More american graffiti may be one of the most innovative and ambitious films of the last five years, but by no means is it one of the most successful. One of the most influential of all teen films, american graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads last days. Although the movie takes place in modesto, california, most of its scenes were actually shot in the nearby city of petaluma. Steven and curt richard dreyfus are leaving for college. What makes american graffiti such a beloved picture of. Despite all this razzmatazz, modesto is not where the movie was filmed. Click the image above for a clip from the movie for a peek at 4th street american graffitistyle. An enduring classic, american graffiti celebrates an america of the early 1960s, where teenagers cruise the streets in hot rods and rock and roll tops the music charts inspired by his youth in the valley town of modesto, california, graffiti was george lucas second feature film, and is a masterwork of vibrant colors, exciting soundtracks, and endearing charact. May is the perfect month to plan a weekend getaway in easytogetto petaluma. Lucas and company planned to shoot the film in san rafael, california, as the real settingmodestohad changed too much since 1962. The final drag race scene was filmed on frates road, which was named paradise road in. Stanley kauffmann, who liked it, complained in the new republic that lucas had made a film more fascinating to the generation now between thirty and forty than it could be for other generations, older or younger.
American graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film directed and cowritten by george lucas starring richard dreyfuss, ron howard, paul le mat, harrison ford, charles martin smith, cindy williams, candy clark, mackenzie phillips and wolfman jack. But american graffiti s appeal has less to do with plot and more to do with seeing the usa of the early 1960s faithfully recreated in celluloid, and lucas gets every detail right. Directed by 1 writing credits 3 cast 60 produced by 2 cinematography by 2 film editing by 3 casting by 3 art direction by 1 set decoration by 1 costume design by 1 makeup department 2 production management 1 second unit director or assistant director 2. However, it was used in the sequel, more american graffiti 1979. Set in 1962 but reflecting the culmination of the 1950s, the. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing american graffiti near you. American graffiti, released 45 years ago today, was a nostalgic, semiautobiographical look at the american teenager circa 1962, before the sixties kicked in and changed everything. The rocknrollsoundtracked film, following a group of friends throughout a single lifechanging night, assisted in propelling the careers of upandcoming actors including richard. American graffiti might have been set back in 1962 some eleven years before its actual filming and is supposed to be a factbased movie. An enduring classic, american graffiti celebrates an america of the early 1960s, where teenagers cruise the streets in hot rods and rock and roll tops the music charts. Graffiti ranks with bonnie and clyde the new york times. The pilot for the show, originally entitled new family in town was actually filmed for abc in 1971 with the cast that would eventually appear in happy days. Furrer likes to give tours of spots where key scenes were filmed.
American graffiti is a comingofage dramedy set in modesto, calif. Site of final drag race in american graffiti in petaluma. American graffiti is more a collection of vignettes than a straight forward movie, and the quality of the different plots is a bit hit and miss. In a series of touching and telling vignettes, american graffiti follows a memorable crew of smalltown teenagers through one momentous night in 1962. Oct 03, 20 american graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard, richard dreyfuss and harrison ford. Dennis stock on the set of american graffiti, filmed in and around the bay.
It is unusual to see filmmaking of this caliber coming from hollywood not least when considering lucas latest offering blech. American graffiti 1973 filming location 40th anniversary. Petalumas salute to american graffiti visit petaluma. The event is an annual celebration of american graffiti, classic american cars, cruising the main drag, rock n roll music and the happy days of the 50s and early 60s. Portions of american graffiti were filmed in berkeley, san francisco, san rafael, mill valley, sonoma, marin county, concord and pinole, however most of the. The thing ive always wondered about this movie is how many people made the connection between star wars and american graffiti at the time. With richard dreyfuss, ron howard, paul le mat, charles martin smith. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the academy award for best picture. The 1973 film american graffiti is george lucass love letter to the 1950s and his home town of modesto, california. The sequel, more american graffiti, reunited much of the cast and crew with the exceptions of richard dreyfuss and lucas, but that film was considered somewhat of a dud in comparison with the. American graffiti, george lucass last film before star wars, is the perfect end of summer movie it was a turning point for the director, and for his characters, too. Before happy days burst forth onto the television screens and before the galaxycrossing capers of star wars there was american graffiti, george lucas 1973 coming of age tale set in modesto, california. Theyre even more antiquated today, which makes the existence of films like american graffiti worthy of being put in special little time capsules. The final drag race scene was filmed on frates road, which was named paradise road in the film.
