20 Behind-the-Scenes Photos From Popular ’70s Movies

From directors arm wrestling between takes to your favorite Hollywood stars sharing laughs and inside jokes, on-set photos offer a rare glimpse that audiences never get to see on the big screen. Whether it’s the gritty energy of an action thriller or the elaborate sets of a sci-fi epic, these vintage photos capture the vibes, creativity, and chaos that went on behind the camera. Here are 20 behind-the-scenes shots that pull back the curtain to reveal the magic of some of the most popular films of the ’70s.

1. Steven Spielberg Directs Roy Scheider on the Set of ‘Jaws,’ 1975

2. Carrie Fisher Helps Mark Hamill Shave While on the Set of ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,’ 1977

3. Michael Myers, Played by Nick Castle, Takes a Break From Terror To Sip on a Dr. Pepper on the Set of ‘Halloween,’ 1978

4. Christopher Reeve, His Abs, and Valerie Perrine Pose for a Snap on the Set of ‘Superman: The Movie,’ 1978

5. Sissy Spacek Filming the Fiery Prom Scene on the Set of ‘Carrie,’ 1976

6. Anthony Daniels Prepares To Step Into Character as C-3PO on the Set of ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,’ 1977

7. Director Steven Spielberg Arm Wrestles Cary Guffey Between Takes on the Set of ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ 1977

8. Lee Marvin Takes a Quiet Break Between Scenes on the Set of ‘Paint Your Wagon,’ 1972

9. The Cast Of ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ Takes a Spooky Break Between Takes, 1974

10. Rows of Plastic Dummies Stand in Formation on the Set of ‘Waterloo,’ 1970 …

11. … and Plastic Horses

12. Rod Steiger, in Napoleon’s Coat, Talks With the Crew on the Set of ‘Waterloo,’ 1970

13. Director Ridley Scott and His Crew Prep the Terrifying Facehugger on the Set of ‘Alien,’ 1979

14. Dennis Hopper, Martin Sheen, and Director Francis Ford Coppola During the Filming of ‘Apocalypse Now,’ 1978

15. The Cast of ‘Star Wars’ Shares a Laugh Aboard the Millennium Falcon, 1976

16. Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers Prepare for a Fight Scene on the Set of ‘Rocky,’ 1976

17. Steven Spielberg Lines Up a Shot in India for a Scene in ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind,’ 1977

18. Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Fred (the Basset Hound), and Director Hal Needham on the Set of ‘Smokey and the Bandit,’ 1977

19. The Cast of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Raises a Toast Between Takes, 1975

20. Robert Redford and Cliff Robertson Pictured on the Set of ‘Three Days of the Condor,’ 1975

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