George Lucas On AMERICAN GRAFFITI

George Lucas discusses the making of his film AMERICAN GRAFFITI.
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[@camman6912]

George Lucas use to come in where I worked all the time he lived across the street very quiet and nice man.

[@ggt47]

(Gasps)Really?

[@squashgaming9279]

i need to know more!!!

[@Pointblankmos]

One of the most energetic, fun, and nostalgic films I've ever seen. Captures youth so well. Thanks George.

[@danielhurley2894]

I was stationed in Naples Italy in 1973 when the small theater on the base posted a note about showing a movie called "American Draftee." They spelled it wrong. Being bored and not expecting much, I went. I thought it was one of the most entertaining movies I had ever seen. I still do.

[@inyobill]

I accidented into Blade Runner in a similar manner, similar reaction..

[@hebneh]

The reason this film made such a big impression when it was released was the immense social changes that had occurred from 1962 to 1973. The cars, music, hairstyles, clothes, and behaviors were so hugely different that looking back 11 years was very affecting. You thought about what these characters were going to do through in the years ahead of them. This movie was also notable for how many of the performers quickly became successful and well-known after it was released.

[@raydrake9151]

Couldn't help thinking of the Vietnam war, the assasinations and Watergate when I first saw this movie in '73.

[@nicholasjanke3476]

Lucas always said that he thought he wasted four years of his life cruising in his car, however his experiences proved useful as American Graffiti became one of his biggest films! It's amazing how so many low budget shows (Star Trek, The Terminator, American Graffiti, Rocky, first James Bond film) made on shoe string budgets end up becoming blockbusters!

[@Sabacc]

American Graffiti is 40 years old this month. I saw it in a theater this past weekend and it still hold up as one of the best character pieces ever made.

[@LEEFORDJAGG]

Hey Mr George, let's have the 3 hour first cut of American Graffiti..please!

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

LEEFORDJAGG #ReleaseTheLucasCut

[@nicholasdauphinais]

Hands down one of the best films ever made.

[@mariomanningfan]

The cinematography was just perfect

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

The *GREATEST* movie ever made.

[@commanderkeen3787]

The sequel More American Graffiti is quite an interesting curiosity piece. Seeing all the actors back in their roles except for Dreyfus

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@commanderkeen3787 He was in _Canadian Graffiti_ in 1979!

[@dtwhitney]

It's safe to say that George Lucas is always a man who dares to be different.

[@35sixer]

One of my all time favorite movies. AG is a true masterpiece..So many great story lines in the movie. Lucas and Cope= Genius..

[@stxphxnbeats555]

I live in the town American Graffiti was directed in, modesto. Once every year, old cars go down the popular avenue of our town, mchenry avenue.

[@markant9534]

Brilliant! Just finished watching it for the first time this morning.

[@MrBuc128]

It always has amazed me how much culture had changed in such a short period of time.This movie was set in 1962 and there seemed to be an innocence about this period it was not much different from the 50s.Then after Kennedy was killed only a year later everything started changing. Many people no longer just accepted what the govt. said was true. The Beatles came shortly thereafter and made what I think was the greatest single contribution to pop culture

[@rankoorovic7904]

American Graffiti is still to this day he's best film.

[@WinslowLeach1974]

George shot a lot of film in those 28 nights, the original cut (which George says he still has) is 3 1/2 hours long! Would absolutely love to see it.

[@sanddab]

George's best film (IMHO).

[@williambutler3139]

A wonderful part of our history, fantastic job George, cheers...

[@kentcampbell122]

0:24 "Sex in cars ... was very fascinating to me"

[@Munedawg]

"Meeting the opposite sex in cars."

[@lukedalley2394]

You can tell he’s a lot more interested in talking about American Grafitti or THX-1138 than Star Wars. He’s bored to death of talking about Star Wars.

[@carlocalderon3659]

Luke Dalley yeah because it’s just about kids having fun it doesn’t have to do with anything with the future or space.

[@gaget5455]

I agree. While I love Star Wars, I do get bored of talking about it as well. I only talk about it once, then I move on and when I hear someone who wants to talk about it more, I just tell them I’m not interested. There’s more to talk about than just Star Wars.

[@fairiegirlga]

This movie moved me in so many ways, I graduated from high school in '74, I always felt that I ws born too late, I should have been a teenager in the early 60's, this movie captured that time in america jut perfectly, there will never be another time like that for anyone, i have always felt I was "cheated" missing out on that era, being a teenager during that time, just being able to view when I like makes it some what bearable, how I miss those days.......

