American Graffiti (1973) Movie REACTION!

[@saaamember97]

This movie is a true time-capsule. All these things happened at some point, some time, and to someone in the late-50's, early-60's. The ending was to show that in spite of everyone's dreams and desires, bad things did happen to good people. Someone like Toad DID go to Vietnam and was killed in action, and someone like Milner DID lose his life in an automobile accident. To me, the ending was a tribute to these folks, with unrealized dreams and such potential.

[@757optim]

Those of us from the time knew those people or were those people.

[@raybernal6829]

My Dad who was from that time agrees when he saw this movie. He said that was how things were in that time. He remembers doing things like that.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

If you're concerned about Toad, you should see the sequel.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

The scene is supposed to evoke the same feeling you get when you look through your old high school year book. You remember them and you wonder what ever happened to them.

[@kevinwallis2194]

@@raybernal6829 I graduated high school in 75, and was driving a 64 GTO and still into cars. Some of the car shows have some of the actors signing autographs, but wow do they look different.

[@DavidB-2268]

Wolfman Jack was one of the biggest radio DJs of the 60s, in large part because of his involvement in Mexican pirate radio. The Mexican stations had massive high-wattage antennae that swamped American radio stations, who had restrictions on their signal strength. On a clear night, the Mexican stations could be heard as far away as New York. Wolfman Jack was a frequent host of the Midnight Special.

[@reesebn38]

Ya by the time this movie came out Wolfman Jack was an icon. Everyone knew his face and voice. Remember he even had a hit song that sings about him. "Let's hear it for The Wolfman" I think it was called?

[@DavidB-2268]

@TommyJ. "Clap For The Wolfman", by the Guess Who.

[@reesebn38]

@@DavidB-2268 That's it! Thanks. The Guess Who too! Nice! I forgot. Bad Canadian.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

I heard Wolfman tell a story about the Mexican radio stations being so powerful that they would find dead birds on the ground around the stations.

[@treetopjones737]

There was one out of Tijuana that could be heard on radios in So. California into the 70's.

[@757optim]

One of the coolest movies ever. People who graduated from High School in the '60s - at least in my home town - literally lived this movie.

[@flibber123]

My favorite scene is the one at the liquor store. If you've ever stood outside a liquor store trying to get someone to buy alcohol for you, you'll recognize how hilariously accurate that scene is.

[@ernestitoe]

Harrison Ford was already 31 when he was in this movie. He had been doing carpentry and building kitchens. There's a story that during the '80s, a lady called the company Ford had worked for. She told them she needed her kitchen redone, and asked if they could send the nice young man who had set up the kitchen years before. They told her he didn't work for them anymore, but they would get in touch with him. A few days later, she received an estimate. It listed the materials to be used and their prices. Then it said that labor would cost $20 million. Signed: Harrison Ford. She simply hadn't put the name to the face since then. This wasn't his first movie. He had had an uncredited role in something called Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966). He was in several movies with steadily more important roles until he made it for good in this one.

[@rustincohle2135]

Hey, Madison, I hope you read this. Shanelle Riccio reacted to this film 2 years ago and was also thrown off by the ending. So, I wrote this essay explaining the context of the film to her, which she was very grateful for. If you read this, could you give this comment a heart or a reply, so I know you got it?😃 Believe it or not, the end title cards were actually the ENTIRE point of the film-- as it shapes the context of when the movie was set (1962) and when the movie was made (produced in 1972, released in '73). The explanation: George Lucas based the script on his teen years growing up in the 1950s and early 1960s-- known as the '50s "Americana" years. This time period in American history was considered the years of America's "innocence". The '50s was the first decade following America's victory in World War II. The Second World War and all the businesses on the home front (that created supplies for the war effort overseas) is what pulled America out of the poverty of the Great Depression. All the servicemen came home from the war to start families, which led to the baby boom, the housing boom (a.k.a. _the growth of suburbia),_ and the economic boom of the 1950s. It was a time period of great economic prosperity in America, and thus a very optimistic time period to grow up in, hence America's "innocence". The story takes place in 1962 for a reason, as it was the last year of America's innocence due to John F. Kennedy being assassinated the following year (Nov 1963). And the suspicion that it may have been a government conspiracy had shaken many Americans' trust in authority overall. And it was all downhill from there. The Vietnam War escalated heavily and America entered the war not long after (1964). The war divided America right down the middle with half supporting it, half opposing it. After '62, America also saw the rises (or an escalation in the rise) of the Civil Rights movement, the counterculture movement, the experimental drug culture of the '60s and '70s (a.k.a. the _Psychedelic era),_ the women's liberation movement (a.k.a. _women's lib),_ the gay liberation movement, the sexual revolution, the hippie culture, the anti-war movement (Vietnam), the environmental movement etc. It was a time period of great division and a lot of violence surrounded that division. And also, the economic boom of the '50s led to a major recession in America in the 1970s-- it was a very pessimistic time period in America when the film was made. The ENTIRE culture of America had shifted in just 10 short years (1962 to 1972). It went from a period of optimism (1962) to a period of pessimism (1972). If you notice, American movies from the 1950s to the early 1960s were very lavish and upbeat (Hollywood was dominated by musicals at the time like with _The Sound of Music, Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story_ etc.). Then by the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, films were incredibly pessimistic in tone. Film was just reflecting the zeitgeist of the times. The whole movie of "American Graffiti" was about change. It wasn't just about the coming-of-age of the young characters-- the film was also a microcosm of the coming-of-age of America as a whole. John Milner (the greaser with the yellow hot rod) was the oldest character of the group (age 20) who only wanted to have fun and didn't want to grow up, but he slowly started to realize that he was getting too old to still be a greaser cruising the strip-- that's why he lamented at the end about losing the race to Harrison Ford. He's getting old and losing his edge. Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) was very hesitant about leaving for college the next day because it meant leaving his childhood and his high school years behind. When Curt is wandering the halls of the high school, he tries to open his old locker. The reason it didn't open was because back then, school lockers had their combo locks changed at the end of every school year to prevent the previous lockers' owners from stealing from the new lockers' owners the following semester. The locker was symbolism representing Curt's childhood and his high school years. By not being able to open his locker, Curt was being symbolically "locked out" of his childhood with life forcing him to grow up and to get on that plane for the next stage of his life (college). John Milner complains about listening to a Beach Boys song on the radio @11:02, saying _"I hate that surfer stuff. Rock 'n' roll has been going downhill since Buddy Holly died."_ This marked the beginning of the end of the '50s Americana era (and its upbeat rock 'n' roll music) and marked the transition of American culture to the next era, the late '60s/'70s (with its surfer and counterculture music like the _Beach Boys, CCR_ and *"British Invasion"* bands like _The Beatles_ and _The Rolling Stones_ etc.). Also, Curt's ex-gf says _"Curt's greatest ambition is to shake hands with President Kennedy."_ This line represented America's fleeting innocence in 1962, as they had no idea he'd be assassinated the following year. And unlike the rest of the film which featured upbeat 1950s rock 'n' roll, the film ends with a Beach Boys song following the depressing epilogue-- this was to signify the transition of one era ('50s-early '60s) to the next (late '60s-'70s). There's a lot of symbolism like this throughout the movie, the script has a LOT of subtext on the themes of change. Knowing this context, it's a whole new movie if you ever decide to rewatch it. But yea, soon after '62, the cruising and car culture had disappeared, upbeat '50s rock 'n' roll was replaced by '60s counterculture music, '50s and early '60s optimism was replaced by late '60s and '70s pessimism. That's why we see the depressing title cards at the end of the film with John Milner being killed in a car crash, Terry the Toad (the nerd) becomes missing in action while fighting in Vietnam, and Curt living in Canada as a writer-- like many young people, he moved to Canada to avoid being drafted into Vietnam. That depressing ending contextualizes the whole movie, as the themes and subtext of the film was actually about America's drastic change and radical shift in culture.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

