Same. I was Mackenzie’s age when AG first came out. I said, this is what my high school years are gonna be like and proceeded to emulate behaviors In the film
One of my favorite movies!! What fun and what memories of my growing up years... I graduated HS in 1961 and seeing my DVD of this movie brings me nothing but smiles... Thanks for this video...
I turned 16 in 74 and cruisin was such a cool thing. I saw this movie a year earlier and it made such a big impression!! I was so glad my friends and I caught the tail end of the muscle car, summer time cruisin and street racing scene. It was like a lucky once in a lifetime thing that will never happen again.
I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!! I remember "Cruising" like this in Spokane WA on Riverside Ave in the late '60s in my Red '62 Impala SS "409" listening to CCR on KJRB. All windows down, tunes up....Great memories indeed!!
We Had a circuit in Janseville, Wisconsin. I drove I drove a 1969 Nova SS 396, listening to CCR, the Stones and Beatles on 8 track, or WLS Music Radio from Chicago... exactly like the movie... interesting now, I restore classic cars and have a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad and a 1966 Chevelle SS 396..
To me at least the BEST movie ever made. Real to so many lives back in the 60's. A personal favorite that I've watched more times and brings fond memories of cruising the drag, 17 cent burgers and .29 cent gasoline.
My sentiments exactly. The all time greatest movie ever made. Milner is still my hero and I still have a crush on Lorie and I'm 71 years old. The '50's and early '60's were so wonderful. I consider myself so fortunate to have lived through them. My wife and i still enjoy cruising in our hot rod with AG in the cassette player.
What a great story of telling the behind the scenes of a great movie. The gentleman who told this story did a tremendous job. He is a great narrator which made this extremely interesting. Thank you.
This is not an exaggeration but I think I've seen that movie Fifty times. It was a wonderful time. $0.25 gallons of gas five cent candy bars $0.05 pops 15 Cent hamburgers and so on. How did the world get to where we are today so screwed up. I was lucky to have grown up in that time. We have the best cars and the best music
I lived through those times as a teenager in NY. We would cruise at night, drag racing and trying to meet girls. One of the best times in my life!! miss those times a lot!.
I Built my first 31 Ford because of this movie. Couldnt get my hands on a 32 . it was awesome ! 440 wedge motor . 500hp that was big back in the 70s. Awe memories
This was a great movie. Thank you for doing this. It's one of those great movies that seems to fade farther and farther into the dark as the years go by,,,,it's simply a great piece of cinematic history. I love it. Thanks again.
I could not go to sleep when I was sent to bed at the same time as my younger siblings so my Dad bought me a little radio that looked like a rocket and I clipped on my metal frame for a antenna. In order to bring in "channels" I had to raise and lower the little wire antenna located in the tip of the rocket. At night when Am radio stations lowered their signals around 10 pm, I could get WOLFMAN JACK and even stations from Mexico! It was great to hear his voice again when I saw this movie for the first time and all the great old classics.
For me, it was a radio that had a single wired earpiece (kind of like a modern earbud) that I could put in one ear and listen to while I pretended to be asleep. Most nights I got whomever was on WBT in Charlotte, but sometimes I could pick up others from further away on the ozone skip.
I just watched Richard Dreyfuss's latest movie with Chevy Chase "The last laugh", and he still has the same youthful voice and trademark chuckle at age 72, that he's always had.
Loved the movie and the sound track. In fact I bought the 8 track tape of the sound track to play on the 8 track player my brother installed in my 1974 Corvette. Listened to that tape all the time. Finally wore it out on my drive from Georgia to Carswell AFB outside of Ft Worth TX. Still enjoy the movie and the soundtrack today.. Good memories for this old man.
I was a teenager when this film came out. I was in my late teens. This film as huge. The 1950s nostalgia was strong. And this film spoke to the youth. I could of course, well remember that era. But the assassinations , Vietnam, race riots, campus riots, Manson murders all had taken place since. America’s innocence was gone, then came this beautiful tribute, this colorful memory of that era.
