American Graffiti: Behind the Scenes and Around the Block
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- Today I go cruising the streets of Modesto one more time with Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford, and of course, George Lucas.
These are some little-known facts about Lucas' 1973 classic, American Graffiti. 
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one of the greatest movies made,i was 13 when it came out,got into cars,drag racing cruising and car shows..and still doing it today..
Same. I was Mackenzie’s age when AG first came out. I said, this is what my high school years are gonna be like and proceeded to emulate behaviors In the film
I was born Dec 1963 , my claim to excitement was cruising Yonge St in downtown Toronto , Ontario , Canada in my 1970 Oldsmobile 98 , 455 ci 2 dr with fender skirts in 1981-82 , I graduated high school June 1982 ....... way better times then then hell hole of a time and society we live in today .............
I was born in 1958, and when I saw this movie in 1973, it made me nostalgic for a time I'd never experienced. The first album I ever bought was the soundtrack.
My folks saw it with me and wanted the soundtrack! Still have the double album
I graduated in 1962 and this is right on. The only thing that I find off is it all happened on one night. The cars and music are all spot on and I was involved in a lot of the things the movie showed. Lots of fun, of course now days most of us would probably spend a night in jail if we tried doing this LOL. It was a real good time to grow up.
I've always loved that film, even though the period depicted is a few years before I was born. But there is one question about the movie that I'm curious about. (Other than the plausibility that a guy like Toad would be in the same social circle as a guy like Steve.) I noticed in the movie that most of the songs played on the radio were a few years older than 1962. Even Milner expressed disdain for the then-current music. Was it common for the hottest stations to play "oldies" rather than contemporary hits?
I turned 16 in 74 and cruisin was such a cool thing. I saw this movie a year earlier and it made such a big impression!! I was so glad my friends and I caught the tail end of the muscle car, summer time cruisin and street racing scene. It was like a lucky once in a lifetime thing that will never happen again.
One of my favorite movies!! What fun and what memories of my growing up years... I graduated HS in 1961 and seeing my DVD of this movie brings me nothing but smiles... Thanks for this video...
Remember seeing "American Graffiti" when it was out in 1973-It's one of my all-time favorites.
Scott Burton I sure do I was attending Prince George’s Community College in MD.
Gary Ehlers I was in Jr. High in PG County at the time and saw it at Marlow Heights Theater.
Gary Ehler
I saw it in the theater in Tustin, Calif. To this day, it feels right watching American Graffiti only at night for me.
Thank heaven for Lucas and Coppola, some of the greatest movies came from these two men.
The best of times, listening to a radio, cruising around on a summer night, great music, dating and making friends..
Cruising the same ol streets slowly and deliberately checking everyone out, California cool ( back then ) 💜🎶💙
I’ve studied the picture a whole lot, but I didn’t know that it was part of a low-budget series of Universals.
The film was extremely influential to the mid 70s generation. One of the reasons that all those 50s comedies happened on TV was because Lucas inspired a retro period in the mid 70s.
All of this was a few years before Star Wars, which deserves it’s own program.
Oh, how the world has changed since the 50's, 60's and 70's. I was very glad to have had that experience but it seems so long ago and we were so innocent. This movie was a classic, never to be duplicated. We were very fortunate to live during those times if only to know how our world has changed and not always for the better.
George Brown
George Brown u,
Tricky Dick, Iran contra etc.
George Brown wasn’t so innocent for black people
@@gregoryvschmidt it wasn't all bad either... I grew up in a black neighborhood and Sonny Liston was our neighbor. Our music was different though, Motown
I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!! I remember "Cruising" like this in Spokane WA on Riverside Ave in the late '60s in my Red '62 Impala SS "409" listening to CCR on KJRB.
All windows down, tunes up....Great memories indeed!!
That is one rare car you had! A very small number of those were built in '62.
I hope you
still have that 409. Iconic car for iconic times!
