1489503 2 American Graffiti
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Cast and Crew

  • Bo Hopkins Bo Hopkins, Actor
  • Candy Clark Candy Clark, Actor
  • Charles Martin Smith Charles Martin Smith, Actor
  • Cindy Williams Cindy Williams, Actor
  • Debra Scott Debra Scott, Actor
  • Del Close Del Close, Actor
  • Harrison Ford Harrison Ford, Actor
  • Joe Spano Joe Spano, Actor
  • Joseph Miksak Joseph Miksak, Actor
  • Kathleen Quinlan Kathleen Quinlan, Actor
  • Mackenzie Phillips Mackenzie Phillips, Actor
  • Paul Le Mat Paul Le Mat, Actor
  • Richard Dreyfuss Richard Dreyfuss, Actor
  • Ron Howard Ron Howard, Actor
  • Suzanne Somers Suzanne Somers, Actor
  • Wolfman Jack Wolfman Jack, Actor

Images

  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti
  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti
  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti
  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti
  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti
  • Video Cover for American Graffiti Video Cover for American Graffiti

American Graffiti

American Graffiti

It's the last night of summer 1962, and the teenagers of Modesto, California, want to have some fun before adult responsibilities close in. Among them are Steve (Ron Howard) and Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), college-bound with mixed feelings about leaving home; nerdy Terry "The Toad" (Charles Martin Smith), who scores a dream date with blonde Debbie (Candy Clark); and John (Paul Le Mat ), a 22-year-old drag racer who wonders how much longer he can stay champion and how he got stuck with 13-year-old Carol (Mackenzie Phillips) in his deuce coupe. As D. J. Wolfman Jack spins 41 vintage tunes on the radio throughout the night, Steve ponders a future with girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams), Curt chases a mystery blonde, Terry tries to act cool, and Paul prepares for a race against Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford), but nothing can stop the next day from coming, and with it the vastly different future ushered in by the 1960s. Fresh off The Godfather (1972), producer Francis Ford Coppola had the clout to get his friend George Lucas's project made, but only for $750,000 on a 28-day shooting schedule. Despite technical obstacles, and having to shoot at night, cinematographer Haskell Wexler gave the film the neon-lit aura that Lucas wanted, evoking the authentic look of a suburban strip to go with the authentic sound of rock-n-roll. Universal, which wanted to call the film Another Slow Night in Modesto, thought it was unreleasable. But Lucas' period detail, co-writers Willard Huyck's and Gloria Katz's realistic dialogue, and the film's nostalgia for the pre-Vietnam years apparently appealed to a 1973 audience embroiled in cultural chaos: American Graffiti became the third most popular movie of 1973 (after The Exorcist and The Sting), establishing the reputations of Lucas (whose next film would be Star Wars) and his young cast, and furthering the onset of soundtrack-driven, youth-oriented movies. Although the film helped spark 1970s nostalgia for the 1950s, nothing else would capture the flavor of the era with the same humorous candor and latent sense of foreboding. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

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What People Are Saying

  • thekid127|escape:'html}'
    On Is Them Crooked Vultures in the World?...

    thekid127 said "Thank G-d! Finally some REAL news.."

  • Alpha|escape:'html}'
    On Bitter Celebrity Custody Battles...

    Alpha said "To Cybersleuth. What makes Denise Richards any better than Charlie Sheen??? She didn't go to college either. And two minutes after her good friend separated from her husband Denise started dating him. (Bon Jovi) She has obvioulsy made some really far out remarks to slam Sheen of which many could never be proven. She lost her temper at some photographers and threw laptops off a balcony at a theater. They hit two women below. One in her 80's and one in her 90's. Fortunately they were not harmed. There are two sides to every story. "

  • Alpha|escape:'html}'
    On Bitter Celebrity Custody Battles...

    Alpha said "What on earth is Cybersleuth talking about??? Charlie Sheen has been clean for over ten frickin years for cripes sake. And he is happily married with twins. He's been clean since the late 90's. What year are you living in Cybersleuth??? Get with it."

  • Sapphire0926|escape:'html}'
    On Oprah's Love Couch Confessionals...