American graffiti 1973 filming location 40th anniversary duration. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. May 11, 2016 the 55 chevy was driven in american graffiti by bob falfa harrison ford and featured in the final dawn drag race with the yellow deuce coupe. The event was filmed and may still be available on dvd at the petaluma celebrates american graffiti website. They built the ford coupe mainly so that it would look good in front of the cameras. Lucas convinced the san rafael city council to allow two further nights of filming for general cruising shots, which he used to evoke as. The rich language of the cinema provides the foundation for jbfcs visual glossary. American graffiti looks like no other movie, an achievement which is always the best measure of a truly gifted director. Filming was initially set to take place in san rafael, california, but the production crew was denied permission to shoot beyond a second. The film was inspired by lucas own adolescent years cruising the strip in modesto, on highway 99 between stockton and fresno in central california.
Where american graffiti sits is right on the edge of one of the greatest shifts in politics, culture, and turbulence in americas history. Petalumas largest car show cruisin the boulevard salutes the movie american graffiti with reenactments, stars and cars from the film to teens today, cars arent important in the same way they were in american graffiti, the 1973 film directed by george lucas. The two towns used, which had barely changed since the sixties, were petaluma in. In 2015, its hard to imagine a film set in 2004 as striking powerful chords of nostalgia, but the way people remember the past isnt so much defined by the calendar as the events that fell within. The main sting in the tail is that the film also signifies the end of the postwwii american. Many american graffiti fans who come to petaluma want to know where the various scenes were filmed, so weve. Shot in less than a month for well under a million dollars. Ill make a film that emotionally involves the audience.
Nprs larry abramson returns to his hometown, san rafael which also happens to be where george lucas nightinthelife. American graffiti 1973 ganzer film deutsch kostenlos. American graffiti premiered on august 2, 1973, at the locarno international film festival in switzerland, and was released on august 11, 1973, in the united states. In happy days to mels diner in modesto in american graffiti. A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college. Inspired by his youth in the valley town of modesto, california, graffiti was george lucas second feature film, and is a masterwork of vibrant colors, exciting soundtracks, and endearing characters. Filming locations 25 filming dates 1 filming locations.
Ron howard and cindy williams on the set of the film american graffiti, 1973. American graffiti happens to reflect the publics yearning for the innocent contentment of the fifties, but the special excitement of the film is that it takes us beyond nostalgia into a. Geoff visits location where american graffiti was filmed youtube. Rev your engines for petalumas salute to american graffiti. But with ingenuity, a killer retro soundtrack, and an assist from francis ford coppola, george lucas american graffiti did get made, and is a lowbudget classic. Reenactment paradise road aka freitas rd petaluma where the 1973 american graffiti was filmed. Portions of american graffiti were filmed in berkeley, san francisco, san rafael, mill valley, sonoma, marin county, concord and pinole, however most of the memorable scenes were filmed here in petaluma, june august, 1972. Please plan to attend the show and visit modesto, the birthplace of american. Wolfman jacks station 16 of 16 found this interesting. Mels drivein restaurant in san francisco was selected as a location by filmmaker george lucas for his 1973 film american graffiti. He can still remember the time when it took a whole tank of gas to cruise the main drag. You can mark the dates for the 2020 show which will be held on june 12, 14, 2020.
Cruising with american graffiti can you go home again. American graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard, richard dreyfuss and. American graffiti has lost none of its charm or energy, making it one of the many great masterpieces of the new hollywood era. American graffiti directed by george lucas and stars ron howard, paul lemat, richard dreyfuss, cindy williams, charles martin smith and candy clark pop into peggy sues diner and eattothebeat with great music and. American graffiti seems to smartly captivate the audience with easy going atmosphere, innocent gags and popular pop music, but it is a bittersweet dream of something that has already happened and, when you are young, do not know if and how it is going to happen. A scene from george lucass 1973 film american graffiti. Clips from some of our greatest visual storytellers put these terms in context, showing how filmmakers use these concepts and techniques to create iconic imagery, memorable characters, and powerful stories. Mar 26, 2019 and for the cast of american graffiti, george lucas had just one wellknown actor ron howard, who was famous as opie from the andy griffith show. American graffiti and the sixties in the seventies society.
American graffiti 1973 ganzer film deutsch kostenlos, american graffiti 1973 anschauen deutsch, american graffiti 1973 anschauen kostenlos, american graffiti 1973 anschauen movie2k, american graffiti 1973 deutsch ganzer film. Filming proceeded in san rafael for three more nights, then moved to petaluma, 20 miles away. American graffiti acts almost as a milestone to show us how far and in many cases how tragically we have come. Because american graffiti was a huge hit movie, so how often was the question what the heck is star wars. American graffiti cast and crew cast photos and info. American graffiti film location scenes part 2 duration. Petaluma is now the staging ground for an annual tribute to the film, full of classic beauties, like a cherry red 55 chevy pickup that sits in the driveway of john furrer, who helps organize the american graffiti event. Actor richard dreyfuss on the set of american graffiti, filmed in and around the bay area.
