The Night is Young ... American Graffiti (1973) FIRST TIME WATCHING! | MOVIE REACTION & COMMENTARY!

[@vincejaramillo1271]

The film takes place in 1962. The tagline was “Where were you in 62?” George Lucas based it on where he grew up in Modesto California.

[@tallwalls76]

Filmed in Petaluma, CA.

[@juliannrose5919]

I believe this takes place in the early 60s, before the Beatles and the English Invasion. Also before the whole Hippie movement.

[@latenightswithsammy]

You are correct Juliann, I got my years wrong 🤦‍♂

[@wombatwilly1002]

1962

[@jamesbaladad5154]

This is my favorite movie of all time ,my dad was a teenager during the 50s and sadly passed away at 80 last year in 2022,and the movie takes place in 62 in Modesto the last year of the 50s style b4 the British invasion ,I was born in Modesto and this meant so much to me

[@jamesbaladad5154]

I recommend dazed and confused ,amazing soundtrack and my mom graduated high school the year the movie takes place

[@jamesbaladad5154]

Also each character is based off of George Lucas in his youth as he got into a car crash in 62 and changed his career from car racer into a film director

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you so much James for sharing this! I'm sorry to read about your dad's passing. Great piece of trivia, and to read that you were actually born in Modesto, very cool! 😀

[@danielkesselring9172]

Favorite movie of all time.. had the soundtrack since I was 5… 1975

[@latenightswithsammy]

That's awesome! Thank you for sharing Daniel 😀

[@lastguyminn2324]

One of the best soundtracks ever...love the Wolfman Jack intros that are included.

[@Code9]

This was every Friday and Saturday night when I was in high school back in the mid-60s. Cruisin' Dick's Drive-in and The "Burg" with windows down and radios blaring the soundtrack of our young lives. Go Johnny, Go! Go! Johnny B. Goode!

[@latenightswithsammy]

What a scene 😆 Thanks for sharing this!

[@MACMDRB]

Yinzzer?

[@becksgr]

This was the culture every night in the summer in Detroit from the 50's through the 90's. So much fun. You could drive out a tank of gas driving up and down the same 3 mile stretch of road. All good clean fun. Worst thing was some firecrackers and a drag race. So many old married couples met that way

[@peterbooth793]

I love when Curt goes to the radio station and meets the Wolfman. It's kinda like the Wizard of Oz. Pay no attention to that man behind the microphone!

[@latenightswithsammy]

Very good analogy! I can completely see that 😆

[@chefskiss6179]

Thank you for checking this out flick. And big THANKS to Richie K for selecting this gem.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you for watching 😆 It was fun!

[@sixstanger00]

The cruise culture was popular up until the turn of the century. During my high school days in the late 90s, my weekends were like this - we hung out a local drive-in burger joint (Bumpers), we cruised up and down the main strip through town, and of course, listened to the radio. CDs were still the medium of choice for custom music, but for the most part we listened to our local radio station that would play songs that are now considered "oldies." Matchbox Twenty, Smash Mouth, Goo Goo Dolls, etc. Back then, the only way to socialize with friends was to do it in person after school and on weekends. With the advent of the smart phone & social media the need for interpersonal socializing died out, and along with it, cruise culture.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Enjoyed reading that, thanks! What a zeitgeist indeed 😆 And I agree with you on the last point, like it or hate it, tech has changed culture a lot 😅

[@jcqlnr464]

Same for me too, I graduated high school in 2001 and we cruised pretty much every night. And on the weekends you cruised around until you heard about where the party was and then you wemt there.

[@sixstanger00]

@@jcqlnr464 Class of 2001 right here, too :)

[@jcqlnr464]

@@sixstanger00 lol love that!

[@nellgwenn]

The time period of this movie is pre British Invasion era.

