Greatest 20 Documentary Movies Fan Favorite Released in 1980

Martin Scorsese interviews his mother and father about their life in New York City and the family history back in Sicily. These are two people who have lived together for a long time and know each other very well. Learn about Italianamerican / IMDB / YouTube

Through examining Fini Straubinger, an old woman who has been deaf and blind since adolescence, and her work on behalf of other deaf and blind people, this film shows how the deaf and blind struggle to understand and accept a world from which they are almost wholly isolated. More about Land of Silence and Darkness / IMDB / YouTube

A short documentary in which directors Werner Herzog and Errol Morris make a bet which results in Herzog being forced to eat his own shoe. Find out about Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe / IMDB / YouTube

Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the Sex Pistols' tumultuous rise to fame, as told by their manager, Malcolm McLaren. Explore The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle / IMDB / YouTube

A group of mentally traumatized veteran patients is followed as they go through psychiatric treatment. More about Let There Be Light / IMDB / YouTube

A reporter interviews fighters and promoters about Bruce Lee, intercut with footage from old Bruce Lee films and pseudo-documentary footage. Learn about Fist of Fear, Touch of Death / IMDB / YouTube

Filmed coverage of Australian band AC/DC's '79 appearance in Paris intercut with quasi-fictional interludes. Get info on AC/DC: Let There Be Rock / IMDB / YouTube

Movie comedy queen Bette Midler reigns supreme in this rocking, rolling concert movie bash. The Divine Miss M at her trashiest, flashiest, heavenly best! Look into Divine Madness / IMDB / YouTube

Documentary covering Neil Young's October 22, 1978 concert performance at the Cow Palace. Read about Rust Never Sleeps / IMDB / YouTube

A documentary on the history of garlic. Blank interviews chefs, garlic lovers, and historians about the their love of the 'stinking rose.' Look into Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers / IMDB / YouTube

A contemporary documentary covering the Great British punk rock explosion of 1977. See more about Punk in London / IMDB / YouTube

Essay film shot for TV including Orson Welles reflections on Othello close to the Moviola, a chat with Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir and fragments of a conversation with the audience in Boston after a screening of the film. Look into Filming 'Othello' / IMDB / YouTube

A loving film tribute to Russian filmmaker Larisa Shepitko, who died tragically in a car accident in 1979 at the age of 40. This documentary by her husband, Elem Klimov, includes excerpts from all of Shepitko's films, and her own voice is heard talking about her life and art. Explore Larisa / IMDB / YouTube

Depicts the daily life of gangs within the context of the South Bronx. Deals primarily with two African American and Puerto Rican gangs known as the Savage Skulls and the Savage Nomads. Explore 80 Blocks from Tiffany's / IMDB / YouTube

Identical young twin girls in the USA have invented their own shared language. Scientists are wanting to study the language but social workers are trying to get the twins to leave their secret language world and enter the mainstream. This means forcing them to speak normal English and lose their secret language. The filmmaker's own questions about this process run acr. Get info on Poto and Cabengo / IMDB / YouTube

A journalist investigates a newspaper story of the execution of an Arab princess. Check out Death of a Princess / IMDB / YouTube

Produced by actor Robert Redford, The Solar Film is a part serious live action, part satirical animated educational documentary made to show the history of fossil fuels and why the use of clean solar energy should be the way of the future. Details on The Solar Film / IMDB / YouTube

After an absence of five years, six times Mr Olympia winner Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a comeback and attempts to take the World Body Building Championship for the 7th time. Find out about The Comeback / IMDB / YouTube

In this special, we get to see the virtuoso Andy Kaufman run rampid in Carnegie Hall. Details on Andy Kaufman Plays Carnegie Hall / IMDB / YouTube

The essence of the punk movement through performances & interviews of some of punk rock's most important bands, including interviews and performances. Get info on Women in Rock / IMDB / YouTube