    Sapphire0926 said "HELLO Cybersleuth...I cannot believe you are calling Jen the homewrecker...PLEASE!!!!!!!! Are you forgetting that Brad left Jen for Angelina?? I don't feel sorry for Angelina in the least!!!!! She is getting what she deserves."

  • myheart|escape:'html}'
    On Bitter Celebrity Custody Battles...

    myheart said " I think he seen a little bit of Linda looks wise ,but this one is a money hungry b....... she knew want she was doing"

  • Cybersleuth|escape:'html}'
    On Bitter Celebrity Custody Battles...

    Cybersleuth said "Charlie Sheen and Denise need to suck it up and do what's best for the child they jointly brought into this world. However, since Denise has been and still is the main caregiver of the children (like most moms), her priority is with the children's best care and support, as it should be. Why all the fighting? For custody? No way should Charlie get any custody. He has serious addictive issues that need professional counseling. And, he will likely never get past these issues that make him feel somehow happier. Charlie, it's all a quick fix scheme to bolster your ego and self-esteem that never works in the long run. Has Charlie been to college or developed his brain and emotional boundaries beyond the next eye-candy woman in his life? He doesn't seem like a happy man at all. And what woman in her right frame of mind would marry a man while he's fighting for custody? Who needs the stress of that scenario? Pass."

  • Cybersleuth|escape:'html}'
    On Oprah's Love Couch Confessionals...

    Cybersleuth said "Katie must not be as together as she sometimes portrays. How she's stayed with him this long is unimaginable. Frankly, Tom Cruise is not what Hollywood is paid to make him look like. He's so NOT handsome and his antics are embarrassing and suspiciously phony. He creeps me out. Suri is a beautiful child but I have my doubts about her paternity. Regardless, I am so through with hearing about how much her clothing costs (enough to feed many hungry people, if these two were the least bit altruistic)and the bratty behaviors she is developing as the little princess complex takes over. She's going to be a mess when she gets older, thinking people are in her life to cater to her every whim. Personally, I can't until the day Katie tells Tom the marriage is over and she's done with him."

  • Cybersleuth|escape:'html}'
    On Oprah's Love Couch Confessionals...

    Cybersleuth said "How does one keep a family of five in a NYC apartment? I can't imagine not being able to go out my back door to walk on the beach or play with the dogs on the grassy lawn. Or, walk to a friends house next door. Do they have a house somewhere else in NY that is not in the city?"

  • Cybersleuth|escape:'html}'
    On Oprah's Love Couch Confessionals...

    Cybersleuth said "Time away from each other is what's likely needed for Angelina and Brad. Angelina is on the mommy track and Brad is on the making money for his growing family track. Jen is really an instigator of problems in this marriage with her continued texting during his time away from Angelina. Shame on Jen for being a home wrecker. However, it takes two to play that game and Brad is just as guilty for becoming further involved with Jen, even if she's just a friend. We all know how those kinds of relationships develop. Brad needs to do some soul searching and growing up. Angelina is strong enough to survive on her own and I hope she gets involved in the Foster Parenting Program in her state. She could be a great spokesperson once she sets her mind to it. And Angelina, eat a hamburger, girl. If you are too thin and wasting away yourself, those kids will suffer, too. A healthy, happy mommy is so much better than an emaciated, stressed out mommy. Let Brad go if he needs to. You can't hold on to someone who's intent on self destruction. "

  • Cybersleuth|escape:'html}'
    On Oprah's Love Couch Confessionals...

    Cybersleuth said "Angelina is a strong-willed woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, regardless of the repercussions to her marriage partner. I don't see a happy. long marriage for them but then, she doesn't really need Brad as she is totally capable of surviving on her own. Brad, on the other hand, seems to be stressed out from all the mayhem in his life. For refusing to put his foot down and demand limiting their family size, there will be more children to come. I see Angeline involved in the Foster Parenting Program, which would be wonderful, if she can provide adequately for each child. Let Brad go. Jen is not the best person for him, either but more soul searching is in the future for Brad. He's bound to Angelina through their natural children and that will never change."

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