martial arts

    ninja

    philippines

    Thriller

    Menahem Golan Menahem Golan Director Franco Nero Franco Nero as Cole Will Hare Will Hare as Dollars Dale Ishimoto Dale Ishimoto as Komori Christopher George Christopher George as Venarius
    After completing his training of ninjutsu within Japan, an American Angolan Bush War veteran by the name of Cole visits his war buddy Frank Landers and his newly wed wife Mary Ann, who are the owners of a large piece of farming land in the Philippines. Cole soon finds that the Landers are being repeatedly harassed by a CEO named Charles Venarius.
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