What is the yellow car in American Graffiti?
What year is the yellow coupe in American Graffiti?
- 1958 Chevy Impala driven by Ron Howard in American Graffiti, 1973.
- 1956 ♦ Ford Thunderbird as seen in american graffiti.
- 1958 Chevrolet Impala from American Graffiti.
- 1956 Ford T-Bird driven by "mystery girl" Suzanne Sommers in American Graffiti…
- 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Sport Coupe from "American Graffiti"
What car did Curt drive in American Graffiti?
What car did Curt Drive in American Graffiti? Curt's adventure (including a memorable prank involving a police car, the Ford Galaxie that was the law enforcement vehicle of choice throughout the '50s and '60s) finally leads him back to Mel's Drive-In, and his beat-up old Citroën 2CV. Full answer is here.
Is Harrison Ford in American Graffiti?
The ’55 Chevy was driven in American Graffiti by Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford) and featured in the final dawn drag race with the yellow Deuce Coupe. The film’s transportation manager Henry Travers sold the cars cheaply after production wrapped and both the black ’55 Chevy and yellow ’32 Deuce Coupe were bought by Steve Fitch of Kansas City.
Who are the actors in American Graffiti?
- Richard Dreyfuss as Curt Henderson
- Ron Howard as Steve Bolander
- Paul Le Mat as John Milner
- Charles Martin Smith as Terry "The Toad" Fields
- Cindy Williams as Laurie Henderson
- Candy Clark as Debbie Dunham
- Mackenzie Phillips as Carol Morrison
- Wolfman Jack as Disc Jockey
- Bo Hopkins as Joe "Little Joe" Young
- Manuel Padilla, Jr. as Carlos
Was American Graffiti a real story?
“I started out as Terry the Toad, but then I went on to be John Milner, the local drag race champion, and then I became Curt Henderson, the intellectual who goes off to college, They were all composite characters, based on my life, and on the lives of friends of mine.
Is American Graffiti based on George Lucas?
While Lucas was working on his first film, THX 1138, Coppola asked him to write a coming-of-age film. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas' teenage years....American GraffitiWritten byGeorge Lucas Gloria Katz Willard HuyckProduced byFrancis Ford Coppola13 more rows
What happened to John Milner in American Graffiti?
In More American Graffiti, John Milner was revealed to have been killed by a drunk driver in December 1964 (reminiscent of the death of James Dean in 1955, though the accident involving Dean did not involve a drunk driver), with the ending scene of the movie driving his trademark yellow Deuce at night along a lonely ...
What happened to the characters at the end of American Graffiti?
The title card states that John was killed by a drunk driver in 1964, Terry was declared missing in action near An Lộc in 1965, Steve works as an insurance agent in Modesto, and Curt is a writer living in Canada. Writers Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck did not agree with the inclusion of this epilogue.
Who owns the 32 Ford from American Graffiti?
The film's transportation manager Henry Travers sold the cars cheaply after production wrapped and both the black '55 Chevy and yellow '32 Deuce Coupe were bought by Steve Fitch of Kansas City.
How old was Harrison Ford in American Graffiti?
30Charles Martin Smith (18) and Ron Howard (18) were the only two real teenage principal actors of the film. Most of the remaining principal cast members were in their 20s with the exceptions of the 12-year-old Mackenzie Phillips, and Harrison Ford, who turned 30 during filming.
Is Paul Le Mat married?
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Paul Le Mat (born September 22, 1945) is an American actor....Paul Le MatOccupationActorYears active1972–presentSpouse(s)Suzanne de Passe (m. 1978-1994)Children32 more rows
Who was the girl in the Thunderbird in American Graffiti?
Suzanne SomersSuzanne Somers: Blonde in T-Bird.
How old was Paul Le Mat in American Graffiti?
76 years (September 22, 1945)Paul Le Mat / Age
What is the message of American Graffiti?
In Lucas's own words, the message of the film is that "you can't live in the past… everything is changing and you have to accept change". Nevertheless, the film gives one the chance to experience the past before radical changes would lead to the widespread segmentation of American society.
Where is Mel's Diner from American Graffiti?
San FranciscoIn 1972, the restaurant was selected as a feature location by George Lucas for his 1973 film, American Graffiti. The Mels was located at 140 South Van Ness in San Francisco.
Was there an American Graffiti 2?
