Probably by 1983 or so, but movies shot from about 1979-1982 definitely have more of a “gray/blue” grit than the “brown/orange” of the early-mid 70’s.
Screwed up my first post, ack, oh well... Love this thread with so many good suggestions. Used to see Miguel Pinero around the neighborhood too. He always carried a golf club like a cane. And of course Iggy.
Suggested many pages back, it looks like you can watch the classic God Told Me To on Dailymotion https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5bad9i
But, the PBS documentary The Police Tapes is probably the ultimate expression of 70’s grit and grime.
Mikey and Nicky ---- Cassavetes and Falk are great in this. Well written. Tragic AND funny. 10/10., and it's on YouTube in full..
This probably inspired Paul Schrader to write "Taxi Driver" which probably led to Michael Douglas in "Falling Down" - the 90s version.
I know it's JUST past the 70's timeline but the 1980 movie, Defiance, starring Jan Michael Vincent, is a gritty New York film.
Yes, it is set in the Lower East Side and some of it is on location but the whole climax on a street is a blatant studio set. Vincent is incredibly bland too and the film is milquetoast next to NYC vigilante grade A trash of the era such as The Exterminator and Vigilante, but that’s another matter.
I agree.. Do you know any other similar kinds of movies? I can't, unfortunately. The only movie to even touch upon some of the criticisms of the "modern" world (last 5-10 yrs) has been "I, Daniel Blake" but it's nothing like those movies above. It is a great movie, though.