American Graffiti
Features the coming of age of four teenagers on their last summer night before college. Rediscover drag racing, Inspiration Point and drive-ins all over again in this nostalgic look back at the early '60's. The incredible soundtrack brings you the most memorable rock 'n' roll hits of the era.
Member Reviews
What your moms and dads were like in the 60s - Wolfmann
This review is aimed at the generation-Xers and younger. All baby-boomers are very familiar with American Graffiti already and need not read it.
When this film came out in 1973, six years after the Wolfmann had left high school, it was a nostalgia trip. It's even more so today. Just about every character in the movie reminds you of someone you knew. The cool guys, the geeks (I guess we called them dorks back then), the hot girls and the rebels. In Ottawa we listened to WKBW and WABC(remember Cousin Brucie) at night when AM radio reception was better, but there was no Wolfman Jack for us, as his pirate radio station XERB in Mexico only occasionally reached this far North. (Your Wolfmann picked up the title quite independently of Wolfman Jack.)
The sound track CD is a must-have item for every baby-boomers oldies music collection, right up there with The Big Chill.
American Graffiti is also a fantastic historical collection of the big movie debut of so many baby boomer movie stars: Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, MacKenzie Phillips, Cindy Williams, Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat, Candy Clark ... even Suzanne Somers (the hot blonde in the T-bird).Happy Days Are Here Again! - TheShamus
There is a certain irony in the fact that one of the greatest special effects companies, Lucasfilm, would be founded by the director of a movie which has nary a special effect. In fact, this is a rather simple movie, about a (supposedly) simpler time.
This movie would be so influential -- because the extremely successful TV sitcom, "Happy Days" would be loosely based on this movie. They even picked cast members like, "Ron Howard" and "Cindy Williams" to star in the TV series ("Laverne and Shirley" and "Joanie Loves Chachi"). "Happy Days" lasted for 11 years on TV, and was number one in the ratings for several years. Without "American Graffiti", it is doubtful any of this would have kicked off.
Is American Graffiti a "tour-de-force" of acting or directing or writing? No no no. It is entertaining -- and an "idealized" version of the 50's.
This is a movie worth seeing ... although it is almost impossible to tell this was directed by the man who would stand movie making on its head with, "Star Wars".
/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\
PS - Interestingly, Lucas went back in and fixed some of the problems with the original theatrical release. For example, he changes the sky to make it clearer that the movie takes place over the course of one day (from morning to night).Fascinating in light of later films and shows - Maize
The most obvious comparisons when the film opens are to Happy Days. It's striking how much the later show bears a resemblance to the movie. It really makes me wonder what people who were around for both thought of the two in relation to each other. Still, the film is grittier and yet less plotted. In telling the stories of a number of individuals that intersect and diverge over the course of the evening, ultimately culminating in not much more than a good introduction to these people, it could easily be viewed as a precursor to Pulp Fiction and to so many other modern films. I wouldn't call it riveting, but it's worth it just for the pop-culture grounding.
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What your moms and dads were like in the 60s - Wolfmann
This review is aimed at the generation-Xers and younger. All baby-boomers are very familiar with American Graffiti already and need not read it.
When this film came out in 1973, six years after the Wolfmann had left high school, it was a nostalgia ...Happy Days Are Here Again! - TheShamus
There is a certain irony in the fact that one of the greatest special effects companies, Lucasfilm, would be founded by the director of a movie which has nary a special effect. In fact, this is a rather simple movie, about a (supposedly) simpler time.
This ...Fascinating in light of later films and shows - Maize
The most obvious comparisons when the film opens are to Happy Days. It's striking how much the later show bears a resemblance to the movie. It really makes me wonder what people who were around for both thought of the two in relation to each other. Still, ...