The early 1970s saw America in social and political turmoil as opposition to the Vietnam War increased following revelations of the brutality of American forces and, at home, the full scale of the Watergate scandal was beginning to be revealed. The certainties of American values were not only tarnished, they were found to be mired in corruption, scandal and lies. This unease was reflected in films from the New Hollywood of the '70s where the traditional hero of the classic era was replaced by a male protagonist who thought they knew what was happening but were seriously out of their depth. – Cinema Rediscovered