We Had a circuit in Janseville, Wisconsin. I drove I drove a 1969 Nova SS 396, listening to CCR, the Stones and Beatles on 8 track, or WLS Music Radio from Chicago... exactly like the movie... interesting now, I restore classic cars and have a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad and a 1966 Chevelle SS 396..
One of my top ten of all time. Yea....we didn't know how good we had it back then and this movie captures it all.
The movie that absolutely makes you feel like you were right there that night!!! A beautiful, glossy looking bit of Americana.
American Graffiti is in my top ten of favorite films, a kind of valedictory for my generation, and without any doubt the best time to come of age in America, or any place else. It has become an iconic part of cinema history, and a flashback to the best years of our lives. I still love those characters, that music, and those cars. Like the man said "the best years are the first to flee." This review includes a number of facts about the making of the film that I didn't know, and it was very interesting to watch. I remember wondering when I first saw the film whether Toad's crashing his scooter was actually in the script, and if so, admired how well he did it. But, as I suspected, it was a happy accident that occurred during shooting. Most of us, I suppose, identified with Curt, who struggled as we did, with having to leave behind what he has come to realize, even before it was gone, that those years were very special. And John, who refused to leave it behind. But, like Lucas, there's a little bit of us in each of them.
It was the last of our innocence. As a kid I spun records at the local radio station, and played all that music, my dad had those cars (and yes, we dragged them), and we fell in love all the time. Returning from overseas during Vietnam, I flew into San Francisco during the Summer of Love, and I thought of those guys over in Modesto, and those times. I thought of Toad, who we thought had died in Vietnam, together with so many others. and the world turned again. I wish I had a time machine, but failing that, I still have American Graffiti. Thanks.
The very first but brief drag race scene between Milner and Falfa, when you can hear the v8's of the 32 and 55 giving it all they had, and the buildings in the background were flying by, is one of my favorite car scenes in a movie.
"It is such a grounded and 'human' film with so many interconnecting characters(great directing and acting from all the actors & actresses involved), that made everyone in the audience love it. In conclusion the epitaph: John Milner is killed by a drunk driver, Terry is missing in action in Vietnam, etc) as Curt's plane is flying away back East was so sad, on top of the fact he loses the opportunity to meet the blonde in the T-bird. The ending was bittersweet, but had me go back to see it over a dozen times because I never wanted the story to end or any of the characters to die. It was funny, happy, but also sad".
David Shawn I was a little bummed that they only referenced the boys, nothing about the girls in the movie, tho.
I understand what you're saying. The unpredictable paths that can happen in some people's lives can be stunning. It is understandable that you would want to see the movie over and over again, as when you're seeing all the characters together, it's real.
@@ReadingisMagicTV “True, but later in American Graffiti 2 you do get to know what Debbie, Carol & Laurie have been up to the past six years. Would have been so much better had George and Francis directed #2 . Also, in my opinion Suzanne Somers & Kathleen Quinlan should have returned for AG#2 .I think Suzanne was busy with ‘Three’s Company’ by 1977.Kathleen Quinlan became quite successful in quite a few movies(five)between 1976-1979 so most likely she was not available to reprise her character Peggy(Peg)either?
My 55 Chevy was in the movie, most prominently in the scene where Toad pulls out of Mel's to go buy beer and the waitress skates out with her tray and there is no car there. The entire left side of the screen is my car. You can see my right rear fender looks very dull where they sprayed something on it to cut the glare. It was very difficult to get it off. I am also in a cruising scene that was filmed in San Rafael on 3 and 4th streets where I change lanes. That same night they were filming Milner cruising in his 32. The camera was mounted on the back of an El Camino. I pulled up next to him and goosed it. He punched it too and we started going back and forth. The camera swung around and filmed me too, but that never made it into the film. I was paid $20 per night to be there from 6PM until 6AM. It cost me more to buy gas, but it was great fun. One of my best memories was when they were filming Harrison Ford in the black 55 Chevy at Mel's. They wanted him to do a burnout in the parking lot. That car was one of the Two Lane Blacktop cars, so it was a real racer. He lost control and people scattered. I am sure he soiled himself before screeching to a stop.
