Bicentennial vibe movies

July 6, 2022 4:29 PM

Both Nashville (Altman, 1975) and Dazed and Confused (Linklater, 1993) are movies with meandering plotlines that take place during the American bicentennial in 1975 and loosely refer to it throughout. Are there other bicentennial-based movies that are light on the plot and heavy on the vibes?
posted by twelve cent archie to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

It's been forever since I last watched it, so I can't totally confirm any bicentennial vibes, but I feel like Smile could fit the bill here.
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:53 PM on July 6, 2022

Best answer: De Palma's Blow Out (1981) is set during the bicentennial in Philadelphia. While it might be more plot-heavy than you're looking for, the bicentennial mood adds some layers to the political conspiracy vibe.
posted by theory at 4:53 PM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I don't recall if Three Days of the Condor mentions the bicentennial explicitly, but the mid-70s vibe is certainly heavy in it.
posted by jquinby at 5:11 PM on July 6, 2022

Best answer: In addition to being nuclear-powered and having a swimming pool, The Big Bus even has a Bicentennial Dining Room, which you can see at about 4:40 in this sequence of excerpts from the 1976 film (which is in fact the Bicentennial year -‌- we were unaware of this word in 1975).
posted by Rash at 6:33 PM on July 6, 2022

Just as an aside, the U.S. bicentennial was actually in 1976.
posted by NotLost at 6:40 PM on July 6, 2022 [11 favorites]

Best answer: The 1976 King Kong, with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange, has some Bicentennial trappings.
posted by Rash at 6:41 PM on July 6, 2022

we were unaware of this word in 1975

... and so tired of it, by July 1976.

"It's another Bicentennial Salabration!"
posted by Rash at 6:50 PM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

Even though 1776 was released in 1972, and is about 1776, it embodies a very bicentennial-era view of the Revolutionary era that might evoke the vibe you seek.
posted by mumkin at 7:57 PM on July 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

IIRC, Dick (1999) was set during the Bicentennial.
posted by VirginiaPlain at 8:47 PM on July 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

seconding Blow Out. if you want, ignore the plot and soak up the vibes of which there are many.
posted by capnsue at 9:07 PM on July 6, 2022

Best answer: The Inkwell.

And I've never seen it, but maybe Diggers?
posted by box at 5:25 AM on July 7, 2022

Best answer: IIRC, Dick (1999) was set during the Bicentennial.

"Dick" was a late-90s fantasy for people too young to remember the Nixon administration, which was terminated abruptly in August 1974.

I've never seen it but Wikipedia's tiny section on Cinema on their Bicentennial page says

the 1976 film "Rocky" cited the Bicentennial in several scenes, mostly during Apollo Creed's entering; Carl Weathers dressed first as George Washington then as Uncle Sam.

posted by Rash at 8:27 AM on July 7, 2022

Best answer: The Spirit of '76 (1990) is a Bill and Ted-esque comedy featuring Redd Kross and Devo
posted by Gortuk at 8:43 AM on July 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Such great answers. I'm really looking forward to settling in for more "everything is kind of collapsing but at least the music and fashion are on point" flicks. And sorry for the typo in the question; of course the bicentennial was in 1976!
posted by twelve cent archie at 1:44 PM on July 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

Look closely and you'll see bicentennial logos in the original The Man Who Fell to Earth
posted by brujita at 6:29 AM on July 8, 2022