...and yet, Cruising the main drag never died out in many midwestern towns, though took a serious setback during 1st and 2nd oil embargoes, it resurged quickly afterward.

[@slchance8839]

well said. I would also add that Lucas also wanted to express what that era felt like in that some people..... vanished. Period. One day, you're on the strip, the next morning is the last you're ever seen alive. Lucas said that's simply how it was: classmates and friends wemt away, much like the era itself.

[@robertjewell9727]

Not based on real people, but George said John, Curt and Terry had aspects of his own character. He started out as a nerd then got into fast cars and was in a near fata carl accident then became a writer and director and producer. Interesting that Richard Dreyfuss plays the 2 writers you're referring to in both AG and Stand by Me.

[@reesebn38]

Young people don't realize how much Richard Dreyfuss exploded in the 70s! In 4 years he Starred in American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Goodbye Girl for which he won an Oscar for playing a Romantic charming lead. All 4 movie were not just big hits, but cultural phenomenons.

[@terryhughes7349]

Was a very popular movie when released. Francis Ford Coppala was George's mentor and pushed him to make a personal movie and this is what he came up with. Great soundtrack and a very young Ron Howard and Harrison Ford. To bad not many reactors check it out. Good job on the reaction!

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

Francis Ford Coppala and George Lucas had known each other since college, and they formed American Zoetrope together. So Coppala really wasn't a mentor but a friend and fellow film maker.

[@treetopjones737]

Suzanne Somers ( Three's Company ) was the mysterious blonde in the T-bird.

[@izzonj]

When this came out we thought of him as an old Ron Howard!

[@TTM9691]

It was two reactions to this movie that made me discover reaction channels in the first place. I was looking up something about "American Graffiti" and found Shanelle Riccio's fantastic reaction to it (and then she did "Dazed And Confused" immediately after!). And I also found Alexa Chipman's reaction for it as well. And I just assumed that every great classic movie has been reacted to. Boy was I wrong! Still can't believe there are no reactions to "Paper Moon", "Sophie's Choice","Bonnie And Clyde", hardly any for "Network" or "Dog Day Afternoon".....or "Citizen Kane" for that matter! There are more reactions for "The Godfather Part Friggin' Three" than there is for "Dog Day Afternoon"! What the......?????!

[@maxducoudray]

@@TTM9691 Sadly, reactors need to do movies that get a lot of views to make it worth their time and grow their channel. There are certain obvious categories of movies that do well, mostly especially male-loved movies like action, westerns, horror, etc. Madison is a rare reactor who mostly watches less-popular content.

[@craigdixon4113]

Great feelings of this film, because I remember Haskell Wexler was the Cinematographer on this shoot! I met Actor Candy Clark at a local Car Show recently, she couldn’t have been more nice and down to earth… She also signed my photo with. “Craig, Watch out for the Goat Killer!” Great Fun. She spoke of those days with great recall, and never had a bad word for anyone. Thanks!

[@reesebn38]

I always loved her in movies. Loved her in "Blue Thunder".

[@TTM9691]

I LOVE Candy Clark, so happy you got to say hi!

[@rustincohle2135]

Well, technically the film didn't have a cinematographer. Wexler was a "visual consultant". But yea, the cinematography looks the way it does because of Wexler.

[@steelers6titles]

The Beach Boys’ “All Summer Long” LP wasn’t released until 1964, but the song makes an appropriate closing theme.

[@myrondyal6117]

THE MUSIC IN THIS FILM WERE ALL BIG HITS IN THE 1950'S AND EARLY 60"S. SOME TIMES I WATCH THE FILM JUST TO HEAR THE MUSIC. IT CAME OUT ON CD AND SOLD MILLIONS OF COPIES. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1961 AND WENT INTO THE ARMY IN 1964 AND LOST SO MANY FRIENDS IN VIETNAM IT TRULY SHOWS HOW YOUTH CAN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE BUT THEN IT COMES TO AN END WHEN LIFE RUNS YOU OVER. SO THANKS FOR SHOWING THE REACTION, IT WAS LIKE GOING HOME TO MY YOUNGER DAYS BEFORE THE HORROR OF WAR, AND THE GOING UP AND FACING THE WORLD AS AN ADULT!! BLESSINGS, MYRON DYAL

[@Bawookles]

The story and characters are fictional (well, except for Wolfman Jack playing himself!) but are based on Lucas' teenage years. Lucas wanted the depressing end title cards on the characters to reflect how America and American life changed post 1962 with the Kennedy assassination, Viet Nam war, etc.