[@garyl5128]

Still a great film, and one that I like to watch now and again. It deserves more acclaim than it gets in my opinion.

[@Pr3ct]

Scarred studio execs are why we get the crap we get today. They have to be dragged kicking and screaming into anything different. They would rather shoot remakes than take any risk.

[@xXpwnXx9]

yeah:/ no colour and life in new films, just loud bangs n booms and special effects

[@inyobill]

I have to wonder how many great films that were in the can that we didn't get to see because of the myopia of the studio suits.

[@AGraffitifan]

What happened between '62 and '73 was so drastic, and he documented it so well!

[@mattleinhauser9166]

Such a great movie and awesome music.

[@egospecto1815]

American Graffiti, a movie we watched on the bonnet of my car at the drive in night after night after night, a Dorian Grey type picture by Mr Lucas, a painting in which we never grow old.

[@swepop]

Thanks to you, I have ended up with 5 classics in my garage. And I still look at AG at least twice/year. 10 points to George!

[@zacharyfrazier960]

This classic was produced by someone who made a MASTERPIECE.

[@inkey2]

you're right....the difference between 1962 and 1973 might as well have been 25 years things had changed so much....

[@XXFUELXX1]

man i love american graffiti and i love how they have tracks going through the movie it gives u a really like good hangout feel and how cruising is gone but its gonna come back and the story is really cool i love the idea of the oler teenagers

[@soonersciencenerd383]

i always thought that fonzy's place,joannie loves chachie, and happy days were rip-offs of the real "American Grafitti". don't think there will ever be a movie that will be as good as or better than AG. hats off to you, George Lucas, and all of the actors, and your crew!!!!!!!!! OH, CAN YA DIG IT?????!!!!

[@alwynowen3999]

If only George made less Star Wars and more original movies like this. What a legacy he would've left

[@adityanarain9428]

He could've overshadowed Spielberg.

[@RideMyBMW]

big lunch...(burp) if I could give any artist an "immortality" card, its this guy. TOTALLY revolutionized movies and blew everyone away (with just 2 movies).

[@chrisoflynn2443]

RideMyTruck not just two. Basically every movie he has done has in some way pushed the boundaries of filmmaking

[@nicholasjanke3476]

My favourite Lucas film!

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

It is really such an admirable film, many movies take from it. 20 years later Dazed and confused was out, similar vibe but set in 76

[@agfagaevart]

Graffiti inspired Happy Days.

[@65g4]

Love this film next year will be the 50th anniversary i hope they release a new edition

[@valarinan7723]

His best film.

[@kendelray9328]

Thanks George for the best movie ever!!! ❤👍

[@aaronandnawar5815]

We love this movie!

[@shawnbeck2303]

Cars! Just makes Americana what it is! Cool, Fast, A American thing! SHAWN

[@sonomawinetourdrivers3895]

Where can I find the clip of Harrison Fords....near disastrous Mels Drive Inn burn out.?!

[@eutopiaeutopia9552]

LUCAS : THE FORCE 🙏

[@RobFinlay]

interesting stuff, makes sense about filling the screenings! people love whats popular!

[@dimitri6000]

Wish George would've been as honest as he was here with the history of Star Wars. Don't know why he keeps claiming he wrote a 200 page script back in the early 70s before breaking it apart because it was too big. I guess it has something to do with his legend, or myth persona he built up. In reality, the man struggled greatly draft by draft until he landed on the Star Wars we know today.

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

American Graffiti is my definition of Star Wars.

[@jimmypage2138]

Notice how things changed a lot less from 03 to 13? except for the technology

[@ffdztdr]

No technology has changed a lot too in just 10 years, there was no such thing as an I pad or texting on cell phones in 2003, in 2003 the styles and music reflected the styles and music of the late 90's, just like the early 2010's reflect the late 2000's and just like American Graffiti taking place in 1962 was like the late 50's, every decade is that way, the early 90's still had mullets and the early 80's had disco, and early 70's had Vietnam war type hippies. Cars, music, style works that way.

[@starwarsunfiltered7848]

Yeah, I've noticed that with music and cultural/fashion trends too. Every decade tends to bleed over into the next, before the next "big" wave of transition hits. Look at how different the 90s was in music and movies after Grunge exploded around '92-'94.