[@BigGator5]

"You're the most beautiful, exciting thing I've ever seen in my life and I don't know anything about you." Fun Fact: Wolfman Jack, who played himself in the movie, was specifically chosen by George Lucas to play a role in the movie because Lucas remembered listening to him on the radio when Lucas was in high school. End Credits Fact: Due to the low budget, George Lucas was unable to pay all of the crew members. He offered to give many of them a screen credit in lieu of payment and they accepted. Traditionally, only department heads received screen credit. Giving screen credit to so many crew members has now become a tradition, which is why closing credits last so long now. Making Lemonade Fact: When Charles Martin Smith pulls up on the Vespa in the beginning, his crash into the building wasn't scripted. He genuinely lost control of the bike, and Lucas kept the cameras rolling. Fortunately, the accident and the actor's reaction to it was in keeping with his character. Furthermore, the incident got the first big laugh from the audience in its first public premiere which Lucas and friends took as a very good sign for the film.

[@latenightswithsammy]

I had no idea that was *actually* Wolfman Jack, how cool he's in the film! That's awesome for the actors to support him at that time by accepting a screen credit, must not have been easy to pull this film off

[@ksattesahn]

I love modern tech, I really do. But it comes at a cost. We lost a sense of community. Everyone was listening to the Wolfman at the same time. In my area, it was often Jerry Blavat instead. The geater with the heater. The boss with the hot sauce. He recently passed. When Lucy had her baby in I Love Lucy, so much of our nation tuned in at the very same time. Just saying that the convenience I love isn’t free.

[@poindexterjones206]

One of my all-time favorite films. I was 10 in 1973 when the movie came out. My older sister took me. Fun times.

[@latenightswithsammy]

What a wonderful memory and experience! Thank you for sharing this ☺

[@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. No beach in Modesto. It's in the central valley of Caliphony. 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.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Sweet, thank you so much for this list William 😊 #1 - interesting terms 😆 #5 - that is interesting ... #8 - So I've heard. Seemed like a very social decade

[@reesebn38]

The tag line on the movie-poster is "Where Were You in 62". The movie is about the end of the innocents of the 1950s. 1962 is just before just before Kennedy's death. America is moving into the 60s with the war, other assassinations, losing its innocents. This was George Lucas's life story growing up in Modesto Cal. He said he was the 3 main characters. He was a nerd like Toad. He was a drag racer with a cool car like John. George almost died in a car crash speeding, spending months in the hospital. And he was like Kurt as he left his small town for bigger things. I saw this movie in the theatre when it came out in 73. It was a huge deal, the sleeper hit if the year, very ground braking, everyone loved it.

[@latenightswithsammy]

You are so right with the 'innocence!' Quite enjoy that fact that the 3 main characters were inspired by George's life .. very semi-autobiographical ... oh and I can only imagine how this must have made people feel who grew up in the 50s, it is groundbreaking (but for some odd reason, very hidden, not many people talk about it 🤔)

[@thewickedchicken82]

This film came out when I was 11 years old. My siblings, friends and I snuck each other into the theater over and over again. I remember the excitement when it kicked off with bill Haley and the Comets "Rock Around the Clock". I also fell in love with the music of the era of the mid 50's to early sixties, when rock was pure. This film also had a heavy influence for me. I'm currently writing a screenplay for director Errol Morris. The time period was the mid 60's to the mid 70's based on a book I co-authored. I'm using a lot of music to mark time and enhance the viewing experience. One cool thing about this film was that it had a very low budget. I recall it was around 300,000. They had to shoot all the street scenes in one night, and it was freezing cold. This film is now considered a classic. By the way, the movie was supposed to have taken place in the summer of 1962. The theme was "Where were you in '62).

[@TTM9691]

Hey, good luck with your screenplay! Errol Morris is great! PS: I saw it in the theatre as well when it came out, although I was younger! My parents took me to every movie; I saw "Sleeper" and "Silent Running" that year as well! I was DAZZLED by "American Graffiti". More than I ever was at "Star Wars".

