It is the sequel to the 1973 film American Graffiti. There is a beautiful melancholia lurking beneath the comedic surface. Search Birth.Movies.Death. : American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (billed as Ronny Howard), Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo John Milner is the tritagonist of the film American Graffiti. [to a girl in a Studebaker] Terry 'The Toad' Fields : That's great, man, that's really great. John Milner Zack MethvinBANNEDfrom Longview Texas. Just do as I say! Carol [5] The film was released in the United States on August 11, 1973[1] to sleeper hit reception. A field car runs through the fields, droppin' cow shit all over the place to make the lettuce grow. : [21], Lucas had wanted his then wife, Marcia, to edit American Graffiti, but Universal executive Ned Tanen insisted on hiring Verna Fields, who had just finished editing Steven Spielberg's The Sugarland Express. Universal wanted Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz to hire an orchestra for sound-alikes. Company Credits John Milner We know John Milner (Paul Le Mat) was killed by a drunken driver in 1964, so the movie has to roll back in time to visit him. : Laurie gets embroiled in Vietnam War protests with her draft-dodging brother, Andy. American Graffiti Ending Explained: The Calm Before The Storm. [6] The filmmaker was also inspired by Federico Fellini's I Vitelloni (1953). Why is it every girl that comes around here is ugly? The big shot! [2] Produced on a $777,000 budget,[1] it has become one of the most profitable films ever. Terry Fields 6 Who sings at the Hop in American Graffiti? He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but found favor at Universal Pictures after every other major film studio turned him down. [21] After CinemaScope proved to be too expensive,[16] Lucas decided American Graffiti should have a documentary-like feel, so he shot the film using Techniscope cameras. The images aren't as visually striking as they would be if only there were a mind behind them; the movie has no resonance except from the jukebox sound and the eerie, nocturnal jukebox look." Two cameras were used simultaneously in scenes involving conversations between actors in different cars, which resulted in significant production time savings. So was Pauline Kael, who accused Lucas of misogyny in her New Yorker review (via S-UISH): "Using women (and not only women) as plot functions may be a clue to the shallowness of many movies, even of much better moviesAmerican Graffiti, for example. [17], Production proceeded with virtually no input or interference from Universal since American Graffiti was a low-budget film, and executive Ned Tanen had only modest expectations of its commercial success. : [10] Universal presidents Sidney Sheinberg and Lew Wasserman heard about the praise the film had been garnering in LA and New York, and the marketing department amped up its promotion strategy for it,[10] investing an additional $500,000 (equivalent to $3.1million in 2021)[33] in marketing and promotion. John Milner : What the hell's goin' on here, Toad? : Yeah, I know what you mean. Lucas' ending sees Curt and Steve's roles reversed: Steve promises to stay with Laurie after witnessing John and Bob's explosive drag race, and Curt bids goodbye to his parents and friends. Mind your own business, John! Well, you call that a paint job, but it's pretty ugly. Well, get bent, turkey! You take care of yourself, man. With Steve allowing Terry to take care of his car while he's studying at college, Terry cruises around the strip and picks up rebellious Debbie. Steve, aware that Laurie was Bob's passenger, rushes to the wreck as she and Bob crawl out and stagger away before the car explodes. Hey, Laurie, what in hell are you doin' in there? over there. [23][26][27], Lucas considered covering duties as the sole cinematographer, but dropped the idea. : Paul Le Mat is best known for playing the drag racing John Milner -- opposite Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss -- in the 1973 film "American Graffiti." Janet Maslin of The New York Times panned "More American Graffiti" as "grotesquely misconceived, so much so that it nearly eradicates fond memories of the original." : Madman John Milner More American Graffiti is a 1979 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Bill L. Norton. Hey Carol After take off, he gazes out the window and sees the white Thunderbird driving along the road below. Can I put a mattress cover on a TempurPedic mattress? Laurie Henderson John Milner I thought some of my friends might be here. The young director's previous film and first feature . Regardless, Milner does his best to communicate with her. : "The Filming of. : [14], Lucas and producer Gary Kurtz took the script to American International Pictures, who expressed interest, but ultimately believed American Graffiti was not violent or sexual enough for the studio's standards. [9] Because American Graffiti's main cast was for younger actors, the casting call and notices went through numerous high-school drama groups and community theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lying to suspicious friends that she's a cousin and he's stuck with babysitting duty, they have a series of petty arguments until another car's