From what I've read about the making of the movie that was not the first take. Lucas had him do multiple takes. It was the last take where he almost dropped the bottle.
A story I remember hearing once was that during the filming of THX1138 some of the crew were teasing George that , "George could't make a normal movie" George supposedly replied in that deadpan tone of his, "I think my next movie will be a musical" To which every one laughed.
Iconic film! One that I love which is out of my time, but dear in my heart. Edit Add: The comments for this video, wow! Reading everyone’s stories about their experiences, a time period, where they were, what life was like, it is epic! Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing the hidden gems! These are backstories and unknown facts I never knew. Very cool!
My buddy and I went to see Easy Rider in our small town local theater. Both of our moms came in and sat right behind us. How terribly uncomfortable it was when the guys were in the brothel in New Orleans. When I went to the brothel in New Orleans years later I made sure mom was still in California.
My 55 Chevy was in the movie, most prominently in the scene where Toad pulls out of Mel's to go buy beer and the waitress skates out with her tray and there is no car there. The entire left side of the screen is my car. You can see my right rear fender looks very dull where they sprayed something on it to cut the glare. It was very difficult to get it off. I am also in a cruising scene that was filmed in San Rafael on 3 and 4th streets where I change lanes. That same night they were filming Milner cruising in his 32. The camera was mounted on the back of an El Camino. I pulled up next to him and goosed it. He punched it too and we started going back and forth. The camera swung around and filmed me too, but that never made it into the film. I was paid $20 per night to be there from 6PM until 6AM. It cost me more to buy gas, but it was great fun. One of my best memories was when they were filming Harrison Ford in the black 55 Chevy at Mel's. They wanted him to do a burnout in the parking lot. That car was one of the Two Lane Blacktop cars, so it was a real racer. He lost control and people scattered. I am sure he soiled himself before screeching to a stop.
Coppola filmed Peggy Sue Got Married next door to my parents house in Santa Rosa...one entire week of filming...semi trucks, cables everywhere, catering trucks etc....and not one frame made it to the final edit or movie!
Thank you so much for doing the research and making this behind the scenes video about my favorite movie of all times. Dragging Main Street in fast cars & pickin' up chicks was what those days were all about!
Naw, George Lucas used to hang out in the studio w Wolfman as a kid and cut tapes of all Wolfman’s phone calls, which he loved the most. Wolfman got pissed off at him at first for “messin with” his tapes. He was a hanger-on, not just an outside listener. That’s how he knew him. Told by the Wolfman himself in a ‘90s BBC interview. ✌️
I was at Vanderbilt Hospital in the 100 Oaks Mall (Nashville, TN) last week and in the children's hospital in a window was a small model of the diner, cars and people from the movie!! I was very much made to smile. Around the small model were train sets the kids could push a button to activate. When they activated the switch the diner lights (including the menu/speaker polls) would light up. Each car from the movie was represented in the model. This movie lives on and on!
More, more more! Your Posts are wonderfully produced, most accurately researched and, let me say it from a classic movie fan, including Hi Def images in proper ratio. So important! Thank You...Thank You.
Great segment! Love this movie so much I've built models of the main cars. Big fan of the Wolfman also. Sadly, the many city ordinances against cruising began the fall of our car culture in America. Thank you for sharing.
THE BEST MOVIE. Great job with the little know facts. AG was my life also. Cruising the drag here on the East Coast in Brockton MA. It was the best and coolest f times. I actually have 2 DVD's just in case one ever gets damaged. Thanks for doing a great job.