[@latenightswithsammy]

Such a treat to hear what this movie meant to you guys ... I could only imagine seeing this at the time of release 😆 Also, very cool to read that you're writing for Errol Morris! Was introduced to him via Werner Herzog, and have seen some of his films. Great Director! All the best 😆

[@thewickedchicken82]

@@TTM9691 There were a lot of great movies in the 70's. Other ones that we watched over and over again were Billy Jack, the Poseidon Adventure, and I'm a little embarrassed to say, Phantom of the Paradise. Throw in the Godfather, the Airport movies, the Exorcist, Jaws, and Star Wars, and you're still scratching the surface.

[@shieldsluck1969]

"American Graffiti" was shot almost complete in late June and July 1972. Wasn't _that_ freezin' cold back then 😉.

[@kensilverstone1656]

This is an epic, classic film despite some bad acting. Absolute landmark. The music alone is worth the price of admission.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Right on! It's really fun

[@mikemiller8975]

Cars bak then I b gob smacked if got drove 🤩😍🥰 georgose cars in early 60s🥰🥰🤩😘

[@latenightswithsammy]

Yes they were! 😀

[@davidwalsh7128]

THE film that brought songs into the soundtrack world of film making...

[@latenightswithsammy]

I know! It's packed with great tunes 😆

[@BlueShadow777]

Ehhh??? “Late ‘60s transitioning into the ‘70s”…??? 🤷🏻‍♂️ It’s more like the late 1950s into the early ‘60s…! There’s *nothing* about it suggestive of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s. In fact “John” (Paul Le Mat) says “rock’n’roll has been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died”. Holly died in Feb 1959, so we can assume it’s pretty soon after that. Then, Carol says “Don’t you think The Beach Boys are boss?”… suggesting (since the Beach Boys formed in 1961) that we’re now around 1961/62 as Carol seems to be talking as if they’re a new fad. Overall, though, even the music, styles, colloquialisms and the cars indicate the late ‘50s-early ‘60s.

[@latenightswithsammy]

I got my years wrong 🤦‍♂ But thank you for correcting me on that, and the references to point out the decade 😊

[@regis387]

1962

[@424stormygirl]

I remember watching this when I was 13 or 14 like 100 times in a row. Its when HBO first came out and you got 2 movies that they played one after the other all day for weeks at a time until the next movies came out. LOL (I'm 64 now. ) Still like one of my favorites.

[@davidwalsh7128]

During breaks in filming, Lucas was always talking to the actors about his vision for his Space Movie....

[@latenightswithsammy]

Must've intrigued Mr. Ford 😅

[@thomastimlin1724]

Cindy Williams who played the girlfriend of Ron Howard's character, just passed away a few weeks ago. Never assume or you'll make and "ass" out of "U" and "me." This movie takes place in 1962. The actual poster for the movie had a slogan: "Where were you in '62?" n most places this film sold millions, was a big hit, and ran in theaters for about a year nonstop.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thanks for sharing Thomas ☺

[@mwflanagan1]

The thing about this movie is it was nostalgic for the 1950s, but it was filmed only in the 1970s. We’re now 50 years since that time. Interesting that clothing also gets recycled (kids these days think they invented bell bottoms).

[@latenightswithsammy]

😂 - so true! What an achievement, 50 years!

[@sixstanger00]

Correct - John's license plate "THX-138" is a reference to Lucas' first film, "THX-1138." There is also a reference in _Star Wars: A New Hope_ -- when Han and Luke reach the detention block on the Death Star, Luke says, _"Prisoner transfer. From cell block 1138?"_

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ahhh ... never keyed in on the Star Wars reference. Thanks for sharing this 😆

[@RenfrewPrume]

This is a difficult film for younger viewers (as well as foreigners) to understand, but it is well-known and revered by film buffs as a classic piece of Americana. Its mosaic story-telling technique was revolutionary at the time and put George Lucas on the map as a director. It was a huge success, and I saw it in the theater when it came out. The scene is 1962, but many of its elements still existed when I was in high school (1968-72). Some racing still occurred out on country roads, kids still cruised around on Saturday night or went down to the Potomac River to watch the submarine races, and everyone had a transistor radio to listen to 60s Rock. Graduates still felt dislocated and queasy as they went off to college, something that isn’t quite the same today due to our advanced communications. My favorite micro-story is Milner and Carol---the cool guy stuck with a 12-year-old, which would be both embarrassing and potentially dangerous---culminating in a sweet friendship punctuated by Carol’s hilarious reaction to the peck on the cheek. Writing and acting gold! Kudos for catching the THX 1138 license plate. Would love to see you react to that, one of my 15 favorite SF films.

