1971 - From Kubrick to Car Chases, Musicals to Monarchs

The 44th Academy Awards served up one of the more diverse Best Picture lineups in history: the pulse-pounding French Connection, Kubrick’s shocking A Clockwork Orange, the show-stopping musical Fiddler on the Roof, the aching nostalgia of The Last Picture Show, and the royal spectacle Nicholas and Alexandra.

In this episode, Dylan, Glenys and Rob go head-to-head over the great Oscar-nominated movies of 1971. Was The French Connection’s gritty car chases and moral murk the boldest choice, or did Kubrick’s disturbing vision of a dystopian near-future deserve the gold? Did Fiddler charm us with its unforgettable songs and heartfelt storytelling, standing the test of time to get a second chance? Does The Last Picture Show stand as the quiet masterpiece of the bunch? And was Nicholas and Alexandra a sweeping triumph—or just an overstuffed history lesson?

Join us as we reconsider the Academy’s choice, and ask the big question: if we had the ballot in our hands today, which film would truly earn the title of Best Picture—and which ones never should’ve made the cut?

Best Picture Nominees

The French Connection - winner
A Clockwork Orange
Fiddler on the Roof
The Last Picture Show
Nicholas and Alexandra