American Graffiti (Collector's Edition)
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Movie Reviews of American Graffiti (Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: Has it really been 35 years?
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this film and Diner (1982) when each was first released and have since followed with interest the subsequent careers of their youthful lead actors, notably Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams in American Graffiti and Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, and Paul Reiser in Diner. Separated by nine years, the two films offer informative as well as entertaining perspectives on their respective youth cultures. George Lucas directed this film which focuses on Modesto (California) during the late-summer of 1962. The screenplay and cinematography are seamlessly integrated with 4l popular tunes which comprise the soundtrack. Most of the central characters can be viewed as "tweeners," in awkward transition from one phase of life to another. For example, Curt Henderson (Dreyfuss) will soon depart for college but seems ambivalent about that. The others' plans are even less certain.
Meanwhile, together or separately, they spend their evenings cruising around town. (All of the scenes are at night.) I enjoyed the humor, some of it poignant, and could identify with many of the situations which closely resemble those of my own teenage years in Chicago. Keep an eye open for Harrison Ford in a brief appearance as Bob Falfa. Who knew then what awaited him next: a minor part in The Conversation (1974) and then starring roles in Lucas' Star Wars (1977) and Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Of course, I have no idea how appealing American Graffiti will be to those born since (let's say) 1985 but it is still great fun for many of us born before then and will perhaps be of greatest interest to cultural anthropologists who study the teenage culture in the U.S. in the 1960s. For me a sobering thought with which I conclude this brief commentary: if Curt (Dreyfuss), Steve (Ron Howard), Terry (Smith), and Laurie (Cindy Williams) were real people and alive today, they would be mid-60s. Hmmmmmmm....
If you purchase the DVD version (which I strongly recommend), be sure to check out the documentary "The Making of American Graffiti" which features interviews with director George Lucas, executive producer Francis Coppola, and other cast and crew members as well as never-before-seen screen tests. Excellent stuff.
Movie Review: "American Graffiti" and "Rebel Without a Cause," related?
Summary: 5 Stars
"American Graffiti" is a classic film that in some ways, can relate to another classic: "Rebel Without a Cause," both were about teenagers. In "American Graffiti," within a day, all characters mature and grow up. It is the same with Jim Stark in "Rebel Without a Cause," who in the film is caught in something big that will effect his life forever (the chicky run), as that is also the case with Steve and Kurt in "American Graffiti" (should they stay home or fly off east to collage)."Rebel Without a Cause" was based on James Dean and his character from "East of Eden," George Lucas based all of the male leads in "American Graffiti" (with the exception of Steve Bolander) on himself. Both films represent teenage nostalgia (although at the time it was made, "Rebel Without a Cause" just represented teenagers) "American Graffiti" would represent the great memories you had as a teenager in the 50's and early 60's, "Rebel Without a Cause" would represent what you were caught up in, and how to be a man in the 50's. Both films have dark ending which are horrificly realistic as in "Rebel Without a Cause" when the Plato character runs away with an unloaded gun and is shot by the police (the same fate of Dallas Winstons charatcer in "The Outsiders") and in "American Graffiti" when it shows the epilogue of our heroes where John Milner is killed and becomes apart of the legacy of racing heroes in that junk yard that he and Carol had walked through earlyer in the film. Terry "The Toad" meets a heroes end as his final fate is being "Declared missing in action." Steve finds out what he wants to do with his life and decides not to make it big but live a peaceful life as an insurance agent in Madesto. And Kurt makes up his mind as he becomes a writter living in Canada.
There is lightness in both dark endings of the films as in "Rebel Without a Cause" Jims father finally faces father hood and is there for Jim, along with in "American Graffiti," with Steves and Kurts future.
Over all, both movies were superb, realistic, memorable, and will share a long lasting place in movie history.
Movie Review: More real than reality it's self
Summary: 5 Stars
There are several overlaying plans and plots with many independent scenes from the era (1962). Is it wiser to go off to school or stay local? What are the consequences of your intent and then final action on friends and loved ones.