[@laurab391]

This is taking place in very early 60's. Not late sixties. Love this movie.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Mistake of mine 😅 But yes! The more I read people's personal connection to the film, the more I enjoy it 😀 And thanks for writing in Laura!

[@danlitland8144]

This was the late 50s it brought on the TV show Happy

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ahh, yes! I've heard about that TV show, looks cool!

[@laurab68707]

This was set in 1962. Lori is wearing Steve's letterman's sweater that says '62'.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thanks for this Laura 😊

[@jamesmoyner7499]

This is a fun film with a great soundtrack and I don’t know what it is, but I nine times out of ten enjoy films that take place over a small amount of time (one night, an afternoon, etc) with a small amount of characters just talking and going about their business. One interesting thing I learned is there was a much longer cut of the film that was three hours long.

[@latenightswithsammy]

A 3 hour cut! Wow ... but yes, amazing soundtrack 😆

[@brucesorensen]

I was 20 when this came out , though not in Northern California. I'm a southern California guy. Pretty accurate generally speaking.

[@latenightswithsammy]

That's awesome! Definitely a one-of-a-kind film :)

[@kentclark6420]

I need to watch the whole movie again. I'm pretty sure that Cindy Williams said the same thing Ron Howard said, about being able to see other people and date, when they're apart. In the same scene. She was eating French fries both times.

[@samson9535]

My favorite movie!

[@latenightswithsammy]

Great picture .. When was the first time you saw it? 😀

[@markleshane9314]

The DJ is the WOLFMAN JACK protecting Kayfabe.

[@James_Loveless]

Epic movies Papillon 1973 Memphis Belle 1990 Seabiscuit 2003 World's Fastest Indian 2005 Ford vs Ferrari 2019 By the way All of the above movies are Based on a True Story films ~have a Happy New Year Sammy

[@latenightswithsammy]

No way! That's an awesome list, thank you James! And Happy New Year to you too 😊

[@danlitland8144]

That's the real wolfman Jack

[@latenightswithsammy]

I was shocked to see that after the film, how cool of him to be in this picture 😀

[@wandamyres9583]

Cruising was a culture thing in 1962 George Lucas has an interview when he explains how he wrote the screen play. The interview is onutube. Thanks for your take on the movie

[@flittedacrossmybrain8584]

One of the "retention" features of the film is that it adheres to the Aristotelian unity of time; i.e., the action occurs in the course of a single day (or night); or, more generally, in a limited amount of time. The impact of a Greek tragedy was due, in part, to the intense compression of dramatic action into a single (horrorific) day. Such days do not happen often in real life; nor do they happen rarely; nor do they happen very rarely...but they DO happen, and everybody knows this to be true at the gut level. Try listing all the titles of plays and films that make use of this device--it's surprising.

[@thunderstruck5484]

Great movie saw several times in the theater, thanks

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ahh .. wouldn't this be the ultimate Drive-In theatre film 😆

[@bigbow62]

(Movie time frame) Read the movie poster.... " Where we're you in 62' Street racing is still big, in every town & city in states this exact thing is going on... girls, cars & rock-n-roll ✌️🙂

[@Peter-pj4zj]

1962 actually. The movie poster said. "Where were you in 62 . Also they mentioned that Kurt wants to shake hands with president Kennedy .

[@latenightswithsammy]

Right on, thanks for this Peter 😊

[@mikemilne]

You missed the moment when the woman in the T-Bird was introduced

[@davidwalsh7128]

Sammy Baby, hit Eddie & The Cruisers next. Keep up the good vibes...