[@toastnjam7384]

This was one of the first if not the first to end a movie like that.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

It doesn't mention that Peg later married astronaut Jim Lovell.😁

[@gregall2178]

@@dr.burtgummerfan439 Being that this was set in 1962 they'd have already been married with children 😀

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

@@gregall2178 Lol, yeah, I know the timeline isn't right, it's just that I recognized the actress and that was immediately where my mind went.😁

[@DavidB-2268]

The movie had a semi spin-off featuring Ron Howard, called Happy Days, one of the biggest shows of the 70s. It in turn spun off Laverne and Shirley, which co-starred Cindy Williams. And in a strange twist, Happy Days also spun off Mork and Mindy, starring Robin Williams.

[@absibrock]

Not true. The unsold pilot for Happy Days, called Love And The Happy Days was made in 1972. George Lucas offered Ron Howard a part in American Grafitti on the strength of his performance in that pilot. Granted, the reason ABC became interested in Happy Days was was due to the success of American Grafitti and Howard's appearance in it, but to call it a spin-off of American Grafitti is a misnomer.

[@DavidB-2268]

@Philip Taylor hence why I said a "semi spin off". Virtually everything was different from the movie, including the location. Just the overall aesthetic was retained. But thank you for the information about the timing of the pilot. I wasn't aware of that.

[@ArtamStudio]

@@absibrock Yep, It was a piece on a "Love, American Style" episode.

[@bossfan49]

and, God forgive us....Joanie Loves Chachi.

[@garyglaser4998]

@@bossfan49 😬

[@vincentsaia6545]

When the squad loses its wheels the marquee in the movie theater says, "Dementia 13," which was the first feature film directed by producer Francis Coppola.

[@clash5j]

John is a good guy at heart. You can tell that from his interaction with the young Carol. He came around from being embarrassed to be seen with her to actually being very sweet with her and thinking that she was kind of fun to hang out with John's problem is that he is supposed to be a bit older than the other characters, but he can't let go of his teenage years. He wants to be a teenager forever, much like the Matthew McConaughey character in Dazed and Confused

[@reesebn38]

I love the scene where they are walking and talking in the Junkyard.

[@bigal3055]

Whilst not a great film (though I still find it fun), the sequel does a great job of expanding on John's character and exploring his bad boy with a heart of gold theme. It's quite moving by the end even.

[@gregrowell8688]

This takes place in the summer of 1962

[@hmr171]

THX 1138 was Lucas' first film. The license plate on Milner's car is THX 138

[@DrewG-wd8ql]

It been quite awhile but use to take my son when he was small to a car show that happened every year and it was all pre 1960's cars. One year we went and Milner's 32 Deuce Coupe was there along with Paul LeMat (Milner) , Candy Clarke (Debbie), and Bo Hopkins (Joe of the Pharoahs). My son got their pictures and autographs. It was a good day.

[@michaelbrennick]

Loved the reaction! I was in 7th grade when this movie hit and it was a cultural phenomenon. It started a huge 50s, early 60s revival. It became cool to reexperience 50s and early 60s rock and roll and doo wop music. And soon thereafter the television series "Happy Days" premiered, with Ron Howard. An interesting time, things were changing so fast in 1973, and this look back at a seemingly more innocent time provided a little refuge from a lot of upheaval.

[@reesebn38]

I was 9 and it was the first film to really have a huge effect on me. I wanted to be friends with these people they felt so real to me. Little did I know George Lucas would mold and effect the rest of my life.

[@luiscasso1547]

Kathleen Quinlan who played Pam, Laurie's friend at the dance (called Ron Howard's character Joe College) was (22 years) later directed by Howard in Apollo 13. She played Jim Lovell's (Tom Hanks) wife.

[@clash5j]

During the filming, Ron Howard asked Lucas what he planned to do next. Lucas went into a long ramble about how he was writing something that was science fiction. He told Howard that he wanted to film it using the same innovations that Kubrick had used in 2001, but he wanted it to be fast paced like Flash Gordon Ron Howard said that at the time he though it was a terrible idea😛 Still, when they were casting, it didn't stop Howard from wanting an audition which he couldn't even get

[@reesebn38]

Everyone in Hollywood thought it was a terrible idea. Except Alan Ladd Jr.. Thank god for one Studio Head that had a brain. I always loved what he said about Lucas. "The script went right over my head, I didn't understand a word. But I believed in the man, the film maker."

[@Rocket1377]

Howare had been typecast by that stage as Richie on the sitcom Happy Days, so that's probably why he didn't get the part.

[@joerogers9413]

I guess I can see Ron Howard as Luke, but Lucas was smart casting an unknown actor for the role. Wait a minute, Luke....Lucas.... never noticed that before. 🤔

[@aaronstandingbear]

It was Lucile Balls clout that fronted the making of Star Wars'

[@ebailey140]

​@@aaronstandingbearYou're confusing it with Star Trek, which Lucille Ball's production company produced.

[@michaeleberly7351]

Richard Dreyfuss was the narrator for Stand By Me who as the adult Gordie. He is a writer, and of course in this movie Richard Dreyfuss’s character becomes a writer.

[@Stogie2112]

The main male characters in the film - Curt, John and Terry - represent George Lucas’s life during different stages of his teenage years. Their fates at the end of the film are fictional. The amazing cast of this film is worth the price of admission!

