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American Graffiti
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American Graffiti (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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American Graffiti (1973) -- A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
American Graffiti (1973) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   28,766 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
George Lucas
Writers:
George Lucas (written by) and
Gloria Katz (written by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for American Graffiti on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 elokuu 1973 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
...is back! [1978 Re-release] more
Plot:
A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations more
User Comments:
So Much For Being 17 more (194 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Richard Dreyfuss ... Curt Henderson

Ron Howard ... Steve Bolander (as Ronny Howard)

Paul Le Mat ... John Milner

Charles Martin Smith ... Terry 'The Toad' Fields (as Charlie Martin Smith)
Cindy Williams ... Laurie Henderson
Candy Clark ... Debbie Dunham
Mackenzie Phillips ... Carol
Wolfman Jack ... XERB Disc Jockey
Bo Hopkins ... Joe Young
Manuel Padilla Jr. ... Carlos
Beau Gentry ... Ants

Harrison Ford ... Bob Falfa
Jim Bohan ... Officer Holstein
Jana Bellan ... Budda
Deby Celiz ... Wendy
Lynne Marie Stewart ... Bobbie Tucker

Terence McGovern ... Mr. Bill Wolfe (as Terry McGovern)

Kathleen Quinlan ... Peg (as Kathy Quinlan)
Tim Crowley ... Eddie
Scott Beach ... Mr. Gordon
John Brent ... Car Salesman
Gordon Analla ... Bozo
John Bracci ... Station Attendant
Jody Carlson ... Girl in Studebaker
Del Close ... Guy at Bar
Chuck Dorsett ... Man at Accident (as Charles Dorsett)
Stephen Knox ... Kid at Accident
Joe Miksak ... Man at Liquor Store
George Meyer ... Bum at Liquor Store
James Cranna ... Liquor Store Thief
Johnny Weissmuller Jr. ... Badass #1
William Niven ... Clerk at Liquor Store
Al Nalbandian ... Hank Anderson
Bob Pasaak ... Dale
Chris Pray ... Al
Susan Richardson ... Judy
Fred Ross ... Ferber
Jan Dunn ... Old Woman
Charlie Murphy ... Old Man
Ed Greenberg ... Kip Pullman
Lisa Herman ... Girl in Dodge
Mark Anger ... Mr. Kroot (as Irving Israel)
Kay Lenz ... Jane, Girl at Dance (as Kay Ann Kemper)
Caprice Schmidt ... Announcer at Dance

Joe Spano ... Vic
Debralee Scott ... Bob Falfa's Girl
Ron Vincent ... Jeff
Donna Wehr ... Carhop
Cam Whitman ... Balloon Girl
Jan Wilson ... Girl at Dance

Suzanne Somers ... Blonde in T-Bird
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Warren Knight ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Sam McFadin ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Kris Moe ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Linn Phillips III ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
George Robinson ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Linda Christensen ... Girl (uncredited)
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Directed by
George Lucas 
 
Writing credits
George Lucas (written by) and
Gloria Katz (written by) &
Willard Huyck (written by)

Produced by
Francis Ford Coppola .... producer
Gary Kurtz .... co-producer
 
Cinematography by
Jan D'Alquen 
Ron Eveslage 
 
Film Editing by
Verna Fields 
Marcia Lucas 
George Lucas (uncredited)
 
Casting by
Mike Fenton 
Fred Roos 
 
Art Direction by
Dennis Lynton Clark  (as Dennis Clark)
 
Set Decoration by
Douglas Freeman 
 
Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers 
 
Makeup Department
Bette Iverson .... key hair stylist
Gerry Leetch .... key hair stylist
 
Production Management
James Hogan .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ned Kopp .... first assistant director
Charles Myers .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Doug von Koss .... property master (as Douglas von Koss)
 
Sound Department
Walter Murch .... sound montage
Walter Murch .... sound re-recordist
James Nelson .... sound editor
Art Rochester .... production sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester)
 
Stunts
Bob Herron .... stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni .... stunt driver (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
William Maley .... gaffer
Ken Phelps .... key grip
John Bonfield .... electrician (uncredited)
Tony Coangelo .... grip (uncredited)
Paul Ryan .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Kim Fowley .... music producer
Kim Fowley .... music recordist
Karin Green .... music coordinator
 
