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American Graffiti
1973
A series of touching and effective vignettes, AMERICAN GRAFFITI presents a powerful collage of youth on the brink of maturity during the innocence of pre-Kennedy-assassination America. The film, set in 1962, follows one night in the lives of several recently graduated high school students. The genial Steve (Ron Howard) prepares .. Read more
| Starring | Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams |
|---|---|
| Director | George Lucas |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Critics' reviews (4)
View all -
How do you follow a modern masterpiece like American Graffiti? Not with this plodding, inferior sequel, which catches up with the Class of 1962 as they live through the Vietnam-dominated, hippy 1960s. The only saving grace is yet another brilliant soundtrack, featuring golden oldies from the Supremes, Mary Wells, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and Cream. Wolfman Jack and Country Joe and the Fish also make appearances in this dismal failure, aimlessly directed by Bill L Norton.
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The film that launched a thousand careers. Star Wars inventor Lucas got together a bunch of young actors who later went... read more on Time Out
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Tedious sequel to a movie which was more than enough.
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Friendship, Music, Cars and Much Much More
This superb early film from Lucas has a raw quality to it that his later big budget films would lose. The performances from a young ensemble cast capture that difficult period as teenagers move forward into adult hood. The future looms large and uncertain for this group of friends as each have to make their own difficult choices about their lives. The backdrop is small town America set in 1962. A fantastic 60s sound track accompanies the movie and whilst it 's a nostaglgic look back to America of the JFK era it's done to perfection. The then largely unknown cast put in stunning performances and many would go on to have glittering carreers. The cars, I forgot the cars, you can't, they are as much an integral part of this film and form the backdrop for much of the action and are the glue that bind this movie and the story of these teenage lives together. There are many comic moments that find their way into the film but this movie is not an out and out comedy. The final credits of the film stop the viewer in their tracks and should not be missed, by this time you have become so involved with the characters that you will find this ending piece truly chilling, don't miss it. Now regarded by many as a cult film, it's easy to see why.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Film with soul, cars, broads and booze...
This is a beautiful film ; it’s like a collage of teenage experiences, wish fulfilment and urban legend all set over one summer evening. It’s shot with lots of wide angles and panning shots to give a documentary feel to it and the colours the clothes and cars all look fantastic.
It’s hard to believe that this touching funny and very human film comes from the hands of George Lucas who hasn’t seemed to have been able to coax any decent performances from the apparently tiresome actors that get in the way of his special effects shots in the woeful Star Wars sequels / prequels.
There’s not a weak performance in it ; the very young Richard Dreyfus as Curt and Charles Martin Smith as The Toad are particularly engaging and of course it is graced by the presence of the mighty Wolfman Jack.
So check it out if you haven’t seen it before and revisit it if you have. It makes me nostalgic for growing up in late 50’s early 60’s small town America, which is odd because I grew up in the 1970’s in Brentford… -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Hearwarming and a joy to experience
Have you ever seen a better coming of age film than this ? A feast of nostalgia that made me wish I had been there, and I mainly dislike American culture. Likeable characters and a heartstopping ending.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Film with soul, cars, broads and booze...
This is a beautiful film ; it’s like a collage of teenage experiences, wish fulfilment and urban legend all set over one summer evening. It’s shot with lots of wide angles and panning shots to give a documentary feel to it and the colours the clothes and cars all look fantastic.
It’s hard to believe that this touching funny and very human film comes from the hands of George Lucas who hasn’t seemed to have been able to coax any decent performances from the apparently tiresome actors that get in the way of his special effects shots in the woeful Star Wars sequels / prequels.
There’s not a weak performance in it ; the very young Richard Dreyfus as Curt and Charles Martin Smith as The Toad are particularly engaging and of course it is graced by the presence of the mighty Wolfman Jack.
So check it out if you haven’t seen it before and revisit it if you have. It makes me nostalgic for growing up in late 50’s early 60’s small town America, which is odd because I grew up in the 1970’s in Brentford… -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Great soundtrack
If you're a fan of rock n roll and surf music, then this films for you!