Coppola filmed Peggy Sue Got Married next door to my parents house in Santa Rosa...one entire week of filming...semi trucks, cables everywhere, catering trucks etc....and not one frame made it to the final edit or movie!
@@sonomawinetourdrivers3895 I wonder if anybody scavenged the cuts...would be great to see..
Very cool ! What color is your car, I'm going to see if I can spot it
Really? That is awesome. What color is your car? I will try and find it the next time I can watch American Graffiti...
vettejoevette Awesome! I lived in San Rafael for several years and enjoyed their yearly classic car parade, too.
Our group of 5 friends would go back to the theater time and time and time again during its initial run to watch this fantastic movie. One guy in our group saw it 15 times! That was before home video when the only option was the movie theater and movies would run for a long time. We knew the lines so well they became a part of our vernacular. Sweet memories of 5 best friends loving American Graffiti.
Best movie of that era without a doubt. Grew up in the eighties in suburban Detroit and it was still about the same lifestyle being teenagers before cellphones. You had to drive around to find your friends. Cruising around was just a way of life.
We use to cruise San Rafael, Petaluma and Santa Rosa every Friday night. We'd race at Ghilottis by the sewer plant at the Richmond bridge. The fastest car I knew of was a 62 vette with 2-4's...man what times we had...........
I lived in San Rafael for a few years in the late `80s, and would go to Fourth Street and pick out the buildings that I recognized in "American Graffiti".
I lived in Ceres, Ca. Just a couple of years before this movie was being made. I know that a lot of spots in the movie were shot in Petaluma. Mel’s drive in was an actual place. It had closed down and George Lucius thought it would great in the Movie. When the owners were asked about it, they said that they had been talking about reopening the place. Well, one thing led to another and it opened up. The movie was filmed and afterward Mel’s was so popular that they stayed opened. I think it is even today. I saw many places in the film that I knew of, it brought me back to when I lived there.
Starting shooting on 4th st in San Rafael but got shot down- finished in Petaluma
@@montgomerydenzer8805 "shot down" ???
I Thought Mel's Drive-In Was In San Francisco & Has Since Been Demolished!?!
@@gregh7457 the city pulled their permits.
@@thewatcher5271 yes, the one they used in the film was demolished.
I heard a story back in about 1980, from someone passing through the Yukon, on their way to Alaska and was visiting some acquaintances. He told me he was part of the group who were the inspiration for the scene in American Graffiti, of the police car getting its wheels torn off. But instead a chain being used, like shown in the movie, they used a nylon webbing strap because it didn't make any noise. I can't remember everything he told me about it, but the description was vivid enough I could picture it actually happening that way. They then drove fast, past the police car, and it pulled out after them, in the process tearing off the rear axle and destroying their vehicle.
What a great story of telling the behind the scenes of a great movie. The gentleman who told this story did a tremendous job. He is a great narrator which made this extremely interesting. Thank you.
To me at least the BEST movie ever made. Real to so many lives back in the 60's. A personal favorite that I've watched more times and brings fond memories of cruising the drag, 17 cent burgers and .29 cent gasoline.
My sentiments exactly. The all time greatest movie ever made. Milner is still my hero and I still have a crush on Lorie and I'm 71 years old. The '50's and early '60's were so wonderful. I consider myself so fortunate to have lived through them. My wife and i still enjoy cruising in our hot rod with AG in the cassette player.
@@douglaskanuka1775 That's the best. You got it right sir.
I never lived this life but I LOVED this movie. I was 9 in 1962 and I fell in love with this movie when I first saw it on tv but regrettably, I never saw it at a theater. My dad worked with Candy Clark's uncle.
I graduated high school in 1962. Many Saturday nights were like the movie. In 1985 I asked Wolfman do some voice tracks for my Modesto radio station for the annual summer Cruise Night there and played AG soundtrack Oldies all evening long. Lots of fun and the listeners loved it!
