The Texas Twiggy, as she was affectionately known, Shelley Duvall was one of the most in-demand actors of the 1970s. Duvall worked with some of the best directors of the film medium, including Stanley Kubrick and Robert Altman, who fancied Shelley as a muse to him.
The actor's resume speaks for her as she was part of some of the best films of the 20th century. Duvall's star may have faded over the years but her performances and films continue to shine bright. As rated by IMDb, Shelley Duvall's best films are classics to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages.
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (6.1)
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson is an incredibly unique take on the Western genre, as only maverick filmmaker Robert Altman can pull off. The film was ahead of its time in suggesting that traditional American tales of heroism are flawed or completely false. In this case, the tale being disproved is the American idea that noble white men fought the savage Native Americans to win the West, which is completely wrong and racist.
The plot of the film is that Buffalo Bill hires Sitting Bull to give credibility to Bill's fraudulent spin on the story of the American West. However, the morally pure and heroic Sitting Bull refuses to partake in the lies set by Buffalo Bill. Shelley Duvall plays the President's wife, Mrs. Grover Cleveland, in the film. A small role, Duvall shares the screen with a large ensemble cast, a tactic popular in Altman's films.
Roxanne (6.6)
In this '80s adaptation of Cyrano De Bergerac, Roxanne is about a (very) long-nosed, pure-hearted fireman named C.D Bales who helps a shy coworker to woo his love interest, Roxanne, but C.D ends up falling for Roxanne himself.
The gentle and light comedy was adapted from the original play by the star of the film, Steve Martin who plays C.D. The film has a happy-go-lucky spirit, helping audiences to love this sunny romantic comedy, giving the movie its respectable 6.6 audience rating on IMDb. Duvall plays Dixie, the main character's god-sister.
Brewster McCloud (7.0)
In the first film Robert Altman cast Shelley Duvall in, this comedy cemented their professional relationship that would be incredibly fruitful throughout the '70s. Brewster McCloud is the story of an introverted loner who lives in the fallout shelter of the Houston Astrodome Stadium, trying to build wings to fly as he is helped by his guardian angel/fairy godmother.
Duvall stars in this as a temptress who serves as a source of distraction to the loner character as he tries to build his wings. A wildly imaginative film, Brewster McCloud has been labeled as a sardonic take on the fairy tale genre, a rare gem.
Thieves Like Us (7.0)
Set during the depression, the film follows a trio of criminals who rob banks around the Southern United States. One of the bank robbers falls in love with the innocent and naive Keechie, played by Shelley Duvall.
The set design, costumes, and locations make the viewer feel as if they stepped into the South in the 1930s, immersing the viewer in the setting. The film is meandering and atmospheric, aptly in line with Robert Altman's film aesthetic.
Time Bandits (7.0)
In Terry Gilliam's fantasy film, a young history buff joins a group of time-traveling dwarves that jump through the eras as they try to steal treasure. Time Bandits comes from the minds of two Monty Python members; Michael Palin and director Terry Gilliam, explaining the absurdist take on the fantasy genre. With irreverence infused in the historical scenes, the film pokes fun at well-known historical figures and legends.
Shelley Duvall plays an aristocratic woman from the Middle Ages who the time-traveling gang accidentally land on when arriving in the Medieval age. Duvall's part is basically a cameo, but the film is an awe-inspiring watch. This cult classic remains a popular contender for a Hollywood remake.
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (7.7)
McCabe and Mrs.Miller is about a gambler and prostitute who become business partners in the Old West who have their enterprise threatened by an encroaching business. The film is lauded for being an atypical Western, subverting established Western genre conventions. McCabe and Mrs. Miller has enjoyed enormous success, placing as eighth in the American Film Insitute's Top 10 List of Westerns.
Further, the Library of Congress selected the film as worthy of preservation. The iconoclastic movie is renowned, especially for the performances by the stars of the film, Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. The praise of McCabe and Mrs. Miller is in part due to the film's lack of adherence to orthodox storytelling components.
Nashville (7.7)
In one of the great films of the 20th century, Nashville is about the unexpectedly intersecting lives of a number of denizens in Nashville, all culminating at the Nashville Parthenon in a heart-stopping climax. Duvall plays Martha, or L.A. Joan as she calls herself, a country music groupie. Martha is supposed to be visiting Nashville to visit her dying aunt.
Conversely, she gives her family none of her time and instead pursues the male musicians of the city. A massive ensemble cast, starring Jeff Goldblum in one of his best movies, Keith Carradine, Lily Tomlin, and Geraldine Chaplin among others, Altman manages to make each character stand out despite the fierce competition each actor has for screen time in the sprawling cast.
3 Women (7.8)
In this trippy, surreal film, 3 Women tackles identity and the idea of individuality through the weird and shapeshifting differences the three women in the story experience. At the beginning of the film, Shelley Duvall's Mildred is a social butterfly, constantly trying to throw dinner parties for the residents of her small California apartment complex, who then takes in a shy, awkward young woman called Pinky, played by Sissy Spacek.
As the film goes on, the two women's personalities switch and converge along with another of the apartment's tenants, a mainly mute female painter, comprising the three women of the title. Often regarded as one of Robert Altman's best films, 3 Women's avant-garde approach to filmmaking pushed the boundaries of story form in cinema.
Annie Hall (8.0)
In the romantic comedy classic, Shelley Duvall plays a minor role as one of the protagonist's dates after he and Annie Hall have gone their separate ways. Duvall plays a Rolling Stone reporter who obsesses over Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger.
Duvall's character serves as the turning point for the protagonist as after his disastrous date with Duvall's character, he realizes that he wants to get back together with Annie. Annie Hall has many memorable lines such as "there's a spider in the bathroom the size of a Buick," prompting the popularity of the movie. In addition, it is celebrated for its three-dimensional characterization and relatability.
The Shining (8.4)
Stanley Kubrick's horror masterpiece, The Shining is often considered the best horror movie to come out of the '80s. The film is about a family who are the caretakers of the Overlook Hotel over the winter where sinister influences corrupt the father to become homicidal while his young son experiences psychic phenomenon. Being Duvall's highest-rated film on IMDb, this film also contains her best performance.
Duvall provides the heart of the film; she is out of her depth in dealing with her husband's looming insanity while trying to protect her young son, all while being fearful of the malevolence around her. A chill-inducing film, The Shining continues to scare the bits out of new viewers. The longevity of the film and its scare potential is even more impressive when considering the film was made before CGI, so all the special effects of the film are practical.