More American Graffiti is a 1979 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Bill L. Norton. It is the sequel to the 1973 film American Graffiti.
Where was American Graffiti set?
The movie featured numerous big-name actors like Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams and Bo Hopkins. Set in Modesto, California, the story follows the rock n' roll scene that was reminiscent of Lucas' friend group in real life. The production of American Graffiti was a mirror of Lucas' teenage years.
When was Graffiti made?
Produced in the 70s, the American Graffiti film had a collection of classic cars and most of them are slowly deteriorating over decades of inactivity.
What cars were used in American Graffiti?
The production of American Graffiti was a mirror of Lucas' teenage years. In the film, various cars were used like the police car, a 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe hot rod, 1955 Chevrolet, and other infamous vehicles that are recognizable today. Find out some little known facts and truths behind these cars, just like Harrison Ford's 1955 Chevy 210.
What year was American Graffiti?
Not to be confused with graffiti in the United States. American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, ...
Where did American Graffiti take place?
The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas' teenage years. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but found favor at Universal Pictures after every other major film studio turned him down.
How much did American Graffiti make in the 1990s?
By the 1990s, American Graffiti had earned more than $200 million (equivalent to $396 million in 2020) in box-office gross and home video sales.
How much money did American Graffiti make?
Produced on a $777,000 budget, it has become one of the most profitable films ever. Since its initial release, American Graffiti has earned an estimated return well over $200 million in box-office gross and home video sales, not including merchandising.
What was the movie called after Lucas abandoned it?
United Artists. After Warner Bros. abandoned Lucas's early version of Apocalypse Now (during the post-production of THX 1138 ), the filmmaker decided to continue developing Another Quiet Night in Modesto, eventually changing its title to American Graffiti.
How long was the first cut of American Graffiti?
The first cut of American Graffiti was three and a half hours long, and to whittle the film down to a more manageable two hours, many scenes had to be cut, shortened, or combined. As a result, the film's structure became increasingly loose and no longer adhered to Lucas's original "ABCD" presentation.
How many songs are in the soundtrack of American Graffiti?
A soundtrack album for the film, 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti, was issued by MCA Records. The album contains all the songs used in the film (with the exception of "Gee" by the Crows, which was subsequently included on a second soundtrack album), presented in the order in which they appeared in the film.
What was the American Graffiti movie about?
American Graffiti. Before he made Star Wars, then ruined Star Wars, then saved Star Wars by selling it to Disney, George Lucas made another iconic film that has served as a cultural touchstone. American Graffiti, released 45 years ago today, was a nostalgic, semi-autobiographical look at the American teenager circa 1962, ...
How much did American Graffiti make?
The film was a massive hit, earning $55 million in 1973 and another $63 million when it was re-released in 1978—a total of some $500 million at today's ticket prices.
How much did the Universal Pictures budget for the Godfather?
When Coppola came onboard as a producer shortly after the release of The Godfather, Universal gave Lucas another $175,000.
Why did Universal offer a flat rate for Elvis?
The reason, of course, is money. To mitigate the cost of licensing so many songs, Universal offered a flat rate to all of the labels involved. Everyone went along with it except for RCA, which meant no Elvis. The kids in American Graffiti are therefore probably the only teenagers in America who could listen to the radio all night in 1962 and never hear an Elvis song.
Where was the radio DJ in American Graffiti?
The radio DJ with the distinctive voice was part of Lucas' teenage years in Modesto, California, and Lucas even considered making a documentary about him when he was a student at USC's film school. When American Graffiti made him a millionaire, Lucas paid the Wolfman a little extra for serving as the film's "inspiration."
Where was the movie Modesto filmed?
Lucas and company planned to shoot the film in San Rafael, California, as the real setting—Modesto—had changed too much since 1962. But after just one day in San Rafael, the city council gave them the boot. Not only had a member of the crew been arrested for growing marijuana, but the first night of filming and its accompanying street closures had drawn complaints from local businesses. The production moved 20 miles north to Petaluma, where things ran a bit more smoothly (at least in terms of interactions with the locals).
Did Universal change American Graffiti?
Universal executives didn't know what American Graffiti meant as a title (the y weren't alone), and begged Lucas to change it. They furnished a list of 60 alternates, including Rock Around the Block (Coppola's suggestion) and Another Slow Night in Modesto (which was close to Lucas' original working title, Another Quiet Night in Modesto ). Lucas wouldn't budge.