I Built my first 31 Ford because of this movie. Couldnt get my hands on a 32 . it was awesome ! 440 wedge motor . 500hp that was big back in the 70s. Awe memories
A dude in SF bought that car- I would see it cruising around the Sunset District from time to time
Amazing how this movie became a spring board for numerous individual actors and future movies, brought to light the nostalgia movement which occurred about the time of the movie, and turned more automobiles into icons than any movie up to that time.
Saw it with harold & maude. Man what a double. Still high from this and that was in 73. Loved the end notes which made it bitter sweet. Brings Ned Ryerson to mind for those who didn't seize the day. And ah the music. Hello baby!!! Always wanted to join the Pharaohs. Maybe one day ...
Watched them filming this as a kid many nights in my home town of San Rafael.....loved the movie!
After the movie came out....cruising down 4th street became popular and was really fun as a teenager....unfortunately they stopped it.....but I’m happy I got to experience it!!!
The film crew put a flyer out for businesses to please leave their lights on that night as well as calling for 1950's cars to come out. I still have those flyers that were put out in San Rafael.
In 62' I was three years old and I still remember the Edsel that my Parents had, I had to mention that because before then, they had a 55' or 57' Chevy Convertible. God Bless You.
I could not go to sleep when I was sent to bed at the same time as my younger siblings so my Dad bought me a little radio that looked like a rocket and I clipped on my metal frame for a antenna. In order to bring in "channels" I had to raise and lower the little wire antenna located in the tip of the rocket. At night when Am radio stations lowered their signals around 10 pm, I could get WOLFMAN JACK and even stations from Mexico! It was great to hear his voice again when I saw this movie for the first time and all the great old classics.
For me, it was a radio that had a single wired earpiece (kind of like a modern earbud) that I could put in one ear and listen to while I pretended to be asleep. Most nights I got whomever was on WBT in Charlotte, but sometimes I could pick up others from further away on the ozone skip.
In my experience, "channels" were always TV related. Stations are what was tuned in on radio.
Wolfman Jack was central character to film’s incredible success. This is truly an all time classic
Need I say, I've been a fan of this movie since it hit the theaters????? "It's a great big world out there.... and here I sit... sucking on popsicles" and watching this flick for the umpteenth time!!!!
In the Mid-South in the counties around Memphis Tn.,we were still cruising and street racing in the mid to late 1970s and the early to mid 1980s. It was what teenagers did on the weekends and summer evenings in the South. I wouldn't take anything for those memories.
Here too in Sacramento, Ca. Cruising J street and K all around and under the Macy's breezeway. Kids stopping and parking, going up in the parking garage to the top to make out. Guys were innocent... girls, not so much, right Street Tease?
I was born in the summer of 62. In the late 70s we were still cruising Main Street in Turlock on Friday Nights after the football game. Suzanne Summers’ shout out was our claim to fame.
Thank you ! 1973 I was 7 years old.
The sound track really made the movie. With the music and the theme, it put you back in time to that era. Also, what was so great, was you could associate every character with someone you knew in High School...........just a GREAT film...
One of my all time movies! I remember cruising on Long Island back in the early 60's...great times.
I just watched Richard Dreyfuss's latest movie with Chevy Chase "The last laugh", and he still has the same youthful voice and trademark chuckle at age 72, that he's always had.
I live in Minnesota and downtown St.Paul was going strong just like the movie. It was called the loop from the late 1950s to 1975. life couldn't get any better back then. The cars did the racing from one light to the next. Hot chics with halter tops and short shorts. We had other places to cruise but nothing could compare to downtown. We even had a Porkys drive in back then. I will always miss all them good times.
I cruised the loop also in downtown St. Paul in the mid 70s also! The big empty space where we parked and cruised around would eventually be the World Trade Center. The cops didn't mess with us and often came into "gravel parking lot" to check up on us and chat. It was so fun. We went to the White Castle that was next to the St. Paul Civic Center on 7th St. after cruising! Great memories!
