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American Graffiti [1973]
![American Graffiti [1973]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516HSCAHE3L._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £2.62 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Here's how American critic Roger Ebert described the unique and lasting value of George Lucas' 1973 box-office hit, American Graffiti: "[It's] not only a great movie but a brilliant work of historical fiction; no sociological treatise could duplicate the movie's success in remembering exactly how it was to be alive at that cultural instant." The time to which Ebert and the film refers is the summer of 1962, and American Graffiti captures the look, feel, and sound of that era by chronicling one memorable night in the lives of several young Californians on the cusp of adulthood. (In essence, Lucas was making a semi-autobiographical tribute to his own days as a hot-rod cruiser, and the film's phenomenal success paved the way for Star Wars.) The action is propelled by the music of DJ Wolfman Jack's rock & roll radio show--a soundtrack of pop hits that would become as popular as the film itself. As Lucas develops several character subplots, American Graffiti becomes a flawless time capsule of meticulously re-created memory, as authentic as a documentary and vividly realised through innovative use of cinematography and sound. The once-in-a-lifetime ensemble cast members inhabit their roles so fully that they don't seem like actors at all, comprising a who's who of performers--some of whom went on to stellar careers--including Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, and Paul Le Mat. A true American classic. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
A long time ago, in a California town far, far away...
Review date: 2008-01-31 Rating: 8 out of 10
Seen today it's hard to believe that the George Lucas who made the sharply observed American Graffiti is the same George Lucas who gave us Jar-Jar Binks. You can certainly see the seeds of that galaxy far, far away in this ensemble piece about a night a long time ago in a small town not so far, far away, but it's still got an original trilogy vibe. It could almost be the Tattoine Years, with Ron Howard an embryonic Luke Skywalker, Paul Le Mat Han Solo, Richard Dreyfuss C3PO, Charles Martin Smith R2D2, Bo Hopkins Chewbacca, Wolfman Jack Obi Wan Kenobi and Harrison Ford Greedo. Thankfully there's no Jar-Jar this time out (well, maybe Mackenzie Phillips), but there's a lot of time spent cruising Mos Eisley in landspeeders. In its day its huge profits certainly led to as many ripoffs as Star Wars, but none managed to tap into it's surprisingly edgy indie, almost nouvelle vague vibe without pushing the darkness or exploitation elements too far. At times it's almost like a Californian version of Fellini's Il Vitelloni.
The key to the film's success is its understanding of what it's like to be stuck in a small town yet also afraid to leave it at that point in life when you're suddenly aware of the real threat of failure in life. So, instead of dealing with any of the big issues on the back of their mind, its various characters distract themselves with trivia, the film to-ing and fro-ing between them as the night gradually turns into day, all linked by the simple but brilliant device of having all the characters have the same radio station on in the background with Wolfman Jack as a half-heard Greek Chorus, binding the stories together like the Force - okay, enough with the Star Wars analogies already. Paul Le Mat, the one who didn't get a sitcom, directorial career or Thighmaster infomercial deal out of it, gets the best of the script as the doomed boy racer facing up to the fact that he's strictly small town, although there's enough left over to give everyone in the cast their moment in the sun.
The DVD features a fine feature length documentary reuniting most of the key players (though it conveniently ignores the film's now-forgotten sequel), production notes and trailer.
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Reviews
A perfect evocation of the moment
Review date: 2007-11-22 Rating: 10 out of 10
The depiction of small town America is so good that it is now how we think we remember it (even if we were not there) and how we want it to be. The introversion of all that is important at High School before the kids go out to face the world and loose that security once and for all is sympathetically described. As Snoopy says "You can never go home again" and even if you never leave, it will still slip through your grasp.
An excellent social study as well; different prospects for the boys and girls etc. which shows us how we have changed and ultimately, as much as we enjoy trying on these old comfortable cloths for an evening, how far we have come.
A brilliant representation of rural life in California in the 1960's
Review date: 2007-03-13 Rating: 10 out of 10
I was born in Modesto, California in 1953. My older sister put me in the floorboard of the car (just as presented in the movie)while cruising 10th & 11th Streets. George Lucas was the same age as my older sister in the same city and time. This is real (some spellings are different and Wolfman Jack radio program was heard from a station in Tijuana, Mexico). This movie transcends nationalities to portray the human "leaving the nest" experience. Plus, see how the actors looked 40 years ago :-)
Surely George Lucas' Best Film
Review date: 2004-02-14 Rating: 10 out of 10
Not being American, or growing up in the early sixties, or being mad about cars, I find it really odd that I can relate to this film so well. Full of character and magical moments of blokes, like, just driving around a small town over the night before some of tham are about to leave for college and having lots of mini-adventures, it's a film you can go back to again and again.
It makes you realise that, beyond the hype, George Lucas is in fact a great filmaker and story teller, with a real feel for people and character, for a time and a place. Maybe his later stuff isn't so 'mature' but this is definitely a film you should see. A lot of it is about growing up and losing illusions, and gaining new ones! For anyone who has ever made the break from their hometown to go away for whatever, this will be quite emotional, even though it's set so long ago.
The DVD is a good package, with a very long documentary featuring everyone - and with Lucas keen to give credit to all the people involved. A commentary would have been fantastic, but you can't have everything.
People with nostalgic hearts, buy without fear!
Amazing for any generation
Review date: 2003-05-05 Rating: 10 out of 10
Im just about 20 now so by no means a contemporary :) I first remember seeing a glimpse of this film on TV when I was about 6. All I remembered was the yellow car and something about a gear knob being given to a girl. Then I saw the very end again on TV the other week! Right! Straight onto teletext to get the name, then straight onto Amazon to order.
This film is brilliant. It would be so good to live the old Americana way and this film encapsulates the whole feeling (well, what I reckon would be the feeling). There is something for everyone, everyone can relate to something. For me, a modified Nova GTE owner I love watching Milner drive around in the '32 Deuce Coupe, having the odd race, the odd smoke and listening to the tunes. The music is just fantastic. I have never bought any non-contemporary music before and probably never will but this is just something else. It all envelops the characters and the film to an incredible level. Brilliant. Interviews with the cast and how they are now is a top feature but also scary as in 30 or 40 years I'm going to be in that position looking back at old pictures of the Nova!
As the guy said above the ending is both liberating and sombre, finding out what happens later to all the people in a film is something youre often left wondering, with this being a true-to-life film true-to-life fates do lay in store :(
Don't consider it, just click the order button right now
Steve
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Cindy Williams
Paul Le Mat
Ron Howard
Charles Martin Smith
Richard Dreyfuss
Creators:
Richard Dreyfuss (Primary Contributor)
Ron Howard (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Uca
Manufacturer: Uca
EAN: 5050582055986
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL,
Release date: 2003-08-11
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1973-08-11
Language: English (Original Language)
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Language: French (Dubbed)
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