Who Directed American Graffiti?
George Lucas. His previous film, the futuristic sci-fi drama called THX-1138 was a total disappointment both critically and commercially. The young director’s wife, Marcia—as well as his friend Francis Ford Coppola— advised him to film something a bit more relatable.
It Could Have Been a TV Movie
George Lucas was handed a budget of $600,000 by Universal Pictures to make the film—in other words, not a lot. Thankfully, after Francis Ford Coppola joined as a producer, shortly after the release of The Godfather, the studio gave them another $175,000.
Universal Studios Wanted a Different Title
Executives from Universal Studios didn’t know what the title American Graffiti actually meant (and they weren’t the only ones). They begged George Lucas to change it. They whipped out a list of at least 60 alternates, including titles like Rock Around the Block (Coppola suggested that) and Another Slow Night in Modesto.
The Story of Wolfman Jack
The American DJ with the unique voice played a huge part in Lucas’ teenage years in Modesto, California. George was so inspired by him that when he was a student at USC’s film school, he considered filming a documentary about him.
Where Was American Graffiti Filmed?
As it turns out, the production was booted out of town after just one day of shooting. Lucas planned to shoot the movie in San Rafael, California, but after one day there, the city council kicked them out. And they had good reason to do so.
Elvis Presley Is Absent From the Soundtrack
The reason Elvis Presley was absent from the playlist was, of course, money related. To lower the cost of licensing a huge number of songs, Universal Studios offered one flat rate to all the record labels involved.
Harrison Ford Refused to Cut His Hair
Before agreeing to star in the movie, Harrison Ford posed one ultimatum – there would be no messing around with his hair. At the time of his audition, he was actually working as a carpenter to support his family. In fact, he was pretty disenchanted with showbiz and wasn’t sure he wanted to do the film in the first place.
Overview
American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (billed as Ronny Howard), Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, and Wolfman Jack. Suzanne Somers
Plot
On their last evening of summer vacation in 1962, high school graduates and friends Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander meet two other friends, John Milner, the drag-racing king, and Terry "The Toad" Fields, in the parking lot of Mel's Drive-In in Modesto, California. Curt and Steve are to travel "Back East" the following morning to start college. Curt has second thoughts about leaving Modesto. Steve gives Terry his car to care for until he returns. Laurie, Steve's girlfriend a…
Cast
• Richard Dreyfuss as Curt Henderson
• Ron Howard as Steve Bolander
• Paul Le Mat as John Milner
• Charles Martin Smith as Terry "The Toad" Fields
Development
During the production of THX 1138 (1971), producer Francis Ford Coppola challenged co-writer/director George Lucas to write a script that would appeal to mainstream audiences. Lucas embraced the idea, using his early 1960s teenage experiences cruising in Modesto, California. "Cruising was gone, and I felt compelled to document the whole experience and what my generation used as a way of meeting girls," Lucas explained. As he developed the story in his mi…
Production
The film's lengthy casting process was overseen by Fred Roos, who worked with producer Francis Ford Coppola on The Godfather. Because American Graffiti's main cast was for younger actors, the casting call and notices went through numerous high-school drama groups and community theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area. Among the actors was Mark Hamill, the future Luke Skywalker in Lucas' Star Wars trilogy.
Soundtrack
The choice of music was crucial to the mood of each scene; it is diegetic music that the characters themselves can hear and therefore becomes an integral part of the action. George Lucas had to be realistic about the complexities of copyright clearances, though, and suggested a number of alternative tracks. Universal wanted Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz to hire an orchestra for sound-alikes. The studio eventually proposed a flat deal that offered every music publisher the same a…
Release
Despite unanimous praise at a January 1973 test screening attended by Universal executive Ned Tanen, the studio told Lucas they wanted to re-edit his original cut of American Graffiti. Producer Coppola sided with Lucas against Tanen and Universal, offering to "buy the film" from the studio and reimburse it for the $775,000 (equivalent to $5 million in 2021) it had cost to make it. 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures made similar offers to the studio. Universal refused these …
Reception
American Graffiti received widespread critical acclaim. Based on 53 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of the critics enjoyed the film with an average score of 8.5/10. The consensus reads: "One of the most influential of all teen films, American Graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads' last days of innocence." Metacritic calculated a score of 97 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim”. Roger Ebert gave the film a ful…