I'm not from Minnesota but went there in 1963 only 14 years old but I remember listening to top 40 radio WDGY...Weedgee 1140 I think. WDGY was a Storz radio and he and another guy are the ones who invented TOP 40 radio format in Omaha, Nebraska. From then on it caught like wildfire and soon there was Top 40 radio all over the country. You can look it up.
@@cruisebumify
Cool story and thank you.
@@billkelly1
Thank you billkelly1, Yep is was fun for me too.
The one thing that puzzles me is how studio executives seemingly always get it wrong. I was born in '68, I saw this movie decades ago, probably on TV when I was maybe 10 and I loved it then. Since then it just has always been one of my faves, own the dvd and the soundtrack. We didn't cruise with hot rods back then really but I have just always connected to the feel of this movie, the end of summer, pulling the all nighter, the characters are all so real and relatable. How anyone that makes a living producing and distributing movies couldn't recognize that this was going to be a hit and a classic is beyond me.
John,it's because those executives live in the crystal bubble we call Hollywood,they really aren't in touch with the real society of America,they think they are but the evidence shows that they many times aren't. American Graffiti is one of those times.
Loved the movie and the sound track. In fact I bought the 8 track tape of the sound track to play on the 8 track player my brother installed in my 1974 Corvette. Listened to that tape all the time. Finally wore it out on my drive from Georgia to Carswell AFB outside of Ft Worth TX. Still enjoy the movie and the soundtrack today.. Good memories for this old man.
One of the best movies ever, I can't even say how many times I've seen it.
This was a great movie. Thank you for doing this. It's one of those great movies that seems to fade farther and farther into the dark as the years go by,,,,it's simply a great piece of cinematic history. I love it. Thanks again.
I just found your channel by accident and the first movie I watched was 50 things about "Its a wonderful life" I loved it and subscribed at once. Now 6 movies in I am hooked! Great channel and you are doing a GREAT Job! Thank-you so much for bringing some enjoyment into this 100% Disabled Vietnam Era Veteran.
Glad you're enjoying the videos, and thank you for your service.
Thanks for posting. that was so interesting.
I first seen this film many years ago.
I recently watched it again with my partner who hadn’t seen it.
She loved it and immediately went out and bought the DVD.
We absolutely love this film
Probably watch it again tonight 👍👍👍
The best time of my life in 62~63. You brought back a whole lot of good memories
This is not an exaggeration but I think I've seen that movie Fifty times. It was a wonderful time. $0.25 gallons of gas five cent candy bars $0.05 pops 15 Cent hamburgers and so on. How did the world get to where we are today so screwed up. I was lucky to have grown up in that time. We have the best cars and the best music
Totally Agree., What Happened? Sad what our world turned into. Kids have no life like we had even though we were at War with Viet Nam,
Roger Jackson those were the days....
I lived through those times as a teenager in NY. We would cruise at night, drag racing and trying to meet girls. One of the best times in my life!! miss those times a lot!.
YEP, " A & W " DRIVE IN.. OLDS 442 MY MACHINE, LOL...
I lost count at about 300
Also a great first take was where Terry almost drops the bottle after the guy robs the liquor store!
From what I've read about the making of the movie that was not the first take. Lucas had him do multiple takes. It was the last take where he almost dropped the bottle.
German born 1965 here. Saw the film in 1984 when the 50s revival was in full swing, totally identified with it. I remember when I saw Back to the Future then, was late to the show, entered the theater right when Marty found himself in the 1950s past, amazing feeling, like I was time traveling myself, same here with American Graffiti. Never understood the title though, as I knew graffiti as a 1980s "no future" thing, total opposite to the film's reality.
Btw there is an interesting sequel, American Graffiti II, which I only saw on DVD much later. Shows how the Rock'n'Roll spirit ushered in the late sixties Flower Power years, nice character portraits of many of the folks from part I. Would love to see it discussed on this channel too, excellent work, thanks a lot.