[@Rocket1377]

Their fates are fictional, although Lucas was involved in a near fatal car crash, which he was very lucky to survive. The death of John was inspired by this event.

[@tiedupintraffic]

The story continues in More American Graffiti.

[@laurabryannan]

The musical "Grease" which showed up in 1971, and then this movie, created a HUGE 50s craze in our culture at the time. My mom still had all her poodle skirts and I was happy to borrow them at the 50s dances In H.S.

[@derekgarcia1030]

Not to mention the TV show Happy Days.

[@bossfan49]

@@derekgarcia1030 That's right.. No American Graffiti = no Happy Days, no Laverne & Shirley, no Mork & Mindy, no Joanie Love Chachi.

[@richardscanlan3419]

@@bossfan49 early Happy Days was excellent,after the first 3/4 yrs,it turned to shit. The other shows.... yeah,I'll take a hard pass.

[@bossfan49]

@@richardscanlan3419 not the point, but ok.

[@richardscanlan3419]

@@bossfan49 I get what you are saying.

[@chefskiss6179]

Lucas captured some serious magic in this time capsule. Hopefully you could bookend it with a Big Chill viewing one day. That was a fun watchalong with you, M. Thanks for this one.

[@laurabryannan]

The Big Chill weaves serious Boomer magic. Great movie! ^_^

[@pushpak]

Shot in Modesto, CA, Lucas' hometown and loosely based on a period in his life. Reminds me, in style, of 'La Dolce Vita".

[@rhudoc3745]

Actually the original movie locale was San Rafael, Ca. but was later changed and shot in Petaluma, Ca. The car race scene at the end was shot on a black top road near Novato, Ca.

[@ArtamStudio]

rhudoc is correct. Filming locations are well documented in the biography "Skywalking" and on IMDB. I argued with a history teacher in college about this.

[@markb742]

American Graffiti is the movie that gave George Lucas some street cred among the Hollywood execs. He completed it on time and within budget. The movie is mostly Lucas reminiscing about his life as a teenager in a small town. He said he was kind of a mixture of Milner, Curt, and Steve together. Most of the actors in American Graffiti were unknowns at the time, who later became famous. The blond that Curt was fantasizing about was Suzanne Somers. I was just entering first grade in 1962, but I remember those cars.

[@izzonj]

The way Lucas built the soundtrack as a character in the story was groundbreaking. This movie sparked a rebirth of 50s rock and roll.

[@aaronstandingbear]

Truely. Why so many new veiwers dont want to hear the music soundtrack speaks volumes about their age and character. The music fills the background brilliantly and adds an actual boost to whats transpiring at the time. Loved it and watch it periodicaly through the years. I'm 76 and this was our time growing up, never to be repeated and will be remembered in history as an accurate portrayal of those days, at least by us who lived them.

[@ronlackey2689]

You are a trailblazer! No one reacts to the lesser known, but really awesome older movies. That's how you get subs from folks Madison. Keep up the great work.

[@joevenditti2967]

Ron Howard stars in John Wayne's last movie "The Shootist"

[@thomast8539]

Excellent western film and a perfect swan song for the Duke.

[@keithbrown8490]

This soundtrack was the one to get. It had all the great songs to get through life on ! The biggest part of this movies' budget was getting the rights to play the songs. I wonder what happened to all the unknown actors in this movie ?

[@DavidB-2268]

This was the soundtrack for a lot of family road trips back in the day.

[@minnesotajones261]

Crazy thing, they couldn't get the rights to anything from Elvis for the soundtrack, so you hear all those great songs, but no Elvis!

[@visaman]

I had it. My parents and I saw it at the Drive In.

[@visaman]

​@@minnesotajones261 this was set in '62, so Elvis was on the decline, they did mention Buddy Holly.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

Have the LP

[@laurab68707]

There is a sequel, More American Graffiti. I like that just as much as the first. Same characters showing what happened to them later on. I absolutely love this movie. This was the movie my husband and I saw on our first date.

[@AnthonyMartin-k8m]

You like the sequel AS MUCH AS the original????? Carol isn't even hardly in it. She has a frikkin cameo, that's it! It just seemed like a completely unnecessary cash-grab afterthought to me.

[@reesebn38]

I liked seeing what happened to Bob Falfa.

[@TruthNotRelative]

@@AnthonyMartin-k8m I LOVE the parts with John Milner and crew in the sequel. That made the movie for me.

[@bobriemersma]

This movie is set in my Mom's day. She was never a fan, saying "Well I'm sure it was nice like that for kids of rich families who lived in town."

[@terrylandess6072]

I was in 9th grade when this released - so these guys were always older than I - but looking back I never felt that young. Grew up watching 'Opie' from the Andy Griffith show - now I watch the movies he directs himself. This feels closer to '24' than that tv series did, the way it keeps tracking through this particular evening till dawn. There's a bittersweet sadness when one takes that first step out of youth into adulthood. Even in 1975/76 friends from school would ride around together between two of the last remaining drive in restaurants of that time - Frisch's which had two stores within three miles of one another - so it was back and forth between the two for a couple hours 'looking for/seeing' others we knew while Jimmy Carter was telling us to save gas.

[@steelers6titles]

Eighteen years earlier, "Rock Around The Clock" had also been used as a movie theme, in "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955).