[@latenightswithsammy]

Hey! Thanks for tuning in, and shouting out a recommendation David 😆

[@markb742]

American Graffiti was set in 1962. I was just entering first grade at that time, but I remember those cars. In reality, most of them weren't nearly as spotless and polished up. Gasoline was much cheaper, the cars ran on leaded gas, and didn't have near as much pollution control or a push to increase fuel efficiency, so cruising was the thing. Everything smelled like nicotine because everybody was lighting up. In 1962, people still had faith in the government, and trusted the government as far as getting into the Vietnam War. Years later, we learned that the government had no idea what was going on in Vietnam, but tried to win anyway by inflicting enough casualties that the Viet Cong would give up. That didn't work, and the American people lost a lot of faith in the government.

[@rs-ye7kw]

First of all, the movie takes place in the EARLY 60's. Second, it was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including best picture. Third, George Lucas was nominated for 2 of the awards; best director and best writing, story and screenplay. Kind of contradicts your condescending view of him as being a beginner just learning his trade when this was made, doesn't it?

[@latenightswithsammy]

It wasn't my intention to be condescending about this being one of earlier films, but if it came across that way, I apologize. And thank you for sharing / correcting me on the year + accolades, appreciate it 😊

[@danlitland8144]

You can tell it to 50s by the clothes and a cars in the 60s the cars were turn into hot rods

[@latenightswithsammy]

True!

[@TTM9691]

Great reaction! He filmed this movie very quickly; the entire dance sequence, including all the stuff in the bathrooms and the hallways: he shot it all in one night! It's not about the 60s, it's about the 50s! This is the end of 1950s culture; a year later, Kennedy would be assasainated, two months later The Beatles "invaded" America.....and the 60s really began. The 60s were like ten decades in one. Which is why the sequel, "More American Graffiti" assigns each character a year in the 60s, and the visual style is completely different for each one. You saw "Dazed And Confused"! So that takes place in 1976! Look how much changed between 1962 and 1976! The elephant in the room: the 60s. That's why the END of "American Graffiti" is what the movie is REALLY about, the "epilogue" where it shows that Terry The Toad ended up going missing-in-action in Vietnam, and what became of the other three characters. It IS a love letter, but not to the late 60s, or even the early 60s, but the 1950s. The innocence that came BEFORE the 60s. This movie is also the first really good teenage coming of age movie, at least since James Dean. This movie would lead to many imitators, including a raunchy classic, "National Lampoon's Animal House"....and THAT movie would influence all of the never-ending stream of teen (and college) raunch comedies that go on to this day. PS: HAPPY NEW YEAR, SAMMY!!!!!! GREAT REACTION! PSS: And how about that soundtrack?!! And the sound design? The sound design in Walter Murch! Totally groundbreaking! One of the very first movies with wall-to-wall popular music soundtrack (instead of a score), and also one of the first soundtrack albums of it's kind to become a hit in its own right.

[@BlueShadow777]

You make a lot of good point and, yes, it’s DEFINITELY more late ‘50s than late ‘60s. However, through the dialogue we can precisely place the film being set in/around 1961/‘62… after the death of Buddy Holly (1959) and soon after the rise of The Beach Boys (formed in 1961).

[@TTM9691]

@@BlueShadow777 I didn't say the movie didn't take place in 1962, it does. But CULTURALLY 1962 was closer the 50s than it was the 60s. The movie is not about 60s culture, it's about the end of the 50s'. The elephant in the room is the 60s culture that's ABOUT to explode.

[@latenightswithsammy]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It just felt so right to watch this film ... ironically, I had no idea that it all took place in one night, or the context of the big 'transition.' Sadly, I think I did get my years wrong 😅 But other than that, I think you just about summed it up perfectly as a confirmation to a conversation I had with someone right after the viewing " It IS a love letter, but not to the late 60s, or even the early 60s, but the 1950s. The *innocence* that came BEFORE the 60s." I've never seen a fill so full of sound before! Don't remember when the film was ever silent ... like even when Toad realizes the car is gone, he does so my not hearing the radio 😂 It truly is magical

[@danlitland8144]

I was born in 1958

[@joeyartk]

This movie is set in the early 60s

[@peterbooth793]

It's not the Phoroes, it's the Fay rows.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ah! Thanks for that! 👍

[@taztaztaz]

the sequel More American Graffiti def worth a watch

[@latenightswithsammy]

Sweet! Thanks for writing in 😀

[@StinkFingerr]

I'm going to advise against it. Part 2 makes a mockery of the characters and themes of the Classy original.