Great casting also was part of this movie's charm.
Great presentation with very interesting background facts.
I know I've seen that movie a hundred times at least, probably the cause of my car addiction. Built my first in 1987, an old Ford Maverick, then I fell in love with the Chevy small block and built several Monte Carlo and Cutlassesover the next ten or twelve years. Finally built my first bastard, 66 Fairlane 500 4 Dr with a 383 stroker. Life always has a way of putting your back against a wall, and every car was sold for bills, school clothes or an unexpected third child when I was 40 yrs old 😎. Hang on to your youth tight and live your dreams, failing at something you love beats success at something you hate any day. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, alot of history in these early George Lucas film's.....🤔
I don't understand why people who have classic Fords constantly drop in small block Chevy motors, yet, every car auction on TV...
@@mr.intensity2685 Hot rod people know this: Chevy is the better motor. Purists will usually keep their Fords all Ford. These days all the motors are technologically superior and come in all flavours-even electric! Enjoy!
I graduated High School in 1962 and it was all about the cars ...
I would not trade those years to grow up in...
Class of 62 here. Everything that happened in the movie also happened on the east coast. Cruising, drag racing especially at E-Town. Gonna watch the movie next week on Starz.
I wish that Lucas had kept making films with this sort of style. American Graffiti still holds up today and I always enjoy seeing it. I also look at this film and wonder why Paul LeMat didn't become a bigger star, like Ford and Dryfuss did.
If I remember, he was sort of difficult to work with, and had drug/alcohol problems. He was such a cool-looking guy, almost like a next generation Paul Newman.
@@curbozerboomer1773 I didn't know that about him. Such a shame.
A story I remember hearing once was that during the filming of THX1138 some of the crew were teasing George that , "George could't make a normal movie" George supposedly replied in that deadpan tone of his, "I think my next movie will be a musical" To which every one laughed.
I was in high school in the mid sixties. I drove a 55 Chevy 2 door hardtop. Total fun cruising back then.
American Graffiti is my all time favorite movie...I've seen it more than 200 times and will watch it again and again
Graffiti and Silent Running, two of my favourite films
1962 to 1973 wasn’t that big of a stretch. I absolutely LOVE this movie!
Brilliant documentary. Very interesting facts that I didn't know about. Graffiti is my all time favourite film, seen at the movies 10 times, have it video, DVD and on Sky+ and watch it regularly. Thank you for this. It is much appreciated.
What can I say? I turned 13 in 1960. I was in high school in '62, remember sock hops, drive in's, hot rods, pre-Beatles rock 'n roll (Buddy Holly will never die!) and adored all those lovely girls! What a fun movie. I've seen it several times.
Yup...I am your age...the girls of our teenage years seemed so much more feminine-cute, compared the current generation of "ME-TOO, aggressively opinionated youthful 18-21yo women. The birth-rate of the younger generation is going way down...looking around, I can see why!
@@curbozerboomer1773 I agree. I remember girls wearing angora sweaters, bangs, a flipped up at the ends hairdo, pink lipstick, short skirts, stockings and heels and smoking up the windows at the drive-in theater on Friday and Saturday nights while horizontally making out on those bench seats (i.e.: I bought a 1956 Pontiac sedan for $350... my bedroom on wheels). Ah, the good old days.
One interesting fact is that Wolfman Jack took a fraction of "a point", instead of being paid for his role.
He ultimately received quite a bit of money because of the movie's success.
He was a savvy businessman and worldly from working south of the border.
Always one of my favorite movies I saw at the drive-in theater in 1973 in Milwaukee Wisconsin I was 8 years old I have seen it no less than 75 times always loved the music and it too
I loved American Graffiti. Your behind the scenes info just reignites the film for me. Thanks!
One of the best movies ever! Thanks!
I was living in London in, I think, 1974, the year, I think, that this film was released, and I went to see it five nights in a row. I now own the dvd, and i.never tire of it.