[@OcotilloTom]

I remember when they were filming this movie in Marin (San Rafael) and Sonoma Counties (Petaluma). I was a cop (Novato) and worked some of the details associated with it. Being 77 I lived thru this period and owned a couple of these cars as a kid. My first car was 55' Studebaker Champion like the one Milner picked up his "ride along" from and the white 58 Chevy. Impala. Mine was black and like the character I left mine at home with my brother to take care of when I went to Vietnam my first tour. He wrecked it one morning going squirrel hunting. Good times! Tom Boyte GySgt. USMC, retired Vietnam 1965-66 1970-71 Bronze Star, Purple Heart

[@robjudge181]

God Bless you for your service Sir. And Wow!!! A Cop on detail for AG! That's a great memory! Wish I could buy you a cup of coffee and hear your stories as a Cop and a Gunnery Sgt. I was a 4 when this came out in theaters and for me Milner was my Action Hero, and made me fall in love with classic cars. I actually have a Deuce 5 window even, not an AG clone but my dream car. I wish you all the best! 👍🏼

[@BlueShadow777]

According to AI: “The 1973 film "American Graffiti" was not based on a specific true story. While the movie depicts a group of teenagers cruising and engaging in various activities over the course of one night in Modesto, California, the characters and events in the film are fictional. However, the film was inspired by the personal experiences and memories of its writer and director, George Lucas, who grew up in Modesto during the 1960s and had a fondness for cars and cruising culture. Lucas drew inspiration from his own youth and the atmosphere of the time to create a nostalgic portrayal of the American teenage experience in the early 1960s.”

[@jollyrodgers7272]

You probably already heard this film was Suzanne Somers' film debut as the "Blonde in the White T-Bird". The '50s have been described as America's sophomoric decade - and given this was set in 1962, just supports the theory we didn't start to grow up until JFK was assassinated. The scene at the radio station with Wolfman Jack really makes the whole movie for me.

[@thegorn68]

Another movie made twenty years later, "Dazed And Confused" (1993) is very similar to American Graffiti except it is set two decades later in the mid 70's. Similar plot structure with the coming of age characters facing the end of another school year, following the adventures of different stories that take place all within one night. Cruising around in authentic cars for the time period, appropriate soundtrack featuring music of the decade, huge cast of actors featuring some who made it big and some you never really saw in anything afterwards. I love these time-capsule movies when they are done well.

[@steelers6titles]

Great movie, with Matthew McConaughey as a sort of John Milner older-but-still-hanging-around type. Period detail (1976) is accurate.

[@Zebred2001]

One of a handful of my very favorite movies, American Graffiti is especially a nostalgia piece for those of us who lived through those times. As such the reveal of fates at the end was all the more poignant to those who knew and lost people like the main characters in the formative period in their lives. I would have liked to see your reaction though to the Wolfman Jack reveal and to Curt's seeing the white T- bird from the plane. Other than that - great reaction!

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

It must have been hard to dodge the copyright demons with all the music in this movie. Han Solo is Bob Balfa in space. George Lucas really loves his hot rods. One thing you may have missed: Curt went on to be a writer living in Canada. The implication is that he went there to avoid the draft, which makes it even sadder that Terry went MIA in Vietnam. And the fact that Steve ended up as an insurance agent in Modesto means that he never left (or he left and came back).

[@GSErnie]

This is an example of a forgotten classic. A movie that is really good and enjoyable, but very few people in this era of movies know about it. Thanks for shining a light on it!

[@davedalton1273]

The blonde in the T-Bird was Suzanne Somers. When I first saw American Graffiti, I thought of her as the elusive girl, stunning looking, but just out of reach. There's always someone out there, more imagined, than real.

[@rs-ye7kw]

Many, many nights like this in the early and mid 60's in cities and towns throughout the U.S.

[@greggburke7796]

Cruising was the way people met back then. There was no internet. There were no cell phones. There were no chat rooms. There were no dating apps or social media companies. You literally would cruise around town in your car looking for cute girls. This was my dad's generation.

[@karimhicks8376]

Also a part of my generation, too. In the 70s & mid 80s, I was cruising in my muscle car. AND DRIVE IN MOVIES; THE A AND W Drive in burger joints, where everyone met, to begin the weekend. The music changed, but the drive of a teens heart didn't. People actually talked in person.

[@thegorn68]

I was going to say, we had a cruising strip in our city when I was a teenager in the mid to late 80's. Seems like it died out sometime in the 90's. Can't remember when or why exactly. I was too busy with college life and afterwards to give a crap by then.

[@terryd757]

@@thegorn68 It was still very big in my time, early mid 80's. It was still going on as recently as 20 years ago around the area I moved to. The internet and a few other social trends seem to have put an end to it.

[@mem1701movies]

You don’t really meet people in the Internet either

[@Code9]

This whole movie was a scene right out of my life, having graduated high school in 1964. Cruisin' was what we did on Friday and Saturday nights. The summer months were the best with the car windows rolled down, radio blasting "real" rock-n-roll, and most everyone on the street was listening to the same radio station (KJR) so the "Ave" where we cruised was like a moving radio station, the same songs blasting out of everyone's car simultaneously. Oh, and if you headed on down to "Stinker's" gas station you could fill you tank for 25-cents a gallon. Yup, dem wuz da daze!

[@lisathuban8969]

BTW, this was NOT Harrison Ford's first role. He'd been doing bit parts from the 1960's on. His first screen appearance was in a film called "Dead Heat on a Merry-go-round". He was a bellboy and had one line.

[@matthewcostello3530]

the guy who wanted to tie him to the car and drag him is Tarzan's son, Johnny Weismuller jr

[@moonlitegram]

Lucas has said that most of the main characters are based off of him at different points in his life. Curt = Lucas at USC John = Lucas in HS when he got into cars and street racing Terry = Lucas as a nerdy freshman in HS The epilogues at the end are meant to solidify the end to the era that Lucas is portraying in the film. The film takes place in 1962, a year before Kennedy was shot, and shortly before Vietnam kicked into full swing and the upheaval surrounding the 60s started. Lucas was 18 in 1962, so this film is basically him looking back at his high school years as a time of innocence and fun that are over now and relating that to the innocence that he perceived America to lose during the 60s as well.

[@mcbeezee2120]

We were later in the game, but cruisin' in the 70s was also the greatest. A shame others won't be able to experience it.

[@michaelwelsh7362]

Lucas was born and raised in a smallish town in the 50’s and this movie was about his teenage years growing up in that era🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@RonaldCanfield-m2r]

I was fortunate to be living in Petaluma, CA (the primary filming location) at the time of this filming. Many friends and classmates drove vehicles in the background during the cruising scenes, and were extras (especially in the school dance & bathroom scenes). My family lived near "Paradise Road" and could hear the John Milner / Bob Falfa race scene being filmed. Great times!