Awesome movie!! A true American Classic.... This kind of (cruising) activity was still going strong in small mid-western towns until about 1980! In Junction City Kansas it was a part of the daily routine, depending on your work schedule... The "driving age" for a "permit" was 14...Driver's-Ed class was split between Hunter's-Safety class in 8th grade, then all ya needed was a job...and a set of hand tools!! When "off" during the day, we'd start by washing our cars, then going to a Park to apply wax, take a cruise around da Loop, go back to Park, polish off the wax then cruise da Loop again, go to the Lake, or Drive-in. At sunset, we would turn-on our Parking Lights & start to cruise da Loop, at very slow speeds, with the "turn-arounds" being at 7/11 & Sonic Drive-in (still love that place!). Then we would park in the lots of the closed retail stores to watch cars go by or get picked-up by one of our friends to do a Loop. Everyone would chip-in a $1 for gas & a "dime-bag" and let the good times roll!! When I came to California in the early 80's cruising was already "outlawed" in many cities and often led to violent (gun) encounters, which seemed confusing contradictory to the whole (happy) concept. I actually still "cruise", but these days I'm solo with several (mapped-out) "cruise Loops" to take-me-back (mentally) to a happier/safer place & time. Hey, "perception is reality" right? So don't mess with my denial LMAO!! Keep da greasy-side down!! Rebel Yell........Road Trip!!
Crusin' on the weekend in my friend's '55 Chevy in Harrisburg, PA; up and down 2nd Street. Ahhh how well I remember. AG made a lot of money from those of us who did not only remember but actually lived that film.
It's funny how you brought up the sound track. I love cars and cruising in general but half of what makes that movie authentic and great is the music. Nice video.
Really Grear Behind The scenes of "American Graffiti". I have that Movie right next to my Desk. When I'm Down i watch it living in that era, and Living a similar Lifestyle in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Chasing Ladies, Drag Racing Super Fast 60's Super Cars a & Hot Rods, and Asbury Park the one way street's running along the Ocean the Traffic lights were 1/4 Mile between traffic lights. Your Typical Drag Strip . Also Bruce Springsteen was an avid Racer with his 1957 Corvette... Again Thanks for this Commentary.
Even though "American Graffiti" was set in Modesto, CA (where George Lucas grew up), the movie was actually shot in downtown Petaluma. They tried to film in San Rafael, but production was reportedly halted after one night of filming as they were asked to leave town. And the scene where Richard Dreyfuss goes to the radio station to talk to the Wolfman and the station's tower is shown...that's the tower of Petaluma radio station 1490 KTOB you see. However, the studio of the radio station was that of KRE on Ashby Ave. in Berkeley.
Not true. All the street scenes you see on one way streets were shot in San Rafael. The two way streets were in Petaluma. Lucas was not asked to leave town.
Very well done review of a movie for us old folks now that I'm one to remember a simpler and less complicated time a.k.a. fubar as these times are.Thanks will watch all reviews cause they are done professionally...
Great commentary. Amazingly I had bought and read that Mad magazine issue before I even heard of the movie. When you showed the credits, I notice that Toni Basil was listed as choreographer. (She went onto bigger and better things as well)
I was stationed at Hamilton AFB during the shoot of this movie. They needed extras for the dance scene at the high school. Unfortunately they could not find enough men with short hair in the local area so they put out a casting call to the local military bases in the area for volunteers for a couple nights as background extras. I was available and I asked who the stars were and they mentioned Ron Howard. I thought to myself “Opie!” and I did not volunteer. I still see some of my colleagues in the background in the gym scenes.
My friends and I lived in Petaluma California where they filmed the last parts of American graffiti After the movie came out we all had muscle cars and then the cruising started every weekend Both in Petaluma and San Rafael where they filmed American graffiti
i lived american graffiti! 1n 1962, i think everyone did,, a different time and country. great movie, enjoyed, interesting facts, i look forward to the other films you speak of,,thanks, jim
Yes, an outstanding movie to take you back to your youth. That was when all kinds of good, exciting, and innocent fun was happening on the week ends. Nothing like these drug crazed ass~holes of today. No more cool hot rods and good music either... Boy~Boy have times went to hell in a handbasket!!!
