American Graffiti (1973) on Netflix
In Modesto, California, on the last night of summer 1962, Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander prepare to leave for college. Curt wants to find a blonde he saw in a white Thunderbird.
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Trailer
Plot summary
Summer vacation ends in 1962 in Modesto, California, and Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander, who have just left high school, gather with John Milner and Terry "Toad" Fields at Mel's Drive-In. Curt and Steve are due to fly east in the morning to start college. Curt, who has won a local scholarship, has doubts about going, while Steve is eager to leave. Steve tells his girlfriend Laurie, who is Curt's sister, that they ought to date others while he is gone, which hurts her. Curt notices the blonde woman at the wheel of a white Ford Thunderbird. She mouths a silent message of love at him, and he sets out to find her. Terry borrows Steve's car to impress Debbie Dunham, and John, the king of the local street races, faces a challenge from Bob Falfa.
Cast
- Beau Gentryas Ants
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about American Graffiti (1973)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Elvis Presley is conspicuously absent from the American Graffiti soundtrack: RCA rejected Universal's flat deal offering every publisher the same money, and clearing the music rights cost about $90,000, leaving nothing for a traditional film score.
- Mackenzie Phillips was 12 when she played Carol, and under California law producer Gary Kurtz had to become her legal guardian for the duration of filming American Graffiti.
- After a January 1973 test screening drew unanimous praise, Universal wanted to re-edit George Lucas's original cut; Francis Ford Coppola offered to buy the film from the studio and reimburse its $775,000 cost, and 20th Century Fox and Paramount made similar offers, which Universal refused.
- American Graffiti's end credits listed only song titles, artists and record labels, omitting composers, lyricists, publishers and copyright years; several songwriters sued MCA, which settled by paying damages to them and their publishers.
- San Rafael's City Council withdrew permission to film American Graffiti beyond a second day, worried about disruption to local businesses and after a production member was arrested for growing marijuana; the shoot moved to Petaluma, about 20 miles north, without losing a day.
- Harrison Ford took the role of Bob Falfa on condition he would not cut his hair, in case he landed other roles set in the 1970s; since the character had a flattop, a compromise had Ford wear a Stetson to cover it.
- American Graffiti made George Lucas an instant millionaire and his net worth grew to $4 million; he shared profits with cinematographer Haskell Wexler and disc jockey Wolfman Jack, and set aside $300,000 for the space opera project that became Star Wars.
- George Lucas fired writer Richard Walter over their creative differences, calling Walter's draft of the screenplay overtly sexual and fantasy-like, with Steve and Laurie going to Nevada to marry without their parents' permission.