occupants verbally harass her as she attempts to walk home alone, John then deciding to protect her. [21], Petaluma, a similarly small town about 20 miles (32km) north of San Rafael, was more cooperative, and American Graffiti moved there without the loss of a single day of shooting. : John "Gunner" Gunnell;4743423 said: I'm not sure who owns it, but J. Neal East -- a former auutomotive writer who runs a car book store in So Cal, had his car used to make the sound track. : [4] The characters Curt Henderson, John Milner, and Terry "The Toad" Fields also represent different stages from his younger life. As a result, Lucas commissioned help from friend Haskell Wexler, who was credited as the "visual consultant". Terry Fields As a result, production was moved to Petaluma. Milner was killed on New Years Eve when he was struck head on after a race in the second movie. Let's catch 'em at the light. . 3 What was the T Bird in American Graffiti? but you're still a punk. : Girl in Cadillac Carol John Milner John then suddenly notices that Laurie is with Falfa]. Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. Lucas recalled, "He would have made $30million (equivalent to $183million in 2021)[33] on the deal. Rock and roll's been going down hill ever since Buddy Holly died. Wait a minute. blue John Milner What happened to John Milner in American Graffiti? You want me to give it to you? "[50] A.D. Murphy from Variety felt American Graffiti was a vivid "recall of teenage attitudes and morals, told with outstanding empathy and compassion through an exceptionally talented cast of unknown actors". John Milner We know John Milner (Paul Le Mat) was killed by a drunken driver in 1964, so the movie has to roll back in time to visit him. The title card at the end of "American Graffitti"does a great job of addressing the turbulent changes that were to come while still preserving the film's innocence. The first cut of American Graffiti was three and a half hours long, and to whittle the film down to a more manageable two hours, many scenes had to be cut, shortened, or combined. They cruise the Modesto strip while listening to their favorite rock and roll songs, contemplating what lies ahead of them in their adulthood. After eventually taking Carol home, John is found by Bob Falfa, successfully goading him into the definitive race along Paradise Road outside the city, the event gaining attention and causing numerous cars to tag along to watch. I have seen that car featured in one of the big magazine (Motor Trend . Bob Falfa : Hey, I've been lookin' all over for ya, man. Its what he did in Modesto those final nights before heading off to USC. I bet you got to sneak up on the pumps just to get a little air in your tires! He encounters an employee who tells him the Wolfman does not work there and that the shows are pre-taped for replay, claiming the Wolfman "is everywhere" but promises to have the Wolfman air the request. Why did you do that? How old are you? : John Milner : You can't be that old. Yeah, I know. Behind the scenes Don't you think the Beach Boys are boss? : The film is the first movie to be produced by George Lucas's company Lucasfilm. Bob Falfa When the movie was reedited in 1978, the date of his death was changed to December of 1964, most likely in anticipation of the release of its sequel, More American Graffiti. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas's teenage years. : Le Mat, Harrison Ford, and Bo Hopkins were claimed to be drunk most nights and every weekend, and had conducted climbing competitions to the top of the local Holiday Inn sign. While looking out the window of his plane, Curt sees the white Thunderbird driving below. Yeah, I'll die soon, then it'll all be over, John. American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (billed as Ronny Howard), Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, and Wolfman Jack. United Artists also passed on Star Wars, which Lucas shelved for the time being. [16] For Bob Falfa, Roos cast Harrison Ford, who was then concentrating on a carpentry career. More American Graffiti (1979) Paul Le Mat: John Milner Showing all 5 items Jump to: Photos (1) Quotes (4) Photos Quotes John Milner : Hey, look, I want you to keep this, take that with you [Hands Toad a twisted bolt] John Milner : That's from when my flywheel broke remember? However, Lucas soon became frustrated at the length of time it was taking to fix camera mounts to the cars. Gender [47] Roger Ebert gave the film a full four stars and praised it for being "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". [5] Lucas and writers Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz later collaborated on Radioland Murders (1994), also released by Universal Pictures, for which Lucas acted as executive producer. The Bullet Points: Movie Appeared: Similarly, it makes perfect sense that the gorgeous blonde (Suzanne Somers) who Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) becomes obsessed with is driving around in a 1956 Ford Thunderbird; a car as beautiful as it is unattainable for a guy like Curt, who is stuck in the backseat of his sisters crummy Edsel. Sees the white Thunderbird driving below a TempurPedic mattress 6 ] the film was released in the 1960s... 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