The scene where Dreyfuss andPaul Le Matt talk about the strip getting shorter was improvised when Lucas fell aspleep and didn't say cut and the actors just kept on talking.
One really significant historical inaccuracy about this film, which nobody ever discusses or probably even realizes, is that in 1962 virtually no radio station was broadcasting all these old songs. No high school dances were playing oldies and touch-dancing was losing popularity because the Twist had become a huge hit the year before, leading to stuff like the Fly, the Pony, the Mashed Potatoes, etc. But this fictionalized depiction immediately created a fantasy version of the '50s that is still in place in American pop culture. It worked so well at the time because there had been such immense changes in so much of American life between 1962 and 1973 that the setting for the film was immediately funny, but recognizable.
I grew up in Modesto on Jahrom Ln. over off Coffee Blvd. Went to Buyer High school and had a great time cruising McHenry. it was alive and well in the early 80's throughout the early 90's. We would all drive out to Paradise road to drag occasionally. There was a 340 orange Duster out there blowing everyone away at the time. This was the early to mid 80s and cruising was a live and well on Fridays and Saturdays. There was no gang activity, no drugs etc etc. it was all about the cars, girls and who wants to race down Brigsmore. My older friend Mario had a dad who worked for the Modesto Police Department. There was a month police auction, I think it was monthly? anyway his dad bought him a 69 SS 396 Nova. Gold Crager's that we took steel wool to and took all back to chrome. Had the orig. 396 big block, auto trans. We installed a Star shifter and had a hell of a blast on weekends.
All these "little-known facts" (which are well-known to a few of us "American Graffiti" geeks) combine to make this one of the greatest films in cinema history, and probably the most American film of all.
That is so true. The cars & cruisin' scene in the USA wasn't found anywhere else in the world, and we're still #1 in celebrating that era. Proud to be a cruisin' Boomer!
I grew up right through the 60's had a beast of a car for drag night we had our own places to go. I loved the show so much I bought an authentic green electric guitar with the whole cast autographing it. I looked for a poster or 8x10 but never seen one. I paid a premium price for it I never want to sell it, I hope my daughter keeps it with all my other pictures which I have over 100 now. I have the dvd so I can watch the toad hit the side of the building time after time.
I do believe it was the first movie to have a wall to wall soundtrack, it was the first movie to tell the story in four sections instead of being a Lineal Formula, and they actually played the music in an alley way and recorded it there then added those recordings to the movie, instead of just adding the real recording to the soundtrack. this is so that it would sound like the music was coming from everywhere around and make it feel like the music was coming from all the radio's in the cars and bouncing off the walls and windows in the street.
Great presentation. It should be noted Toads Vespa accident IS in the original script despite what others including the actor who portrayed Toad, Charles Martin Smith have said in retrospect.
The sock hop scene was filmed at Tamalpais HS gym, in Mill Valley, CA. The outside parking lot scenes were filmed elsewhere. Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids were hired to be the band, Herbie and the Heartbeats. The story goes, Fred Roos, the famed casting director saw them at a hoot night at the Troubadour in L.A. and remembered them for being a 1950s/60s cover act. They were asked to write a song for the soundtrack; the sound track sold very well and the band was honored with gold records. Since Fred Roos was also casting for Happy Days, a story was written especially for them--as Johnny Fish and the Fins--and directed by the late, great Jerry Paris. Coppola hired them to be the band at the USO show in Apocalypse Now. They were sent to the Philippines twice to shoot their scenes. They were working in unmercifully bad conditions and contracted dysentery. Coppola loved them so much he wanted them as the class reunion band in the 80s movie Peggy Sue Got Married. Sadly, some creative-intent politicking kept Flash Cadillac from the film and Marshall Crenshaw was in the film instead.