[@gitchegumee]

It's a coming of age film. It's also a slice of time in America and car culture. I graduated in 1977 at the end of cruising, when cars were so central to a guy's dating life. The music on the radio also tied us all together, it was everywhere. I actually saw this the first time at a drive in theater, with my girlfriend, in my 70 Plymouth Cuda. I loved those days...

[@bmw128racer]

Ron Howard and Cindy Williams would appear together again on an episode of the TV show "Happy Days" a year or so later.

[@williamjones6031]

Hopefully some of these will help you. 1. Pantsing and mooning were big all the way into the late 70's. Back when they still made cars. 2. Candy Clark/Debbie would worth a look-see😍😋 3. My 1979 prom had live band covering the current top music. Timeframe wise, That didn't suck. 4. We used to do the Chinese fire drills too. Late 70s 5. Back in the day in most towns there was only one pop radio station. (Remember this is before FM) 6, Rock DJs were a big deal. Wolman Jack was bigger than just Modesto. 7. Ripping off the Police car axel. CLASSIC 🤣🤣 8. Cruising was HUGE. 9. The hot blonde in the car is Susanne Summers. 10. I haven't seen this for a while so thanks for bringing me back. 11. RIP Cindy Williams.😇

[@Madbandit77]

12. RIP Bo Hopkins, the leader of the Pharaohs.

[@benhernandez7556]

One of the greatest films ever and one of my favorite films ever! The 70s was the best decade for film. May I humbly recommend; The Conversation, Serpico, Jeremiah Johnson, Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Paper Moon, Taxi Driver, Saturday Night Fever, and The Sting. There are a lot more.

[@seanspalding9296]

My favorite and most touching moment of the movie has always been when the kindly, wise DJ turned out to be the wild and mysterious Wolfman

[@Divamarja_CA]

We went to the drive-in and saw this in 1973. Loved it and desperately wanted the amazing soundtrack for my birthday that year. It took a few years but when I finally got it, I was thrilled. That soundtrack is golden!

[@knight4iam]

Really hoping you watch the sequel. I love it. Never understood all the hate for it, other than it changes the theme when it switches to the late 60s. Same actors. Same characters. Different time.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Yes, “More American Graffiti” was out 1979, with “AG” rerelease in 1978. I did not see MAG until 1996, on tv. I did have the vinyl LP, of songs from 1964-‘68. MAG did not groove with the public. It was out of view for years. After seeing half of MAG ontv, I found it soon on VHS. A unique sequel. (I have a Blu-ray of now) It turns out some of the music had to be changed, cost of rights - a reason why the film was out of view for awhile.

[@thunderstruck5484]

Saw at the theater! Great movie thanks!

[@jeffpope3221]

Carol is played by Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. She went on to star in the TV show, "One Day at the Time."

[@peterpaul666]

An amazing coming of age story. One of my personal favorites, and a really under the radar movie, is "The River's Edge", which introduced Keanu Reeves, Crispin Glover, Ione Skye, and Daniel Roebuck to the world (not to mention an excellent and understated Dennis Hopper in his transition from out of control to amazing mature actor - he still has the best line ever summing up alcoholics, when he describes a motorcycle accident that cost him a leg, with "Yep, that's my leg there on the road, I wonder if there's any beer left in that can..."). Well worth a look and generally not reacted to at all.

[@reesebn38]

I just rewatched the movie. I never knew it was based on a true story.

[@marthapackard8649]

An excellent movie. I've never seen it reviewed.

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Yep, it's a good one. I still quote Crispin Glover's line "I SAW it. I poked it with a stick." But with his accent it was more like "I SAH it. I pyoked i-yut with a sti-uck."😂

[@rs-ye7kw]

As you mentioned, one of the best things about this movie is the soundtrack. If you're an oldies fan, another film with a great soundtrack filled with songs mainly from the 60's is "Hairspray". Although the movie itself is not as good or as realistic as American Graffiti, the soundtrack alone makes it a worthwhile watch. One note of caution: If anyone decides to give it a try, make sure it's the 1988 original version and NOT the 2007 remake.

[@benntura]

As a kid in the 70’s, I watched Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham on the tv show Happy Days. Also, Laurie was played by Cindy Williams(RIP ) who starred in Laverne & Shirley, which was a spin-off of Happy Days.

[@MrUndersolo]

Still amazes me that this is the same director who gave us Star Wars. A long-time favourite that deserves more reactions!

[@MrGpschmidt]

IMO this is Lucas' masterpiece (yep even over STAR WARS). Semi-autobiographical (raised in small-town Modesto, CA and he was a motor head who nearly lost his life in a horrific car accident were the inspirations of this film) and a fantastic cast of stars-to-be. This, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH & DAZED AND CONFUSED are a triple bill for the greatest coming of age definitions of eras of teenagers. Helluva soundtrack (the budget nearly was totally to buying the rights to all the jukebox classics - fun fact they couldn't afford any Elvis Presley tunes - hence none appear). Ford was cast primarily for working as a carpenter on producer Francis Ford Coppola's home and led to him even helping in the auditions for STAR WARS later on. I still have my dad's double album vinyl of the soundtrack whose gatefold is a pin-up of one of the car hops from Mel's Drive-In. The coda was a steadfast Lucas idea and the studio balked initially but luckily Coppola backed up h is friend's decision. A sequel MORE AMERICAN GRAFFITI came a few year later - it's not terrible but does show nearly the entire cast returning for one last time; you s/check it out Mads. Glad you finally got to this!

[@stevetanner3019]

The young girl in the yellow car with Milner is MacKenzie Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the band “Mamas and Papas” who had hits like “California Dreaming” and “Monday Monday”. MacKenzie would also later star in the 80’s hit TV show “One Day At A Time”.