[@PowerGlove79]

I personally think this is his best film

[@RideMyBMW]

Lucas has gotta go back to Graffiti like themes and shoot a movie about kids and teens today (sorta like that flick KIDS that came out like 10 years ago).

[@ffdztdr]

I think so, I remember kids use to listen to Backstreet Boys and songs like who let the dogs out and the old Britney Spears, and a lot of the late 90's stuff. I think the same types of music are out but the style has evolved. and I've noticed Mustangs from the early 2000's looks a lot like the late 90's Mustangs, but in 2005 they changed. But I don't like music from today I like 50's and 60's and some 70's and early 80's and older stuff too like the 40's and back.

[@sherlockholmes9116]

“A generation of kids forgot to be stupid. That it was okay.” I wish the SW fan base learned this lesson.

[@jimmypage2138]

the music from '03 to '13 realy has not changed that much

[@xtraflo]

Everyone screaming about how Star Wars is ruined, yet no one concerned that American Graffiti is owned by Disney......

[@loveraoswaldo]

I'm pretty sure it's owned by Universal Pictures. I think it's safe for now from Disney.

[@xtraflo]

@@loveraoswaldo Nope - AF was owned by Lucasfilm and was part of the Deal with Disney...

[@loveraoswaldo]

@@xtraflo Is it? Then I'm confused about this. Universal's KZbin channel released a video on American Graffiti a few weeks ago, with links to buy it off their home entertainment website. What rights do they own? Distribution? TV?

[@xtraflo]

@@loveraoswaldo Universal has Distribution rights.

[@loveraoswaldo]

@@xtraflo Then what does Disney own? Is it like Indiana Jones, where Paramount retains the distribution rights, but Disney has rights to future installments?

[@mattavina]

@agfagaevart no it didn't, the pilot for Happy Days was written and aired before American Graffiti came out. The studio didn't like the concept and scraped Happy Days till they late saw the success of American Graffiti and Grease on the stage

[@AbstractM0use]

The studios were always reluctant to give Lucas a chance and he wound up changing the entire industry around them. I can only imagine the studio execs that turned him away, because he was "weird", kicking themselves and crying into their pillows after Graffiti and Star Wars took off. lol

[@inkey2]

@13DCH here's another one....not as good as American Graffitti but worth seeing.....pretty funny....1980 Hollywood Knights......ever see this one?

[@agfagaevart]

@MrBuc128 Exactly my point. Thanks for the back up. LOL!!

[@mattavina]

@MrBuc128 so what agfa was trying to say was that the success of American Graffiti inspired the execs at a Television Studio to realize they made a mistake and decided to cash in on the phenomenon. But the Creator of Happy Days was not inspired by AG, since it didn't exist when they created it.

[@toscodav]

Correct but they added stuff to Happy Days that wasn't in the original pilot that were for sure inspired by AG. Arnold's, fonz and the opening song.

[@moviemonk1000]

100% All True

[@inkey2]

@13DCH watch "the last picture show"....if you liked this movie you'll probably like it

[@Smashinz2002]

@Sshelly34213 Lucas is such a huge sell now because he is a true artist and his vision is far beyond the stupid studio people, and also his work was way ahead of it's time, meaning that his work, like all great artists; musicians, painters, filmakers, etc., can't be fully appreciated at first. But later on, people tend to see the brilliance in it, and it becomes a great positive feature in their lives.

[@linajedmai]

Dear Sir, For Mrs Mellody Hobson, Subject: Request for assistance from Mr. George Lucas (urgent) First of all, thank you for responding to my email. Following my earlier correspondence, I would like Elstree Studios to urgently send the 3 attached PDF files to the George Lucas Stage, for the attention of Mr. George Lucas; this aspect is really quite important, I am aware that Mr. Lucas has officially announced his retirement. But it is precisely a retiree like Mr. Lucas, who I will need help realize my project and who, because of this new way of financing, producing, and distributing, future films for both the cinema and for the internet, is most dear to my heart. My wish is to look for a man like Mr. Lucas who even as a retiree would be able to support the Andromeda Trilogy project. Mr. Lucas’s support will allow us to launch an international call for donations to Internet users around the world. This would be based on a teaser-trailer that will be produced to present the (the Andromeda Trilogy) project to all Internet users around globe and which will be translated into several languages. This would enable us to raise approximately $ 75 million, This would galvanize Internet users to making donations and support the production of the Andromeda film trilogy. This would also guarantee a simultaneous projection of the Andromeda film trilogy both on traditional cinema screens, and at the same time as a free internet broadcast by several channels on KZbin. This will enable less well off communities around the world to be able to benefit, and to watch the whole film Trilogy for free. And I think, I am convinced that George Lucas, will be pleased with this and will want to take part in this new way of financing, producing, and distributing films in the future, globally, both in terms of traditional cinemas, for television, and for the internet, and which will undoubtedly also allow the reopening of traditional neighborhood cinemas around the world, and also the creation of small traditional cinemas in villages Regards Mr Belkhir SAYAH Address : 13014 Marseille France Mobile [phone] (I don't speak English, I only speak French) www.andromede.online