Yep everyone sees themselves in this movie. I have to admit I do also. That is see all the others as of courses I am above that sort of thing. This is one of the closest depictions of life with out me having to pull out the 8mm and filming. I spent some time in L.A. around the era and moved to Texas to find that distance changes something's but not that way of life. While in Vietnam I was even able to exchange the same urban legends with people from different part of the US.
I am more surprised that George Locus could capture this so well. I am also amazed at the crew they were able to assemble for this film. Most of them went off to do bigger and better parts and it is fun to watch this film in hind sight. Everyone look so young. I really never noticed Harrison Ford until Star Wars.
Getting away from memory lane, the film is so smooth that you forgot that you are watching a movie and the actors do not overwhelm the characters that they play.
Starting out you notice a song or two and think where was I. Then a few more songs and you soon are more rapped up in the music than the story. Having Wolfman Jack there added a touch of reality. I can not put my finger on it but there was something more than formula in this particular movie.
I am not that sensitive but the ending hits you hard as you realize it will never be the same. This is true of any group in any era. I can almost forget that.
By the way the original T-bird styling is back. All in all this is one film that will not collect dust.
41 Original Hits From The Soundtrack Of American Graffiti
Movie Review: Where Were You in 1962?
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie helped George Lucas move onto bigger and better things (like the Star Wars saga) and helped make stars out of Paul LeMat, Mackensie Philips, Harrison Ford, Candy Clark, and Richard Dreyfuss (I didn't include Ron Howard since he was already well-known from the Andy Griffith Show). In this movie, the viewer is treated to the era Lucas grew up in. It takes place in September, 1962 (all in one night) in Northern California. Steve (Howard) and Curt (Dreyfuss) are debating whether or not to go off to college. Steve is eager, though he realizes he and his girlfriend Laurie (Williams) must split if he does. Curt is reluctant, since as he says "It doesn't make sense to leave home to find a home and say goodbye to people I love". Steve generously loans his wheels to the nerdy Terry the Toad (Charles Martin Smith) who picks up a flirtatious blonde (Candy Clark) and spends the entire night trying to impress her with his tall tales (until the car gets stolen). John Milner (LeMat) tries picking up women and winds up with the obnoxious 13-year-old Carol (Philips). Meanwhile, Laurie gives Steve the cold shoulder and tries to lure him back. Curt in turn goes from trying to find an attractive blonde in a T-bird (Suzanne Somers) to nearly joining the Pharoahs (a gang of hoodlums) to asking the Wolfman to play a request (all in the same night!). Milner later meets up with Bob Falfa who challenges him to a drag race.
The soundtrack features such classics as "Rock Around the Clock", "Come Go with Me", "Surfin' Safari", "Maybe Baby", "At the Hop", "Johny B Goode", "Green Onions", "Since I Don't Have You", "Teen Angel", and "Only You". This edition also features interviews with Howard, LeMat, Philips, Williams, Smith, and Lucas, explaining the making of this classic movie.
Movie Review: No wonder it's a classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, this past weekend, I sat down and watched American Graffiti (Collector's Edition) yet one more time.
Before Star Wars, before Indiana Jones, before Spielberg and Lucas were household names, we all got a chance to go back to that scary, emotional, momentous time between high school and college. We're transported back to that short period of time, when we are all masters of our own universe... ready to take the world by the horns. At the same time, we're unable to avoid the reality of our nervousness and of being unsure of ourselves. In other words, we're transported back to discover our uniquely American humanity.
That's the message of American Graffiti , and the reason for its success.
We find all the normal ingredients of conflict between:
* good and evil
* beauty and plainness
* "coolness" and "not-so-cool"
* youth and older age (in this case the dividing line is determined by the number of years before or since high school graduation)
* leaving home or staying with the familiar
* fast cars and faster cars
* those successful with the opposite sex and those not so successful
In the end, as the Beach Boys begin to sing and just before the credits begin to scroll down the screen, we're brought back to reality. The main characters are eventually...
* killed by a drunk driver
* missing in action in Vietnam
* selling insurance in California
* writing in Canada
John Cathcart
Author, Delta 7