Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974 Martin Scorsese)

Whilst his fellow New Wavers were making bold, gritty, provocative films then (The Conversation, GF II, The Parallax View, Phantom of the Paradise, Night Moves, Serpico) Marty chose to go for something rather more conventional (despite its trick 40s style beginning), wittily written by Robert Getchell. (Though the way he races his camera along the various bars is unusual indeed.) Ellen Burstyn must travel cross country (New Mexico, Phoenix, Tuscon, Monterey) with her son Alfred Lutter after bastard husband Billy Green Bush dies. She has only her vocation as a singer to fall back on. Cue encounters with violent Harvey Keitel (a nasty scene) and gentler Kris Kristofferson. Diane Ladd great as a no-nonsense waitress and Jodie Foster appears as a tomboy.

Ladd and Gretchell were Oscar nominated but Burstyn won. Here the reception was better - they all won their respective BAFTAs, as did Ladd, and Marty, Lutter and Lelia Goldoni as Alice's first friend were nominated.

Kent Wakeford (Mean Streets) shot it and George's wife Marcia Lucas cut it. Amazing tracking shot out of diner well predates Goodfellas; scenes in diner seem a bit choppy, though not in a bad way.