|
Actors: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Wolfman Jack, Harrison Ford
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about American Graffiti |
|---|
In this rollocking, fun ride, Star Wars scribe, George Lucas explores the teenagers of the early sixties. Curt and Steve are heading to college, next year and they get ready for the last night of the summer holidays. Terry has gotten a new car, and is riding the town, with his new girlfriend, Debbie. Now, Curt decides to have a last drag race with his arch-rival, Bob Falfa. Though very far from reality, this comedy is to fun to watch.
--Estefan Ellison, Resident Scholar
|
Cowritten and directed by young George Lucas, this was the film that made him a household name and paved the way for "Star Wars." But what a different film! It's the summer of 1962, and best friends Curt (Dreyfuss) and Steve (Howard) are preparing to fly out of their small California town for college on the East Coast. In the course of one night, Steve breaks up and reconciles with his longtime girl Laurie (Williams), good student Curt searches for the mysterious blonde in a white T-Bird who mouths "I love you" at an intersection and he winds up in the clutches of the Pharaohs street gang who force him to commit some criminal pranks, and wonky Terry "the Toad" Fields (terrific Charles Martin Smith) buys booze, almost gets laid, and loses Steve's car. John (Le Mat), the hunky loser who's stuck in town as a mechanic but is the top drag racer, gets stuck for most of the night with Carol, somebody's wisecracking little sister, then defends his racing title at dawn (against a snotty young Harrison Ford). All this and a sensitive scene with Dreyfuss and Wolfman Jack! Throughout the movie the great hits of the day -- from the Beach Boys to Buddy Holly and Fats Domino -- provide music and dramatic counterpoint. Shot in just 29 days on a tiny budget of $750,000, this wonderful film raked in $115 million domestically, almost that much in international and video sales, and thus holds the record for the biggest profit margin. It wears extemely well.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
|
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
| Analysis of American Graffiti |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1960's-1970's
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kind of comedy
- teens acting dopey
Age group
- trouble in high school
Sexing?
- girl chasing
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
- student
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
- (man) fat
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Hispanic/Latinic
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
City?
Yes
City:
- Los Angeles
- dangerous
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
- encouraged
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
- touching of personal anatomy
- sex under blankets
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
- Some foul language
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Classic/oldies rock
|
| Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking |
|---|
| Cooley High
starring Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Glynn Turman, Garrett Morris
|
| Outside Providence
starring Shawn Hatosy, Alec Baldwin, Amy Smart
|
| The Wanderers
starring Ken Wahl, Karen Allen, John Friedrich, Tony Ganois, Toni Kalem, Alan Rosenberg, Erland van Lidth de Jeude, Michael Wright, Jim Youngs
|
| Quadrophenia
starring Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Sting
|
| National Lampoon's Animal House
starring John Belushi
|
|
Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 David Loftus
SCHOLARS:
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
