{"id":85461,"date":"2022-07-14T22:55:23","date_gmt":"2022-07-15T05:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85461"},"modified":"2023-09-03T10:48:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T17:48:10","slug":"american-graffiti-1973","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85461","title":{"rendered":"American Graffiti (1973)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ve grown up. Maybe I changed my mind.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-85462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster-179x270.png 179w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Poster.png 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nOn prom night in 1962, a teenager (Ron Howard) about to head off to college tells his long-time girlfriend (Cindy Williams) that he wants them to see other people while they&#8217;re apart; meanwhile, his college-going buddy (Richard Dreyfuss) becomes obsessed with a beautiful blonde (Suzanne Somers) in a white convertible who flirts with him, then gets caught up with a group of local gangsters causing havoc; a nerd (Charles Martin Smith) takes temporary possession of Howard&#8217;s car and quickly scores a beautiful date (Candy Clark); and a slightly older local (Paul Le Mat) ends up driving around town with a precocious twelve-year-old (Mackenzie Phillips).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Candy Clark Films<\/li>\n<li>Comedy<\/li>\n<li>Coming of Age<\/li>\n<li>Ensemble Cast<\/li>\n<li>Harrison Ford Films<\/li>\n<li>Kathleen Quinlan Films<\/li>\n<li>Paul Le Mat Films<\/li>\n<li>Teenagers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary writes, &#8220;George Lucas directed this wonderfully exuberant youth comedy which is set one eventful night in Modesto, California, in 1962&#8221; &#8212; an &#8220;idealized remembrance of things past, of innocent youth spent eating fries and malts at the drive-in hangout, cruising the main strip, drag-racing, bragging about your one &#8216;cool&#8217; friend, making out, hanging out, dancing real close, listening to rock music on the car radio, playing pranks on [the] police, telling off an obnoxious teacher.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Howard.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He points out that &#8220;fittingly, we don&#8217;t see our young heroes and heroines having dinner at home with their parents, doing their homework, or attending classes.&#8221; Instead, the film is structured around one strategically compressed night in which &#8220;at the beginning and conclusion, we see our four male heroes together&#8221;: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Three-Guys.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and &#8220;in between, they go their separate ways.&#8221; Peary notes how &#8220;smoothly&#8221; Lucas moves &#8220;between the four storylines, which at times intermingle&#8221;: Howard and Williams&#8217; romantic challenges; Dreyfuss&#8217;s adventures with &#8220;three toughs&#8221; (led by Bo Hopkins):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Hopkins.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;Smith having &#8220;the wildest night imaginable&#8221; with &#8220;batty blonde Candy Clark&#8221;:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-Smith.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; &#8220;and Le Mat unexpectedly finding a &#8220;great companion&#8221; in Phillips. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips4.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He writes that &#8220;the pace is swift, the dialogue is consistently witty and clever, and the characters are terrific,&#8221; and he adds that the &#8220;film features the first great golden-oldies soundtrack&#8221; (costing only $80,000!). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Band.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, Peary names this the Best Film of the Year, and points out that &#8220;because of this seminal youth film the next two decades would be overrun with pictures about overly worried or overly excited teenagers&#8230; but none would be such labors of love.&#8221; As he writes, &#8220;None would have the sense of fun, humor, warmth toward characters, or genuine nostalgia that is evident in Lucas&#8217;s every shot and line of dialogue,&#8221; and he points out that this film &#8220;was an instant classic&#8221; (though not beloved by all critics), &#8220;a smash hit, [and] a vehicle that helped launch numerous careers (even Harrison Ford has a small part).&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Ford.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m in agreement with Peary&#8217;s laudatory review, and was very pleasantly surprised to find this nostalgia-laced classic so authentically engaging. There doesn&#8217;t seem to be a wrong step taken here, from careful selection of each supporting character in the large ensemble cast to Lucas&#8217;s penchant for cultivating improvised &#8220;mistakes&#8221;. Watching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0366740\/\">Laurent Bouzereau&#8217;s must-see documentary (1998)<\/a> about the film&#8217;s 28-day rapid-fire production shows that input from producer Francis Ford Coppola and cinematographer Haskell Wexler also seemed to play a crucial role in the film&#8217;s creative success. This film remains well worth a revisit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the entire cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Smith.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Clark.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dancing.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Phillips.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Le-Mat.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Excellent cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Dreyfuss.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Effective production design<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/American-Graffiti-Cars.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck&#8217;s script<\/li>\n<li>Impressive sound mixing<\/li>\n<li>The rocking soundtrack<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an American classic. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/reviews\/?page_id=1458\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0069704\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/american-graffiti\/review\/2000277869\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2066&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3550graf.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/19449\/american-graffiti#articles-reviews?articleId=85864\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Maybe I&#8217;ve grown up. Maybe I changed my mind.&#8221; Synopsis: On prom night in 1962, a teenager (Ron Howard) about to head off to college tells his long-time girlfriend (Cindy Williams) that he wants them to see other people while they&#8217;re apart; meanwhile, his college-going buddy (Richard Dreyfuss) becomes obsessed with a beautiful blonde (Suzanne Somers) in a white convertible who flirts with him, then gets caught up with a group of local gangsters causing havoc; a nerd (Charles Martin&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85461\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85461"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91087,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85461\/revisions\/91087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}