Great presentation and info. The movie might have sparked renewed interest in cars of the 50's. By 1973 there were plenty of cool cars and muscle cars of the 60's on their own... a movie like that sure could have given 50's cars a boost. I was 16 years old in 1973, and American Graffiti was a big party of that summer for me in a lot of ways, mostly the cars though. I think you could get a 55 to 57 Chevy running and driving for about $500. it might need work, but it was all there. Ron Howard's 58 Impala... probably less, the 58's were not popular at all.
one of the greatest movies made,i was 13 when it came out,got into cars,drag racing cruising and car shows..and still doing it today..
Same. I was Mackenzie’s age when AG first came out. I said, this is what my high school years are gonna be like and proceeded to emulate behaviors In the film
One of my favorite movies!! What fun and what memories of my growing up years... I graduated HS in 1961 and seeing my DVD of this movie brings me nothing but smiles... Thanks for this video...
I turned 16 in 74 and cruisin was such a cool thing. I saw this movie a year earlier and it made such a big impression!! I was so glad my friends and I caught the tail end of the muscle car, summer time cruisin and street racing scene. It was like a lucky once in a lifetime thing that will never happen again.
I LOVED THIS MOVIE!!! I remember "Cruising" like this in Spokane WA on Riverside Ave in the late '60s in my Red '62 Impala SS "409" listening to CCR on KJRB.
All windows down, tunes up....Great memories indeed!!
That is one rare car you had! A very small number of those were built in '62.
I hope you
still have that 409. Iconic car for iconic times!
We Had a circuit in Janseville, Wisconsin. I drove I drove a 1969 Nova SS 396, listening to CCR, the Stones and Beatles on 8 track, or WLS Music Radio from Chicago... exactly like the movie... interesting now, I restore classic cars and have a 1957 Chevrolet Nomad and a 1966 Chevelle SS 396..
To me at least the BEST movie ever made. Real to so many lives back in the 60's. A personal favorite that I've watched more times and brings fond memories of cruising the drag, 17 cent burgers and .29 cent gasoline.
My sentiments exactly. The all time greatest movie ever made. Milner is still my hero and I still have a crush on Lorie and I'm 71 years old. The '50's and early '60's were so wonderful. I consider myself so fortunate to have lived through them. My wife and i still enjoy cruising in our hot rod with AG in the cassette player.
@@douglaskanuka1775 That's the best. You got it right sir.
What a great story of telling the behind the scenes of a great movie. The gentleman who told this story did a tremendous job. He is a great narrator which made this extremely interesting. Thank you.
This is not an exaggeration but I think I've seen that movie Fifty times. It was a wonderful time. $0.25 gallons of gas five cent candy bars $0.05 pops 15 Cent hamburgers and so on. How did the world get to where we are today so screwed up. I was lucky to have grown up in that time. We have the best cars and the best music
Totally Agree., What Happened? Sad what our world turned into. Kids have no life like we had even though we were at War with Viet Nam,
Roger Jackson those were the days....
I lived through those times as a teenager in NY. We would cruise at night, drag racing and trying to meet girls. One of the best times in my life!! miss those times a lot!.
YEP, " A & W " DRIVE IN.. OLDS 442 MY MACHINE, LOL...
I lost count at about 300
I Built my first 31 Ford because of this movie. Couldnt get my hands on a 32 . it was awesome ! 440 wedge motor . 500hp that was big back in the 70s. Awe memories
A dude in SF bought that car- I would see it cruising around the Sunset District from time to time
The movie that absolutely makes you feel like you were right there that night!!! A beautiful, glossy looking bit of Americana.
This was a great movie. Thank you for doing this. It's one of those great movies that seems to fade farther and farther into the dark as the years go by,,,,it's simply a great piece of cinematic history. I love it. Thanks again.
Great presentation with very interesting background facts.
I could not go to sleep when I was sent to bed at the same time as my younger siblings so my Dad bought me a little radio that looked like a rocket and I clipped on my metal frame for a antenna. In order to bring in "channels" I had to raise and lower the little wire antenna located in the tip of the rocket. At night when Am radio stations lowered their signals around 10 pm, I could get WOLFMAN JACK and even stations from Mexico! It was great to hear his voice again when I saw this movie for the first time and all the great old classics.