[@futureshock7425]

Tarantino, must have watched it 1,000 times

[@covert0overt_810]

future shock And Martin Scorsese

[@dahur]

It cost less than a million to make, and made $35 million at the box office.

[@MrBuc128]

@mattavina Well than what agfagaevart said was true. If not A.G. than Happy days would have been left on the shelf to collect dust. Only through the success of AG did happy days see the light of day

[@jpalexander292]

The fact that the movie studio thought it was a nothing movie shows how clueless they are.

[@monkeywrench2800]

I love this film, but at the same time I hate it. Exactly one decade after it was filmed, I was on the the cruise strip of Petaluma, on 4th Street, but in the film everyone was celebrated. In 1982-84 I was a scourge for being there, as was everyone else there. I didn't see this film until the late 1980's, and at that point was deeply affected by the change in attitude of what we were doing there. Deeply conflicted....

[@puertoriconnect4611]

How the hell could this guy direct a brilliant movie like American Graffiti and also create another brilliant movie like Star Wars but then make The Phantom Menace? It boggles the mind.

[@canuck21]

+Absurdi TV He lost his mojo. It happens to everyone eventually.

[@BookClubDisaster]

He spent more than a decade away from making movies. It's not like riding a bike.

[@dnasty312]

Sheesh, enough of The Phantom Menace hate! #getoutmore

[@Ivan-qf4mt]

The Ghost of Kurt Cobain because he was not the one in charge. And he had full power in parts 1-3. The quality died as his influence grew untill the state of "being surrounded by submissive yesmen". Unsurprisingly from now on Disney will milk SW until it is dry and George Lucas will never get it back (and it seems that he actually is not that concerned about it). Perhaps it is the best outcome that we could get.

[@cmdugan]

Easy: they are both great, visually and sonically arresting and imaginative movies that explore the human psyche in totally different ways.

[@Khultan]

So, Mr. Lucas, I enjoyed 'American Graffiti' even though I am not from that era. I enjoyed 'THX-1138' because of it's stark message and stark, bleak vision of the future. I enjoyed 'Star Wars', the 1977 movie, because of the wild and revolutionary creativity AND the story. So....what in the hell happened with the prequels?!? Why could you not do the same for the prequels what you did in the late 60s and early 70s????

[@codeoptimizationware2803]

@American Born Patriot.: "Why could you not do the same for the prequels what you did in the late 60s and early 70s????" Why couldn't you? ???

[@MrBuc128]

@McLarenMercedes Well said I agre

[@john-paulnagel2732]

American Graffiti is a Lot Better ! Star ⭐️ Wars Blah Blah

[@King_Colombia_Inc]

FACTS

[@danbasta3677]

Only good film he came out with. Not into that star wars stuff. Prefer American Graffiti much better.

[@wodanowitz]

You did a great job with american graffiti and later with STAR WAR'S. But now? Selling your stuff to Disney Films? Are you crazy ???

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

George, why didn't you move on to other styles after _Star Wars_ ?

[@RagedContinuum]

filmmaking seems to be very difficult since it requires so much focus and collaboration

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@RagedContinuum Franchising is a LOT more simple, yeah

[@amycrunch3812]

Why is he wearing a girl's shirt?

[@MeMeDaVinci]

Whoever was making the decisions at Universal were idiots. A TV movie? Disgraceful idea and sacrilegious to the artform.

[@McLarenMercedes]

@jayflo92008 Please. George Lucas himself has become one of those "studio people" and managed to shov those horrible Star Wars prequels down our throats. Lucas may have been a rogue, independent movie maker in the 70's, but since then he is all about the money. Like those studios he despised. Do you blame the studios for Transformers btw? Heck Michael Bay only makes whatever crap kids like to watch.

[@cyrus138]

@jayflo92008 You mean thank you YOUNG George Lucas. He's long gone. Fat George ate him.