Last night we were bushed after a super fun but busy day. So we turned the TV on to TCM and watched American Graffiti. Yes, we'd both seen it (hasn't everybody?) but we enjoyed it even more this time.This film was made in 1973 but the story (such as it is) takes place in 1962. My era. It was filmed in 29 days at a cost of $775,000. Peanuts! It was nominated for five Academy Awards including best picture.
The plot (such as it is) is a coming of age story about two kids spending their last night at home before going off to college. The movie takes place in one single night. It's filmed kind of like a documentary.
What do I like best about it? I guess the trolling up and down the street - all night. We actually did that. For hours we drove around, stopped at the burger place, switched cars and drove around some more. Just think how much gas was wasted.
It's fun to try to identify cast members who went on to greatness. First, there's the director, George Lucus. Ever heard of him? And here's a list of cast members that I know from later work:
- Ron Howard - He'll always be Opie
- Richard Dreyfuss - Mr. Holland's Opus
- Cindy Williams - Laverne and Shirley
- Charles Martin Smith - The Untouchables
- MacKenzie Phillips - One Day at a Time
- Wolfman Jack
- Joe Spano - Hill Street Blues and NCIS
- Suzanne Summers - Three's Company
- Harrison Ford - He went on to play that guy who's afraid of snakes.
Even if you don't care for the movie, the music is the original, pure and "real" rock and roll. There are 41 of these great songs. Here are a few of my favorites:
Ain't That a Shame, The Great Pretender, The Stroll, At the Hop, Rock Around the Clock, Party Doll, Get a Job, Love Potion # 9, Why Do Fools Fall in Love. - And the all time best original rock 'n roll song ever!
Johnny B Goode.
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