For me, it was a radio that had a single wired earpiece (kind of like a modern earbud) that I could put in one ear and listen to while I pretended to be asleep. Most nights I got whomever was on WBT in Charlotte, but sometimes I could pick up others from further away on the ozone skip.
In my experience, "channels" were always TV related. Stations are what was tuned in on radio.
I just watched Richard Dreyfuss's latest movie with Chevy Chase "The last laugh", and he still has the same youthful voice and trademark chuckle at age 72, that he's always had.
One of the best movies ever! Thanks!
Loved the movie and the sound track. In fact I bought the 8 track tape of the sound track to play on the 8 track player my brother installed in my 1974 Corvette. Listened to that tape all the time. Finally wore it out on my drive from Georgia to Carswell AFB outside of Ft Worth TX. Still enjoy the movie and the soundtrack today.. Good memories for this old man.
I was a teenager when this film came out. I was in my late teens. This film as huge. The 1950s nostalgia was strong. And this film spoke to the youth. I could of course, well remember that era. But the assassinations , Vietnam, race riots, campus riots, Manson murders all had taken place since. America’s innocence was gone, then came this beautiful tribute, this colorful memory of that era.
That is really a thoughtful observation.
I loved American Graffiti. Your behind the scenes info just reignites the film for me. Thanks!
Also a great first take was where Terry almost drops the bottle after the guy robs the liquor store!
From what I've read about the making of the movie that was not the first take. Lucas had him do multiple takes. It was the last take where he almost dropped the bottle.
Wolfman Jack was central character to film’s incredible success. This is truly an all time classic
Great casting also was part of this movie's charm.
A story I remember hearing once was that during the filming of THX1138 some of the crew were teasing George that , "George could't make a normal movie" George supposedly replied in that deadpan tone of his, "I think my next movie will be a musical" To which every one laughed.
I graduated High School in 1962 and it was all about the cars ...
I would not trade those years to grow up in...
Iconic film! One that I love which is out of my time, but dear in my heart.
Edit Add: The comments for this video, wow! Reading everyone’s stories about their experiences, a time period, where they were, what life was like, it is epic!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video and sharing the hidden gems! These are backstories and unknown facts I never knew. Very cool!
In 1962 I was doing the same thing. Only not as many cool cars. I was 17. Loved the movie as well as Easy Rider.
My buddy and I went to see Easy Rider in our small town local theater. Both of our moms came in and sat right behind us. How terribly uncomfortable it was when the guys were in the brothel in New Orleans. When I went to the brothel in New Orleans years later I made sure mom was still in California.
1962 to 1973 wasn’t that big of a stretch. I absolutely LOVE this movie!
My 55 Chevy was in the movie, most prominently in the scene where Toad pulls out of Mel's to go buy beer and the waitress skates out with her tray and there is no car there. The entire left side of the screen is my car. You can see my right rear fender looks very dull where they sprayed something on it to cut the glare. It was very difficult to get it off. I am also in a cruising scene that was filmed in San Rafael on 3 and 4th streets where I change lanes. That same night they were filming Milner cruising in his 32. The camera was mounted on the back of an El Camino. I pulled up next to him and goosed it. He punched it too and we started going back and forth. The camera swung around and filmed me too, but that never made it into the film. I was paid $20 per night to be there from 6PM until 6AM. It cost me more to buy gas, but it was great fun. One of my best memories was when they were filming Harrison Ford in the black 55 Chevy at Mel's. They wanted him to do a burnout in the parking lot. That car was one of the Two Lane Blacktop cars, so it was a real racer. He lost control and people scattered. I am sure he soiled himself before screeching to a stop.
