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American Graffiti
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American Graffiti (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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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) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   29,024 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
George Lucas (written by) and
Gloria Katz (written by) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for American Graffiti on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 August 1973 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
...is back! [1978 Re-release] more
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:
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations more
User Reviews:
Seems almost an accidental classic more (194 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Richard Dreyfuss ... Curt Henderson

Ron Howard ... Steve Bolander (as Ronny Howard)

Paul Le Mat ... John Milner

Charles Martin Smith ... Terry 'The Toad' Fields (as Charlie Martin Smith)
Cindy Williams ... Laurie Henderson
Candy Clark ... Debbie Dunham
Mackenzie Phillips ... Carol
Wolfman Jack ... XERB Disc Jockey
Bo Hopkins ... Joe Young
Manuel Padilla Jr. ... Carlos
Beau Gentry ... Ants

Harrison Ford ... Bob Falfa
Jim Bohan ... Officer Holstein
Jana Bellan ... Budda
Deby Celiz ... Wendy
Lynne Marie Stewart ... Bobbie Tucker

Terence McGovern ... Mr. Bill Wolfe (as Terry McGovern)

Kathleen Quinlan ... Peg (as Kathy Quinlan)
Tim Crowley ... Eddie
Scott Beach ... Mr. Gordon
John Brent ... Car Salesman
Gordon Analla ... Bozo
John Bracci ... Station Attendant
Jody Carlson ... Girl in Studebaker
Del Close ... Guy at Bar
Chuck Dorsett ... Man at Accident (as Charles Dorsett)
Stephen Knox ... Kid at Accident
Joe Miksak ... Man at Liquor Store
George Meyer ... Bum at Liquor Store
James Cranna ... Liquor Store Thief
Johnny Weissmuller Jr. ... Badass #1
William Niven ... Clerk at Liquor Store
Al Nalbandian ... Hank Anderson
Bob Pasaak ... Dale
Chris Pray ... Al
Susan Richardson ... Judy
Fred Ross ... Ferber
Jan Dunn ... Old Woman
Charlie Murphy ... Old Man
Ed Greenberg ... Kip Pullman
Lisa Herman ... Girl in Dodge
Mark Anger ... Mr. Kroot (as Irving Israel)
Kay Lenz ... Jane, Girl at Dance (as Kay Ann Kemper)
Caprice Schmidt ... Announcer at Dance

Joe Spano ... Vic
Debralee Scott ... Bob Falfa's Girl
Ron Vincent ... Jeff
Donna Wehr ... Carhop
Cam Whitman ... Balloon Girl
Jan Wilson ... Girl at Dance

Suzanne Somers ... Blonde in T-Bird
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Warren Knight ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Sam McFadin ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Kris Moe ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Linn Phillips III ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
George Robinson ... Herby & The Heartbeats (as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids)
Linda Christensen ... Girl (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
George Lucas 
 
Writing credits
George Lucas (written by) and
Gloria Katz (written by) &
Willard Huyck (written by)

Produced by
Francis Ford Coppola .... producer
Gary Kurtz .... co-producer
 
Cinematography by
Jan D'Alquen 
Ron Eveslage 
 
Film Editing by
Verna Fields 
Marcia Lucas 
George Lucas (uncredited)
 
Casting by
Mike Fenton 
Fred Roos 
 
Art Direction by
Dennis Lynton Clark  (as Dennis Clark)
 
Set Decoration by
Douglas Freeman 
 
Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers 
 
Makeup Department
Bette Iverson .... key hair stylist
Gerry Leetch .... key hair stylist
 
Production Management
James Hogan .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ned Kopp .... first assistant director
Charles Myers .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Doug von Koss .... property master (as Douglas von Koss)
 
Sound Department
Walter Murch .... sound montage
Walter Murch .... sound re-recordist
James Nelson .... sound editor
Art Rochester .... production sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester)
 
Stunts
Bob Herron .... stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni .... stunt driver (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
William Maley .... gaffer
Ken Phelps .... key grip
John Bonfield .... electrician (uncredited)
Tony Coangelo .... grip (uncredited)
Paul Ryan .... still photographer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Kim Fowley .... music producer
Kim Fowley .... music recordist
Karin Green .... music coordinator
 
Transportation Department
Henry Travers .... transportation supervisor
 
Other crew
Toni Basil .... choreographer
Jim Bloom .... production associate
Christina Crowley .... script supervisor
Nancy Giebink .... production associate
Gino Havens .... dialogue coach
Al Locatelli .... design consultant
Beverly Walker .... assistant to producer
Haskell Wexler .... visual consultant
Dan Hess II .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
110 min | 112 min (re-release) (1978)
Country:
Language:
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:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One of the main reasons why so many studios initially turned down the script was because George Lucas wanted at least 40 songs on the soundtrack, which would obviously lead to a large bill over the rights to these songs. Universal finally agreed to fund the picture when Lucas' friend Francis Ford Coppola (fresh from the success of The Godfather (1972) the year before) came on board as producer. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Falfa's car rolls over, the trunk lid is open. When it blows up it is closed. 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:
Referenced in Saving 'Star Wars' (2004) more
Soundtrack:
See You in September more

FAQ

What does Curt yell as they drive past the police car?
more
71 out of 83 people found the following review useful.
Seems almost an accidental classic, 7 October 2001
10/10
Author: moonspinner55 from redlands, ca

I don't know if George Lucas really knew what he had in this picture--surely the script seemed funny enough, and the thought of the cars and the period music was enticing--but did he really know these "unknown" actors who bring these characters to life? It seems almost a fluke, shot in 29 days and on a tight budget, but "American Graffiti" is a four-star classic. It is perhaps pure nostalgia, mixing pathos and humor, sadness and craziness, hope and reflection, in quiet little bursts of excitement. After cruising with Milner all night, teenage Carol hates to say goodbye but does, waving from her porch with the light on; Toad survives one bad accident after another, but his real moment is in hearing praise from his date (fantastic, husky-voiced Candy Clark, dolled up like a speeding Sandra Dee) just before she says good night; after chasing his dream date all night, Kurt (Richard Dreyfuss, green and anxious, and appealingly bemused) finally gets to talk to the stunning blonde wonder on the telephone, where she whispers a wrenching goodbye. The whole movie is steeped in reflection. It has great, great humor, yet it leaves one with a bittersweet melancholia. For yesterday is in the past, with our music, our memories, and our hesitant farewells.

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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
What's the deal with that teacher chaperoning? Brunswick84
Deleted scenes mdilley1
Song help! Furiosity06
The Strat at the ball kevinlekiller
If you could add any song to the movie what would it be Walastrac7
Cruising cataclysm1071
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