American Graffiti - 1973
Where were you in '62?
Director
George Lucas
Writers
George Lucas
Gloria Katz
Willard Huyck
Producers
Francis Ford Coppola
Gary Kurtz
Cast
Richard Dreyfuss - Curt Henderson
Ron Howard - Steve Bolander (as Ronny Howard)
Paul Le Mat - John Milner
Charles Martin Smith - Terry 'The Toad' Fields
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
Review by Jack Gatanella
American Graffiti (1973)
Fellini's I Vitelloni transposed to rock n roll, teens, cruisers, and good vibes,
They're each on the crossroads of High School into real life, either still deciding (Richard Dreyfuss' character Curt), or more just in the moment of their lives on a specific night following graduation (Ron Howard's Steve, Charles Martin Smith's 'Toad', Paul Le Mat's Milner). It's a night filled with riding in cars, meeting, wanting, or getting stuck with girls and women, racing, getting into mishaps, all the while having the unmistakable Wolfgang Jack on the radio playing the hits of the day. In fact, as the co-writer/director George Lucas has said, this seventies film is more like a musical than a real drama/comedy, where the music informs the action. Scorsese was using this technique at the time as well, and it has become as heavily influential in the style of adolescent comedies and many other seventies films as the special effects in Lucas following film, Star Wars. Sometimes the music makes a scene funnier, or more somber, or just adds that little bit of excitement, but more often than not it comments on the action, which helps far more than a musical score would've done for the material. If for nothing else, American Graffiti's musical compilation is a masterpiece unto itself.
Lucas' second feature, American Graffiti- to date his one non-sci/fi &/or action film- keeps a cool, sometimes odd, but magnetic energy to it, even through some scenes that don't play great compared to others. Like with Lucas' inspiration for the seventies film (aside from his own personal experiences and his own self), Federico Fellini's I Vitelloni, there is an original feel to the material, and particularly spontaneous in some of its humor, as well as the improvisational freedom (or at least feeling) from the actors. The main four characters, one a cool-dude (Milner), one a nerdy type (Toad), one the popular prom king (Steve), and another the average Joe of high school (Curt), each go through their own cycles of discovery on this night, and Lucas cuts their stories together wonderfully, never keeping the interest far off from the last story. Sometimes the humor doesn't connect entirely- it is a film of its time and a lot more for the generation of its time- but it is on the money for most of it. The female performances, as well, are memorable, and bring out some of the best laughs aside from some of the more uncomfortable or surprising bits. A lot of it is sarcastic, witty, and wild in the humor, but there is also the tender, more emotional side to it all (much as would be in the Star Wars films with the comic relief). It's a well-rounded effort, and a small classic in the realm of 70's breakthrough cinema.
American Graffiti (1973)
Review by Wayne Malin
"Where were you in '62?" (Original ad),
Nostalgic look at one night/morning of a small California town and some of its teenagers. Story-wise this is nothing new--all the stereotypes are in place--the loving/bickering couple (Ron Howard and Cindy Williams); the rebel (Paul Le Mal) stuck with a 13 year old (Mackenzie Phuillips); the nerd (Charles Martin Smith) having a disastrous date with a blonde (Candy Clark); the hood (Bo Hopkins) showing the good boy (Richard Dreyfuss) a night out and Harrison Ford and Suzanne Somers in small parts.
What makes this movie better than average is the great direction by George Lucas--he fills the Cinemascope screen masterfully; the non-stop soundtrack of 50s/60s hits; a great script and the cast of then-unknowns. It's incredible to see some of these actors so young (especially Ford and Dreyfuss) and full of life. Without this cast, this movie would probably have long-since been forgotten.
So, no great shakes, but very sweet and nostalgic with some good acting. Worth catching. Try to see it letter-boxed or on a big screen.
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