This is terrific. Thanks. The use of songs. 50s and 60s beach and youth movies always included songs 3-4, some were written for the movies, but I think most pre-dated the movies.
I saw American Grafitti the day it was released. (Driving out of the parking lot at the Quo Vadis multiplex in Wasteland, Michigan was an experience! Everyone was still living the movie.) 50s music was always popular, but there was so much terrific new music being made in the 60s and early 70s that it didn't get used much in movies and TV, but it was around, still on the radio ( but not in rotation). 50s days at school and dances I think started with American Grafitti. Even before American Grafitti you could be at party and people are listening to Cream and King Crimson and then someone will put on some 50s music and everyone will start popping.
Haskell Wexler told me some things about shooting it but I'm blanking on most of it. He said he was shooting something else during the day and would be driven up to Modesto for the all night shooting. The film was important for it's extensive night shooting and the terrific depth of lighting that was achieved. I think he said they used a new faster Kodak film (and I think I remember him saying that they pushed everything a stop.) Haskell's work I think is notable for his ability to get details in the deepest shadows. Except for my comment about his shadow detail, better info is in the old American Cinematographer issue on the movie.
In 62 I was growing up in my small town's version of Mel's drive in. My family owned the A&W drive in restaurant and we lived in a small apartment above the business. It was a unique situation, living in American Graffiti with all the fast cars, car hops, etc. Dad knew all the cops so we never had any rough stuff or trouble. There were some good aspects and some bad about growing up so visibly.
Thanks for the insight on this great movie. The cars, the music and the dialog make this movie fun to watch over and over. I graduated high school in 1967.
This was great!! I love the movie and knowing some background facts makes the movie more fun to watch. Thank you for this most informative post!!!
That was one of the best movies that I ever seen America graffiti
And, as a result, American Graffiti has been named one of AFI's 100 Greatest Films of all time!
Another example of Lucas using a less-than-perfect take in the final cut was also in the liquor store scene. George filmed several takes of the part when the robber tosses the bottle of booze to Terry "The Toad" (Charles Smith), catching it almost perfectly every time.....the one that was used is the one where he almost dropped it.
AG is one of my favorite films and I have it on DVD.
Nice video.
I was a teenager when this film came out. I was in my late teens. This film as huge. The 1950s nostalgia was strong. And this film spoke to the youth. I could of course, well remember that era. But the assassinations , Vietnam, race riots, campus riots, Manson murders all had taken place since. America’s innocence was gone, then came this beautiful tribute, this colorful memory of that era.
That is really a thoughtful observation.
Interesting too is the end credits song that they used. 'All Summer Long' by the Beach Boys was a perfect song to put there. Problem was that, while the movie was set in '62, the song wasn't produced until 1964! George Lucas admitted he knew that, but it was the best '60's song to close the movie with. One of the best movies ever!
there is absolutely no way this movie works at all without the songs in them... my personal favorite was Del Shannon's 'Runway' near the beginning of the movie with Terry the Toad cruising in the car singing it..
A lot of great songs on that soundtrack. One of my favorites is Little Darlin' by The Diamonds.
@@AMillionMovies -- great song -- it's right up there with me also. Green Onions playing as the dawn breaks and Milner heads out to Paradise Road for his race is also brilliant ..
Right On! In Woodstock, Illinois we cruised around the Square…see Groundhog Day as it was shot there. All the rest of the stories of we HS grads of 1962 were right on too!
In 62 I was in Modesto! But just 7 yrs old. But I sure like AG. By the time I could drive we cruised McHenry Ave.
This really was wonderful. Thank you so much for making it.
The soundtrack was a money maker all it's own. I remember driving back to college from St. Louis, Mo. back to Fayetteville, Ark. Uof A and I played the hell out of this 8 track through the Ozark mountains. Great memories.
Great video. Wonderful new facts. My 18 y.o. self in 82' identified with these characters. Fun movie with great scenes. I count 4 separate stories going on at once.