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Friendship, Music, Cars and Much Much More
This superb early film from Lucas has a raw quality to it that his later big budget films would lose. The performances from a young ensemble cast capture that difficult period as teenagers move forward into adult hood. The future looms large and uncertain for this group of friends as each have to make their own difficult choices about their lives. The backdrop is small town America set in 1962. A fantastic 60s sound track accompanies the movie and whilst it 's a nostaglgic look back to America of the JFK era it's done to perfection. The then largely unknown cast put in stunning performances and many would go on to have glittering carreers. The cars, I forgot the cars, you can't, they are as much an integral part of this film and form the backdrop for much of the action and are the glue that bind this movie and the story of these teenage lives together. There are many comic moments that find their way into the film but this movie is not an out and out comedy. The final credits of the film stop the viewer in their tracks and should not be missed, by this time you have become so involved with the characters that you will find this ending piece truly chilling, don't miss it. Now regarded by many as a cult film, it's easy to see why.
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
A Film with soul, cars, broads and booze...
This is a beautiful film ; it’s like a collage of teenage experiences, wish fulfilment and urban legend all set over one summer evening. It’s shot with lots of wide angles and panning shots to give a documentary feel to it and the colours the clothes and cars all look fantastic.
It’s hard to believe that this touching funny and very human film comes from the hands of George Lucas who hasn’t seemed to have been able to coax any decent performances from the apparently tiresome actors that get in the way of his special effects shots in the woeful Star Wars sequels / prequels.
There’s not a weak performance in it ; the very young Richard Dreyfus as Curt and Charles Martin Smith as The Toad are particularly engaging and of course it is graced by the presence of the mighty Wolfman Jack.
So check it out if you haven’t seen it before and revisit it if you have. It makes me nostalgic for growing up in late 50’s early 60’s small town America, which is odd because I grew up in the 1970’s in Brentford… -
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Hearwarming and a joy to experience
Have you ever seen a better coming of age film than this ? A feast of nostalgia that made me wish I had been there, and I mainly dislike American culture. Likeable characters and a heartstopping ending.
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
American Bollocks
I cannot spoil the plot because I don't think the film has one. If there is one,perhaps someone could explain it to me. I have seen more interesting graffiti written on the subway wall! Utter bollocks!
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Great soundtrack
If you're a fan of rock n roll and surf music, then this films for you!
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2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Spot the future star
You spend a lot of time spotting the future stars and there are a lot in this film!
Then you realise that apart from spotting future stars there is not a lot else in this film.
I understand that as a rights of passage movie this must be of interest to Americans but for those outside of America what is in it? I could not say that this movie had any relevance to my youth and I suspect that there are a lot of Americans who did not grow up driving cars at this age. -
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Long time ago long before Star Wars
Before George Lucas had dreams of a galaxy far far away he made this slice of American Cruising, based apon his own youth spend speeding round his home town in cars.
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George Lucas just practicing
A fairly uninteresting story about 4 American youths who have just graduated from school set over the course of one evening and to a rock and roll sound track.
Lots of cruising up and down the main strip with dialogue at times difficult to discern owing to the poor quality of the soundtrack. Don't know if this was due to my particular copy or not.
I would not particularly recommend this film. -
It is probably an age thing
Great film, good fun, great music - but you probably had to be alive then to get the most from these memories.
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Is it me.....?
Started really well, then just seemed monotonous, boys, cars and driving around .... turned it off after 30 mins .... soundtrack was first class though ..... may try it again in future ...
Critics' reviews (4)
-
How do you follow a modern masterpiece like American Graffiti? Not with this plodding, inferior sequel, which catches up with the Class of 1962 as they live through the Vietnam-dominated, hippy 1960s. The only saving grace is yet another brilliant soundtrack, featuring golden oldies from the Supremes, Mary Wells, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and Cream. Wolfman Jack and Country Joe and the Fish also make appearances in this dismal failure, aimlessly directed by Bill L Norton.
-
The film that launched a thousand careers. Star Wars inventor Lucas got together a bunch of young actors who later went... read more on Time Out
-
Tedious sequel to a movie which was more than enough.
-
"...Lucas beautifully establishes his characters..."
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A series of touching and effective vignettes, AMERICAN GRAFFITI presents a powerful collage of youth on the brink of maturity during the innocence of pre-Kennedy-assassination America. The film, set ... -
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