Coppola filmed Peggy Sue Got Married next door to my parents house in Santa Rosa...one entire week of filming...semi trucks, cables everywhere, catering trucks etc....and not one frame made it to the final edit or movie!
@@sonomawinetourdrivers3895 I wonder if anybody scavenged the cuts...would be great to see..
Very cool ! What color is your car, I'm going to see if I can spot it
Really? That is awesome. What color is your car? I will try and find it the next time I can watch American Graffiti...
vettejoevette Awesome! I lived in San Rafael for several years and enjoyed their yearly classic car parade, too.
Thank you so much for doing the research and making this behind the scenes video about my favorite movie of all times. Dragging Main Street in fast cars & pickin' up chicks was what those days were all about!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
Naw, George Lucas used to hang out in the studio w Wolfman as a kid and cut tapes of all Wolfman’s phone calls, which he loved the most. Wolfman got pissed off at him at first for “messin with” his tapes.
He was a hanger-on, not just an outside listener. That’s how he knew him. Told by the Wolfman himself in a ‘90s BBC interview. ✌️
Graffiti and Silent Running, two of my favourite films
I was in high school in the mid sixties. I drove a 55 Chevy 2 door hardtop. Total fun cruising back then.
Great movie with the best sound track in history.
I was at Vanderbilt Hospital in the 100 Oaks Mall (Nashville, TN) last week and in the children's hospital in a window was a small model of the diner, cars and people from the movie!! I was very much made to smile. Around the small model were train sets the kids could push a button to activate. When they activated the switch the diner lights (including the menu/speaker polls) would light up. Each car from the movie was represented in the model. This movie lives on and on!
More, more more! Your Posts are wonderfully produced, most accurately researched and, let me say it from a classic movie fan, including Hi Def images in proper ratio. So important! Thank You...Thank You.
Great segment! Love this movie so much I've built models of the main cars. Big fan of the Wolfman also. Sadly, the many city ordinances against cruising began the fall of our car culture in America. Thank you for sharing.
THE BEST MOVIE. Great job with the little know facts. AG was my life also. Cruising the drag here on the East Coast in Brockton MA. It was the best and coolest f times. I actually have 2 DVD's just in case one ever gets damaged. Thanks for doing a great job.
Did you ever go to the rest area in Medford on Rte. 93N.? Great drag racing at 1:00 am in the morning, sometimes 4 cars across!
A movie about better times. Look at today. Enough said.
George Vreeland Hill wasn’t “ better” for black and brown people
No way, 1955 was epidemic of VD, greatest generation ....
It's all about perspective. Those times weren't all wonderful. Same as today.
Movie was about escaping from their troubles cruising. They had real problems in More AG.
One of the best movies ever made. My parents love this movie. Dad, class of 58. Mom, class of 61. :)
That was one of the best movies that I ever seen America graffiti
Awesome movie!! A true American Classic....
This kind of (cruising) activity was still going strong in small mid-western towns until about 1980!
In Junction City Kansas it was a part of the daily routine, depending on your work schedule...
The "driving age" for a "permit" was 14...Driver's-Ed class was split between Hunter's-Safety class in 8th grade, then all ya needed was a job...and a set of hand tools!!
When "off" during the day, we'd start by washing our cars, then going to a Park to apply wax, take a cruise around da Loop, go back to Park, polish off the wax then cruise da Loop again, go to the Lake, or Drive-in.
At sunset, we would turn-on our Parking Lights & start to cruise da Loop, at very slow speeds, with the "turn-arounds" being at 7/11 & Sonic Drive-in (still love that place!).
Then we would park in the lots of the closed retail stores to watch cars go by or get picked-up by one of our friends to do a Loop.
Everyone would chip-in a $1 for gas & a "dime-bag" and let the good times roll!!
When I came to California in the early 80's cruising was already "outlawed" in many cities and often led to violent (gun) encounters, which seemed confusing contradictory to the whole (happy) concept.