[@peterbooth793]

Magic carpet airlines. Is this some sort of message 🤔?

[@latenightswithsammy]

Interesting Peter! I never caught that 😅 Strange, I'm curious now!

[@yournamehere6002]

*early 60's

[@shanenelson3825]

THX1138 is another Lukas films, his very first film. Strange one

[@latenightswithsammy]

Strange and fun 😆

[@TTM9691]

PS: What you said about it almost feels like a documentary; I always say it's as if he went back in time and sliced a night out of history and dropped it on the screen in front of you. (Dazed And Confused is similar). I wasn't around for 1962, but I was for 1976 and I can promise you "Dazed And Confused" nailed it to a tee. "American Graffiti" definitely is that way for me as well. It kicked off a whole nostalgia "industry" that has been going on ever since. They were marketing 80s nostalgia IN 1990! Meanwhile, the whole reason for the nostalgia was that so much had changed, so fast in the intervening years. It's hard to be nostalgic about the 90s or even the 80s when they weren't that much different from today. Anyways, I could talk about this movie FOREVER. The look of it, the sound design, the script, the actors.......but I'll just say one more time: THANKS!

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you! You always have a fun paragraphs to read, a real treat! Interesting you bring up the challenge of making the 90s/80s nostalgic ... and I do agree, not much has changed compared to the seismic changes between 50s/60s/70s. As you said in the other comment "The 60s were like ten decades in one"

[@bigbow62]

Watch American Graffiti 2 and see what really goes down ✌️🙂 Thank you for the video !

[@StinkFingerr]

Ugh!

[@danielemlet7885]

This was 1962

[@JohnWesleyDowney]

You talked right through the most important shot of the film and weren't even looking at the screen. (sighs)

[@latenightswithsammy]

I appreciate your honesty. That's something I'm trying to improve at each episode, finding pockets of the film to speak. Hope to get better each time 😌

[@CodyTalton]

why is it nobody watching this movie on youtube can grasp the concept of cruising???? It's not that hard to grasp, and it's not ancient history......people really are so totally out of touch with pop culture history

[@latenightswithsammy]

It's not particularly difficult to understand, rather, it's more about appreciating and being amazed by how the film captures a generation that heavily relied on a mode of transportation for social interactions (utility) rather than simply moving from one place to another.

[@aranerem5569]

Hello Sammy

[@latenightswithsammy]

Hi Aran! Happy New Year 😆

[@janedoe5229]

And why do you have the Zodiac's insignia on the dresser in your background?

[@latenightswithsammy]

It's one of the Japanese promo posters I've kept for ages, and just thought to frame it up to make the background interesting 😅

[@TTM9691]

HOLY MOLY!!!! This is one of my all-time favorite movies!!!!! What a New Year's Eve gift! BRILLIANT choice! F**k Star Wars, THIS is the best thing George Lucas ever did!!!!! THANK YOU, SAMMY!!! What a brilliant end to the year!!! By the way, a great movie to check out after this (at some point): "Dazed And Confused" (1994). It's like a little brother to this movie :it takes place the night of the last day of school, 1976. And the culture has changed so much in just a little over ten years, the elephant in the room is that intervening period (the 60s, basically). GREAT movie! Ok, let me get settled in and I'm going to watch this reaction right now!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR, INDEED, SAMMY!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@latenightswithsammy]

😆 - Happy New Year! So glad we're able to watch it together! And yes, I will keep an eye on, "Dazed And Confused!"

[@raymeedc]

This movie takes place way before the Mustang came out.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Gotcha, had a mixup of years 😅

[@StinkFingerr]

"Where were You, in'62"?