Transportation Department
Henry Travers .... transportation supervisor
 
Other crew
Toni Basil .... choreographer
Jim Bloom .... production associate
Christina Crowley .... script supervisor
Nancy Giebink .... production associate
Gino Havens .... dialogue coach
Al Locatelli .... design consultant
Beverly Walker .... assistant to producer
Haskell Wexler .... visual consultant
Dan Hess II .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
110 min | 112 min (re-release) (1978)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (original relase) | Dolby (re-release) (1975)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:15 | USA:PG (certificate #23582) | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Denmark:15 (video rating) | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
California, USA more
Company:
Lucasfilm more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was previewed before an audience of young people in Northpoint Theater, San Francisco, on a Sunday morning with Universal Studios rep Ned Tanen in attendance. In a story that is now legendary in Hollywood, Tanan was not impressed with the film, despite a good audience reaction, and called it "unreleasable". Francis Ford Coppola, enraged at the comment, offered to buy the film from Universal (some stories claim he offered to write the check then and there) while the exhausted, burned-out and ill George Lucas watched in shock. A compromise was finally reached whereby Universal could "suggest" modifications to the movie, a resolution Lucas was not happy with, as it took control of the film away from him. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Wolfman is talking to Curt, the position of the top-right-hand tape in the rack behind him keeps moving up and down by one slot between shots. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Terry Fields: Hey, what do you say, Curt? Last night in town - you guys gonna have a little bash before you leave?
Steve Bolander: The Moose have been looking for you all day.
[hands check to Curt]
Steve Bolander: They got worried - thought you were trying to avoid them or something.
Terry Fields: What is it? What do ya got?
Curt Henderson: Oh, great.
Terry Fields: That's $2000 man! $2000!
Steve Bolander: Mr. Jennings gave it to me to give to you. He says he's sorry it's so late, but it's the first scholarship the Moose Lodge has given out. And he, uh, says they're all very proud of you back at the lodge.
Curt Henderson: Cute. Why don't you hold it for me for awhile?
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Since I Don't Have You more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
26 out of 39 people found the following comment useful.
So Much For Being 17, 23 lokakuu 2003
10/10
Author: departed07 from United States

I remember watching this movie on May 31, 2002, the night before my high school graduation and when I watch this film, it reminded me of the things that happened with me throughout my senior year: from a guy I knew, who cheated on his girlfriend with a cheerleader, to the terrorist attack that tore America apart; causing Americans to go against one another, from the crushes, the heartbreaks, prom night, to Spider-Man being the movie of the year, graduation rehearsal, and technology becoming the new aspect in my life and when I watched American Graffiti, it reminded me of when the good times meant something with those around me.

The film takes place in 1962 California, a pre JFK assassination which showed the innocence of youth crusin' the streets and talking to buddies outside of their windows as they drive; now, in today's world it's a bloodbath. Even the music played a part of innocence back in the 60's where artist such as Fats Domino, Beach Boys, Bill Haley and the Comets, The Platters, even Chuck Berry were a pain in the butt to most of the adults of that time, but a joy. Now? Songs about sex, drugs, and murder have become the new waves to today's youth of America.

American Graffiti has four teenage boys who cruise in different directions in their hometown where some question their own faith. The main character in the story is Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) who is about to leave east for college where he is dubious on whether or not he should leave town in order to start a new life. Yet his friend Steve (Ron Howard) encourages him to leave and tells him not to crawl back into his little nest. All night, Curt cruises the streets with his sister Laurie (Cindy Williams) and Steve, where he sees a blonde woman driving a white T-Bird who mouths "I love you." Now Curt is on the hunt to find this blonde woman as he encounters a gang called The Pharaohs who want to pound him after he scratches the gang's car.

The next character is Steve whose Curt's best friend and happens to be dating Laurie and wants to rush things as quickly as possible. He wants to break up so they can see other people; but later when they are named King and Queen at the homecoming dance, they are together again where he tries to have sex with her. Yet, things don't work out well between them, and Steve questions his own destiny on whether he should stay or not, leaving Curt to be right as usual.

John Milner (Paul LeMat) is the hotshot of the state who doesn't want to leave town because he is afraid that everything will change. After the beginning of the film he talks to Curt about "The Pickin's are really getting' slim" that everything is changing in terms of music, girls, crusin' the street even from his friends departing. He cruises the streets where he accidentally picks up an underage girl (MacKenzie Phillips) who becomes more of a pal to John as they listen to Wolfman Jack and hear good old time music. Yet, John is up for a little competition, as a new drag racer by the name of Bob Falfa, (Harrison Ford) wants to race him.

The other character of the gang is Terry "The Toad," Fields (Charles Martin Smith) the nerd who drives a mophead, gets to take Steve's car for a ride in the town. Yet, as he tries to impress people, he meets one girl Debbie (Candy Clark) who decides to go with Terry after she hears about him talking about his "new" car. Terry who thinks he is a reject is now proved that he is a man as he cruises the streets with the girl on his arms, and just trying to prove that even nerds have their moments as well.

American Graffiti in my opinion is a retrospect of the good times that people had when everything was innocent, in an era where crusin' was important, especially rock n' roll. But as time changes on, people will always remember the good times.

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Song help! Furiosity06
The Strat at the ball kevinlekiller
If you could add any song to the movie what would it be Walastrac7
Cruising cataclysm1071
Did anyone want John and Carol to hook up? PoliticChik87
What's the deal with that teacher chaperoning? Brunswick84
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