"The Godfather," directed by Francis Ford Coppola, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1972, and "The Godfather, Part II" won in 1974. These films not only made a name for Coppola (nominated for Best Director both years and awarded it in 1974) but also for its stars. "The Godfather, Part I" introduced movie audiences to an actor now revered as one of America's best, Al Pacino, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1972 and Best Actor in 1974. Oscar winners from these pictures include: Marlon Brando, Best Actor 1972, and Robert De Niro for Best Supporting Actor in 1974. Other "Godfather" actors nominated were: Robert Duvall and James Caan for Best Supporting Actor in 1972 and Michael V. Gazzo and Lee Strasberg in 1974
Though Shirley Temple was awarded an honorary Oscar at the age of 6 in 1935, Tatum O'Neal was the youngest actor to win an Academy Award category, taking Best Supporting Actress for her work in "Paper Moon" in 1973. Cast as the daughter of her real-life father, Ryan O'Neal, Tatum's character was a wisecracking, older-than-her-years kid. The film, shot in black-and-white and directed by Peter Bogdanovich, depicted the adventures of a depression-era con man, played by Ryan O'Neal, whose scam involves posing as a Bible salesman.
The 1970s saw the production of a plethora of films that are now considered by many to be among the 100 greatest films ever. In 1974, the Oscar race for Best Picture was between "The Godfather, Part II" and "Chinatown" (among others). In 1975, the main contenders were "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Jaws" and "Nashville." In 1976, there were "Rocky," "Network" and "Taxi Driver," and in 1977, "Annie Hall" and "Star Wars." Add to these the other "100 best" films that were nominated at the 1970s Academy Awards -- "The Godfather" (1972 winner) and "Apocalypse Now" (1979) -- and you have 12 of the "100 greatest films" in this decade alone.
1976 saw the emergence of two popular movie series -- "Rocky," which spawned "Rocky II, III, IV and V" in the years between 1979 and 1980 plus "Rocky Balboa," made in 2008 and "Star Wars," which was later reconfigured as episode 4 of a six-part series that eventually began with "The Phantom Menace" (1999) and culminated in "Return of the Jedi" (1983). These megahits remain popular today and have spawned cross-media products such as toys and video games.