These last two series, in particular, bore a close relationship to american graffiti. The north modesto kiwanis club thanks our sponsors, the show entrants, and the public for their support. American graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard, richard dreyfuss and harrison ford. American graffiti the movie 32 ford hot rod rat rod street rod classic car american graffiti the 1932 deuce coupe is considered one of hollywoods most memorable movie cars, largely because of its role in the 1973 film american graffiti. His second film, american graffiti 1973, a sympathetic recollection of adolescent american life in the early 1960s, was a surprise success at the box office and was redolent of his youth as a modesto hotrodding enthusiast.
This was the first time that bolanders 58 has been seen since the odometer was spun back to 1972. American graffiti is a 1973 american comingofage comedy film directed and cowritten by george lucas starring richard dreyfuss, ron howard, paul le mat, harrison ford. Overall, this is a timeless piece of film and a cult classic. It is the sequel to the 1973 film american graffiti. Over the course of a long last night, steven and laurie cindy williams resolve to date others, while curt chases a mysterious blond woman suzanne sommers. Dismissed as a disgraceand unreleasable by the suits who know the business, american graffiti not only grossed millions and spawned a wave of pale imitations, but earned a pair of oscar nominations for george lucas as both writer and director. American graffiti film location scenes part 1 youtube.
The scenes are pretty nostalgia with old cars, cafes, along with the humour, the popular soundtracks plus the fashions worn by the younger male. However, lucas soon became frustrated at the time it was taking to fix camera mounts to the cars. American graffiti 1973 trailer george lucas jpnsub. Although the movie takes place in modesto, california, most of its scenes. Whereas the first film followed a group of friends during the summer evening before they set off for college, this film shows where they end up a few years later. In 1972, the original mels located at 140 south van ness in san francisco was selected as a feature location by filmmaker george lucas for his 1973 coming of age film american graffiti. Nov 17, 2010 a few years back this stunt was recreated in the same lot with a 61 fairlane during the petalumas salute to american graffiti event in may of 2008. American graffiti is one of those rare films which can be advanced in any discussion of the superiority of films over live performances. No matter where you were in 62, you can support literacy programs at the san rafael public library at this benefit screening of george lucas classic comingofage tale of cruising teens and cool cars filmed in north bay locations. Shop unique american graffiti posters on redbubble. Some of geoffs rare downtime was spent in petaluma, california where part of george lucas classic movie american graffiti was filmed. Get the best deals on american graffiti vhs when you shop the largest online selection at.
On the second night of shooting a fire in a nearby restaurant. Apr 18, 2018 axalta coating systems most of you would remember them as dupont had a huge display area where they filmed interviews and unveiled the 1958 impala from american graffiti. Dennis stock writerdirector george lucas looks through the camera on the set of his american graffiti, filmed in and around the bay area. Sep 02, 2017 american graffiti, george lucass last film before star wars, is the perfect end of summer movie it was a turning point for the director, and for his characters, too. Aug 11, 2018 american graffiti, released 45 years ago today, was a nostalgic, semiautobiographical look at the american teenager circa 1962, before the sixties kicked in and changed everything. American graffiti and mels drivein restaurant ultra. This film may take place in the very early 60s but the laid back, nocturnal, real time hangout vibe of the film is the story of every american youths summer years. Come for classic cars, craft beer or just to relax and enjoy the stunning beauty of sonoma county wine country. Of all the youththemed nostalgia films in the past couple of years, george lucas american graffiti is among the very best to date.
American graffiti functions as a final farewell to childhood dreams before reality steps in. Petalumas salute to american graffiti celebrates its 15th year in 2020. That meant there were parts of it that didnt have to be put together perfectly. American graffiti 1973 full movie part 1 video dailymotion. Many of the original production staff were there to participate. American graffiti 1973 movies, tv, celebs, and more. More american graffiti is a 1979 american comingofage comedy film written and directed by bill l.
The 2019 american graffiti tm festival and car show was a great success. Most of the classic george lucas films memorable scenes were filmed in downtown petaluma in june and. Here, we look at american graffiti, george lucas first feature. This is the intersection where terry the toad fields challenges another cruiser to a street race, forgets his car is in reverse gear when he stomps on the gas pedal. American graffiti filming locations road trip makes stops at mels drivein, kre radio, pinkys pizza parlor and others. American graffiti was wolfman jacks first movie appearance and in 1991 he wrote an article for street rodder magazine about the film, which is summarized below. Hang your posters in dorms, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere blank walls arent welcome. Although american graffiti is set in 1962 modesto, california, lucas believed the city had changed too much in 10 years and initially chose san rafael as the primary shooting location. That sense of nostalgia is why we went back to the strip for our series on location, which looks at the places where movies are filmed, and the.
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