Wolfman Jack was such a great surprise. Cool cars. Stupid teenage decisions... life changes, romantic beginnings. Honour. Friendship. Got it all.
Thank you so much for doing the research and making this behind the scenes video about my favorite movie of all times. Dragging Main Street in fast cars & pickin' up chicks was what those days were all about!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
I first saw this movie after I returned from SouthEast Asia. It was being put on by the USO at our base in Okinawa in 1973. Loved it, now have watched it time and time again.
I was at Vanderbilt Hospital in the 100 Oaks Mall (Nashville, TN) last week and in the children's hospital in a window was a small model of the diner, cars and people from the movie!! I was very much made to smile. Around the small model were train sets the kids could push a button to activate. When they activated the switch the diner lights (including the menu/speaker polls) would light up. Each car from the movie was represented in the model. This movie lives on and on!
Naw, George Lucas used to hang out in the studio w Wolfman as a kid and cut tapes of all Wolfman’s phone calls, which he loved the most. Wolfman got pissed off at him at first for “messin with” his tapes.
He was a hanger-on, not just an outside listener. That’s how he knew him. Told by the Wolfman himself in a ‘90s BBC interview. ✌️
This movie changed a culture of the 70s. I remember everyone beginning to listen to and reference oldies, we called them. I saw this movie in the local theater. Yeah, did a little street racing, too, wound up in the ditch a couple of times, too. I first started riding a motorcycle back then. Many of us at my little country school did, we would ride a lot and had a blast. Motorcycles were cheap transportation back then, not a rich man's toy. Now I've been riding ever since and now own an Indian Roadmaster...oh yeah, got the soundtrack on album and did have it on 8 track!
I was born in ‘71 but this movie made me wished I’d grown up in the ‘60s. Also a very adorable & young Cindy & Ron. 😊❤
I was born in 1980 so I wasn't thought about yet lol. I still love the 50's and 60's rock and R&B/ Doo Wop music though.
This movie is a must see it is so well done. Movies this good don't come around that often know matter what's it is about.
AG and The Sting were the first two PG movies my mom would let me see. I was 9 in '73. Both are timeless and haven't seen either one in decades. Thanks for the little known facts; I only knew a few of them. I didn't know about the "series" of movies it was made with and I don't think I'm familiar with any of them. Thank you.
How about Paper Moon? Tatum O'neil smokes cigarettes! I too was born in '64. AG maybe the first big screen flick I gravitated to. The soundtrack is so good. And Susan Summers in the T-Bird, hell ya.
Apart from Mort Drucker there was an other artist who created alternative posters for the film: Robert WIlliams. He was a great fan of Hot Rod Culture and had a photo realistic style with the most elaborate expression of chrome mirror effects.
Where was I in '62. Living in southern California, cruising with friends, surfing and just enjoying life until '63 when it all came crashing down. Johnson, Vietnam, and drugs put an end to those times and sadly many of my friends. "Once upon a time, the world was sweeter than we knew."
Great movie,just like '62 in Lancaster,Pa.Still crusin the loop in 2020.
We had a great time cruising into the 70's.
Yes the best of times .I started cruising in 1965 and did it until the early 80s in 65 I was 13.so I cruised along time.good times bitchin cars and music. Wish I could still be in my teens yet.alas I'm heading for 70 but still love oldies muscle cars.and miss friends who aren't here anymore
appreciated all this imfo on AMERICAN GRAFFITI, i grew up in that erea in AUSTRALIA and i loved every min of the movie thanks for showing it and other parts like the making of it etc i have most of the songs in it plus lots more rock n roll music .. cheers !!
I was 18 when American Graffiti debuted…we where still living in the Echo of the sixties.
The local cruising scene lasted a few more years and I had a Blast ripping around in my 327 Corvette engine powered Austin Healey…never Lost a race…young and invincible 😎
Great Insight on one of my favorite movie's
" I ain't Nobody"..fav line
Excellent documentary....one of my favourite character actors...