The 1970s were my teen-age years, and so identify the decade as the one I grew up in.

Two days before I graduated high school, a far bigger event occurred. That day, May 25, 1977, was the day the original Star Wars opened.

This weekend the seventh movie in the Star Wars franchise opened, replicating the frenzy of anticipation that accompanied the first, which today, years later, is considered a true landmark moment in film history.

In 1998, the American Film Institute compiled a list of the best movies of all times, soliciting input for some 1,500 film industry experts. Star Wars was ranked 15th. In some respects, though, Star Wars belongs far nearer the top of the list. Some movies are considered great because of their stories or the performances of the actors. Star Wars, however, was not only a great movie by those standards, but stands apart as a film that was truly transformational: It changed how movies are made, for better or worse.

Star Wars represented a quantum leap for special effects, so much so that it can be said that in many subsequent films, special effects became as much a character in the film as an actor. At its worst, films became a mere vehicle for the booming special-effects industry, often at the expense of the story or performances of the actors, who almost seemed like an afterthought.

As someone who has a great passion for story-telling, Star Wars represents then both a step forward and a step back. Even so, it is my belief the movies of the 1970s stand apart from those of any other decade. Naturally, there are compelling arguments to be made for fans of the movies of all decades, but I believe the evidence, such as it exists, strongly favors my argument for the 1970s.

The AFI’s Top 100 film list includes 18 movies made in the 1970s. No other decade has produced as many films on that list.

In almost every genre’ you will find among the best examples in the films of the 1970s.

The decade also marked the arrival of a new category – the summer Blockbuster, with classics such as “Jaws” (1975), “Superman” (1978) and “Grease” (1978).

Drama lovers found all-time favorites in “The Godfather” (1972), “Godfather II” (1974) “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), “The French Connection” (1971), “Network” (1976), “Rocky” (1976), “The Sting” (1973) and “Apocalypse Now” (1979), just to name a few.

A fan of comedies? The 1970s brought you such classics as “American Graffiti” (1973), “National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), “Blazing Saddles” (1974), “Young Frankenstein” (1974), “MASH” (1970) and the more high-toned “Annie Hall” (1978).

Although musicals were in the heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, what list of great musicals would really be complete without the contributions of the 1970s? The decade gave us “Fiddler on the Roof” (1971) and “The Wiz” (1978), along with the aforementioned “Grease.”

Horror movies? The ’70s had plenty, including “The Exorcist” (1973), “Carrie” (1976), “Halloween” (1978) and “Alien” (1979).

Then there are always those movies who open with little fanfare but become cult classics from a variety of genres The ’70s had, it seems, a disproportionate amount of these, everything from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) to “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975) to “The Warriors (1979) to “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) to “A Clockwork Orange” (1972).

It sounds like the grumblings of an old man, I realize, but I am compelled to say it: They just don’t make ’em like that anymore.

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].

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