[@mikemilne]

Madison! You left out 2 of my favorite moments. First when Curt was leaving the radio station and turns back to realize he had been talking to Wolfman Jack all along. Secondly, when Curt looks out the plane window to see the Thunderbird racing along parallel to the planes path

[@jeffpope3221]

When this movie was made, only Ron Howard was known at all, having starred in the "Andy Griffith Show." But this movie really starred the careers of Richard Dreyfuss ("Jaws") , Paul LeMat ("Melvin and Howard"), Charles Martin Smith ("Never Cry Wolf"), Cindy Williams ("Laverne and Shirley"), Candy Clark ("The Man Who Fell to Earth"), Mackenzie Phillips ("One Day at the Time") and of course, Harrison Ford ("Star Wars.)

[@AnthonyMartin-k8m]

I would be a monk for you, Madison. 😊 Also, who lets their, say, 14 year-old sister ride off with some grown ass dude? crazy A little trivia: The water balloon was supposed to hit the window and splash Carol indirectly and then she was supposed to act genuinely mad. But when Paul La Mat was cracking up so much when it blasted her right in the face, she couldn't help laughing herself. Lucas left that take in because he really liked genuine reactions. They definitely would have been really messed up or dead in that wreck since those cars didn't even have seatbelts, or if they did, it was just a lap belt. The actresses were all pissed that Lucas didn't have any of the female characters in that epilogue at the end.

[@reesebn38]

It was an innocent time when you could trust people, that was the point. Also anything to get rid of your annoying little sister. I loved how Lucas used flubs and mistakes to give it a more realism. The best is Toad's Scooter going out of control in the beginning. The actress should be grateful Lucas gave them a career start and to Star in a classic film that would go down in history. Candy Clark should have been the happiest. She got an Oscar Nomination.

[@AnthonyMartin-k8m]

@@reesebn38 Innocent time? When you got guys like the Pharaohs running around? nah. I agree, the scooter bit is hilarious. You could see Charles Martin Smith pause expecting Lucas to yell cut, but when no cut came, he kept playing it off. Wow, I didn't know she got an Oscar nomination. I did hear she was upset Lucas left her flub in, "Did you gidget? Did you get it?"

[@davidpeters44]

RIP Cindy Williams.

[@wagonmaster1974]

Saw this when it was in theaters, specifically, drive-ins. Absolutely great, in all aspects. I've watched it many times, since, and realized as I have gotten older, the part I think I like best is the little romance that developed between "tough guy" Milner and little innocent Carol. Really sweet. Great show, great review!

[@SHANECatLovinActivistHistorian]

in the opening scene, the guy wearing the pink shirt and glasses is Charles Martin Smith, he was i the great movie, never cry wolf. Check that one out, i think you will love it

[@Madbandit77]

He also was in "Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid", "John Carpenter's Starman" and directed the Buffy The Vampire Slayer pilot.

[@SHANECatLovinActivistHistorian]

@@Madbandit77 yeah but if you want to see him naked you have to watch never cry wolf

[@MZ-bl6wg]

My parents were a part of this era , they got married at 18 and bought. ‘63 corvette convertible and my dad would carry around a set of slicks and a Jack for racing nights. My mom passed away of cancer recently so this is hitting me hard, the girlfriend looks like my mom in pictures of my parents wedding. Miss u mom💜

[@tduffy5]

Did you notice the tie to your favorite genre, westerns? John beat Bob in their drag race, but John insisted that Bob won. John was tired of having the reputation as the best. He wanted people to stop "gunning" for him.

[@williambowman2326]

This is a generational movie. It is about a time that was ending and to be gone forever. The last night of summer was the sunset of the post war innocence of the baby boomers. During the movie everyone is listening to the same station and music. There is a social code for and a vibe that all shares. John die sby a drunk driver, beyond his control, in December of 1964. That was the year that the music started to change abd within a cuople of years the teenagers would start dividing their musical tastes.

[@ytorwoody]

A few years after I first saw this movie, I realized that I was the Toad (Tobe) of our class. I was just acceptable enough to be friends with a lot of people, but was always apt to be slightly embarrassing at any moment. That really didn't bother me because those days were in the past... until I began to wonder if I was just an older version of that same young man. Thanks for doing a reaction of this great movie.

[@cmlemmus494]

Technically Ron Howard had done two adult roles prior to this film, an episode of Bonanza from season 14 and a very highly rated episode of M*A*S*H (season 1 episode 17, "Sometimes You Hear The Bullet"). This was his first film role as an adult, though.

[@Stogie2112]

Private Walter (Howard): "I'm never gonna forgive you for this! Not for the rest of my life!" Hawkeye Pierce: "Let's hope it's a long and healthy hate."

[@karimhicks8376]

The red haired kid is the iconic director, Ron Howard!!

[@IDLERACER]

Of course, the more obvious common denominator between this and "Stand By Me" is Richard Dreyfus, who's unique vocal delivery pervades both films. Party Trivia: Although "American Graffiti" is supposed to be the definitive film about American teenagers, in reality, there isn't a single teenager in the whole film. The entire cast was in their mid to late 20s with the exception of MacKenzie Phillips, who was 12. Richard Dreyfus and Cindy Williams were both 27. This was far from being Harrison Ford's first film. If you want to see a hilarious clip of him playing a zonked out pot smoking college student, simply copy and paste this into KZbin's search engine: Getting Straight (1970) 😉👍

[@jjack-zm4sr]

Wolfman Jack, the most famous disc jockey in the history of radio. 20 times bigger than Ryan seacrest

[@raycornell5102]

I experienced many of the same things from this movie, only about 10 years later. Still remember cruising on the weekends, both in a large city, and a small town.

[@My-Name-Isnt-Important]

Mackenzie Phillips was 12 during the filming of American Graffiti and 13 when it was released. Much of the cast later read for parts for the film Blue Harvest, which was the title given to keep the real name for the film Star Wars secret.

[@BubbaCoop]

3:30 Lucas couldn't resist changing this movie either. That sky was changed in the late 90s.

