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American Graffiti
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American Graffiti (1973) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 57 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
American Graffiti (1973) -- A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
American Graffiti (1973) -- A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   27,689 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
George Lucas
Writers:
George Lucas (written by) and
Gloria Katz (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for American Graffiti on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 August 1973 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Where were you in '62?
Plot:
A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations more
User Comments:
A true American classic more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
110 min | 112 min (re-release) (1978)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (original relase) | Dolby (re-release) (1975)
Certification:
Argentina:Atp | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | South Korea:15 | USA:PG (certificate #23582) | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Denmark:15 (video rating) | Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Norway:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
California, USA more
Company:
Lucasfilm more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The three scenes that were added to the 1978 re-release were cut from the original release as a result of the compromise with Universal Studios. George Lucas put them back in after Star Wars (1977) was released. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In some scenes, John Milner's yellow coupe has a windshield wiper on the driver's side; in other scenes it doesn't have it. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Terry Fields: Hey, what do you say, Curt? Last night in town - you guys gonna have a little bash before you leave?
Steve Bolander: The Moose have been looking for you all day.
[hands check to Curt]
Steve Bolander: They got worried - thought you were trying to avoid them or something.
Terry Fields: What is it? What do ya got?
Curt Henderson: Oh, great.
Terry Fields: That's $2000 man! $2000!
Steve Bolander: Mr. Jennings gave it to me to give to you. He says he's sorry it's so late, but it's the first scholarship the Moose Lodge has given out. And he, uh, says they're all very proud of you back at the lodge.
Curt Henderson: Cute. Why don't you hold it for me for awhile?
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#25.4)" (2001) more
Soundtrack:
Some Enchanted Evening more

FAQ

What does Curt yell as they drive past the police car?
more
21 out of 29 people found the following comment useful:-
A true American classic, 22 May 2005
8/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

As many people know, George Lucas is most famous for the fact that he wrote a certain series of fantasy films. Most of those films certainly were a great achievement, but one thing that many Star Wars fans overlook is the other entries in Lucas' list of directorial credits; one of which is this film, American Graffiti. The movie tells the story of the last night in town for a bunch of school kids about to leave to go to college. Now, this might not seem like a great base for a classic movie to work from; and it isn't, it's the handling that makes it great. In spite of his latest batch of movies, Lucas has shown with this movie that he has the talent to create an innovative and groundbreaking movie in spite of the plot. It's this fact that made Star Wars work so well, and it's nice to see the same effort transplanted into an earlier film that doesn't have the special effects and grandiose that Star Wars had. The energy and vitality that Lucas gives his multiple stories makes for a great ride, and American Graffiti is a lot of fun throughout.

The film is most notable for the way that it captures the American youth of the sixties. It benefits from a great soundtrack that adequately helps to achieve this, and includes the likes of Buddy Holly and The Beach Boys. The film takes place in one night, and makes use of a number of different characters and story lines; all of which are interesting and unique. A lot of which are also really funny, and this is where my favourite part of American Graffiti comes in. The film works because it's such a good time, and the way that Lucas shows us that ensures that we have just as good a time as the characters on screen are having. The events that befall the characters in the movie will no doubt touch a nerve with anyone that has gone through childhood - things such as splitting up with your girlfriend, to being forced into doing things that could get you into trouble...all the way to asking an adult to go into a store to buy alcohol for you are shown with great care, and show that Lucas obviously knew what he was doing when he took on this movie. On the whole...it's very good stuff indeed.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for American Graffiti (1973)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
John and Carol- Wouldn't Happen Today bryanac625
Budda bryanac625
Did anyone want John and Carol to hook up? PoliticChik87
Lucas' Feelings Toward This Movie the_sculptor_1
Need help finding a movie... AG similarities Fused0ne
Anyone else think Curt's character was a little effeminate? folsomguy2007
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