[@christopherhamm4712]

Ron Howard appears in John Wayne's last movie, The Shootist.

[@fday1964]

This film caught so many actors at the beginning of their careers. If you Google their names, you'll be very surprised. Great reaction! There was a sequel, btw....not the best, and maybe more of a curiosity.

[@toolthoughts]

I love that you've been doing some real solid classics lately. Good stuff.

[@lisathuban8969]

Steve and Lori got married and have kids in the sequel. Good reaction! This is such a great movie about being young and dumb and surviving your adventures and mistakes at that age, and the lessons we learn. Cars were that generation's internet. Gas was cheap, and so were cars, so high school kids got their first taste of adult independence via driving.

[@socalpaul487]

For another great coming of age movie I recommend "Breaking Away" I also recommend "American Graffiti 2" It was mostly disliked when it came out, but has grown on me and I really like it.

[@davidfrost901]

This makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Just memories. I always take the good ones. Learn and be mindful of the not so good ones and the upheaval of moving on. "In my life I loved them all" The Beatles. Your reactions help me feel happy. Thankyou.

[@ChicagoDB]

Superb cast…a classic

[@Britcarjunkie]

In case nobody noticed, Michael McKeane(sp) from "LaVerne And Shirley" (Lennie), is in the band that's playing at the dance. Lucas did do another film before Star Wars: THX-1138. Harrison Ford had a bit part in the Steve McQueen film "Bullitt".

[@steelers6titles]

1. "Rock Around the Clock" Bill Haley & the Comets 1954 2:08 2. "16 Candles" The Crests 1958 2:48 3. "Runaway" Del Shannon 1961 2:18 4. "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers 1956 2:14 5. "That'll Be the Day" Buddy Holly & The Crickets 1957 2:14 6. "Fannie Mae" Buster Brown 1959 2:52 7. "At the Hop" Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids 1973 2:25 8. "She's So Fine" Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids 1973 2:18 9. "The Stroll" The Diamonds 1957 2:26 10. "See You In September" The Tempos 1959 2:03 1. "Surfin' Safari" The Beach Boys 1962 2:05 2. "(He's) The Great Imposter" The Fleetwoods 1961 2:13 3. "Almost Grown" Chuck Berry 1959 2:09 4. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" The Platters 1958 2:37 5. "Little Darlin'" The Diamonds 1957 2:04 6. "Peppermint Twist - Part 1" Joey Dee and the Starlighters 1961 1:58 7. "Barbara Ann" The Regents 1961 2:14 8. "The Book of Love" The Monotones 1958 2:17 9. "Maybe Baby" Buddy Holly 1957 2:01 10. "Ya Ya" Lee Dorsey 1961 2:22 11. "The Great Pretender" The Platters 1955 2:35 1. "Ain't That a Shame" Fats Domino 1955 2:31 2. "Johnny B. Goode" Chuck Berry 1958 2:38 3. "I Only Have Eyes for You" The Flamingos 1959 3:09 4. "Get a Job" The Silhouettes 1958 2:37 5. "To the Aisle" The Five Satins 1957 2:44 6. "Do You Want to Dance" Bobby Freeman 1958 2:35 7. "Party Doll" Buddy Knox 1957 1:54 8. "Come Go with Me" The Del-Vikings 1956 2:37 9. "You're Sixteen" Johnny Burnette 1960 1:56 10. "Love Potion No. 9" The Clovers 1959 1:53 1. "Since I Don't Have You" The Skyliners 1958 2:35 2. "Chantilly Lace" The Big Bopper 1958 2:21 3. "Teen Angel" Mark Dinning 1959 2:35 4. "Crying in the Chapel" Sonny Till & the Orioles 1953 3:04 5. "A Thousand Miles Away" The Heartbeats 1957 2:25 6. "Heart and Soul" The Cleftones 1961 1:49 7. "Green Onions" Booker T. & the M.G.'s 1962 2:25 8. "Only You (And You Alone)" The Platters 1955 2:35 9. "Goodnight, Well it's Time to Go" The Spaniels 1954 2:43 10. "All Summer Long" The Beach Boys 1964 2:05 --soundtrack LP

[@norcalboy2572]

I loved your reaction, Madison. I missed my favorite shot in your edit. It's ok - we all have different moments that touch us. My favorite scene in the film is at the end of Curt's visit to the radio station outside of town. As he's walking out, he sees the DJ go live through the window, and when he hears his on-air voice, he realizes that he IS Wolfman Jack.

[@rayvanhorn1534]

I'm clicking "like" already...I know you're gonna love it, & it's just such an iconic coming of age film with one of the best soundtracks ever!

[@Fred-vy1hm]

I actually liked the second movie More American Graffiti better. It follows the main characters post high school during the Vietnam war and the Peace movement.

[@paulobrien9572]

Madison a similar movie that focuses on my generation growing up in the 70's and also has a fantastic soundtrack is Dazed and Confused. Madison I am surprised you know Opie but not Richie Cunningham, Ron's other famous role on Happy Days.

[@vincejaramillo1271]

This is my all time favorite movie. I first saw it at the drive-in as a 6 yr old.

[@reesebn38]

I was 9 and it changed me forever.

[@karimhicks8376]

Growing up as a teenager in the 70s & 80s, there were still cruise nights! DRIVE IN MOVIES; WOLFMAN JACK, CASEY CASSUM, RICK DEES, DICK CLARK; NO CELL PHONES!!! NO PERSONAL COMPUTERS; AND TRUE MUSCLE CARS, THAT DIDNT HUM, BUT ROARED!!! LIKE THE BARRACUDA, TORRINO, NOVA, ECTRA.

[@timcook6566]

They did a sequel some years later, More American Graffiti. Many people can’t stand it, but think it’s a fantastic companion piece for the original. It delves deeper into their lives

[@steelers6titles]

Good film in its own right, although very long.

[@armandobatres208]

Richard Dreyfuss was in both movies too.