I actually still "cruise", but these days I'm solo with several (mapped-out) "cruise Loops" to take-me-back (mentally) to a happier/safer place & time.
Hey, "perception is reality" right? So don't mess with my denial LMAO!!
Keep da greasy-side down!! Rebel Yell........Road Trip!!
This was my generation (baby-boomer) We had the best music, coolist girls and the hottest cars. 💙 🇺🇸 The good olde days for sure. 💜🎶🎶🎵🎶💖 😎
Crusin' on the weekend in my friend's '55 Chevy in Harrisburg, PA; up and down 2nd Street. Ahhh how well I remember. AG made a lot of money from those of us who did not only remember but actually lived that film.
Thanks for the video. Thought I knew everything about that movie. Apparently not! One of my all time favorites.
It's funny how you brought up the sound track. I love cars and cruising in general but half of what makes that movie authentic and great is the music. Nice video.
Just saw it for the first time. Wonderfully fun.🙂
Thanks! funny facts I didn´t know on my all time favourite film!
Excellent information on one of my favorite movies of all time.
Really enjoyed this! Thanks for sharing!
These are really great and I enjoyes them immensely.
Really Grear Behind The scenes of "American Graffiti". I have that Movie right next to my Desk.
When I'm Down i watch it living in that era, and Living a similar Lifestyle in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Chasing Ladies, Drag Racing Super Fast 60's Super Cars a & Hot Rods, and Asbury Park the one way street's running along the Ocean the Traffic lights were 1/4 Mile between traffic lights. Your Typical Drag Strip . Also Bruce Springsteen was an avid Racer with his 1957 Corvette... Again Thanks for this Commentary.
Even though "American Graffiti" was set in Modesto, CA (where George Lucas grew up), the movie was actually shot in downtown Petaluma. They tried to film in San Rafael, but production was reportedly halted after one night of filming as they were asked to leave town. And the scene where Richard Dreyfuss goes to the radio station to talk to the Wolfman and the station's tower is shown...that's the tower of Petaluma radio station 1490 KTOB you see. However, the studio of the radio station was that of KRE on Ashby Ave. in Berkeley.
Not true. All the street scenes you see on one way streets were shot in San Rafael. The two way streets were in Petaluma. Lucas was not asked to leave town.
Very well done review of a movie for us old folks now that I'm one to remember a simpler and less complicated time a.k.a. fubar as these times are.Thanks will watch all reviews cause they are done professionally...
Great commentary. Amazingly I had bought and read that Mad magazine issue before I even heard of the movie. When you showed the credits, I notice that Toni Basil was listed as choreographer. (She went onto bigger and better things as well)
My favorite movie of all time
I was stationed at Hamilton AFB during the shoot of this movie. They needed extras for the dance scene at the high school. Unfortunately they could not find enough men with short hair in the local area so they put out a casting call to the local military bases in the area for volunteers for a couple nights as background extras. I was available and I asked who the stars were and they mentioned Ron Howard. I thought to myself “Opie!” and I did not volunteer. I still see some of my colleagues in the background in the gym scenes.
Great post, super informative and helpful
6:20 He was cast as Wolf Man Jack, because he *WAS* Wolf Man Jack
I really enjoyed the inside story of a great film that was hot as the 4th of July in my time.
My Steady owned a Sierra Gold ‘40 Ford Coupe drag raced at old airfield - wonderful memories.
Really nice video... I’ll be back for more
Btw.. saw American Graffiti in 73 at Castro Theatre Mt View Ca... I was amazed... great film
My friends and I lived in Petaluma California where they filmed the last parts of American graffiti
After the movie came out we all had muscle cars and then the cruising started every weekend
Both in Petaluma and San Rafael where they filmed American graffiti
Don Dressel Did you see any filming?
Evan Torch no unfortunately I did not but I’ve met George Lucas on a number of occasions
He’s a very strange man
Great movie...AMERICAN GRAFFITTI, and really interesting discussion of the movie.
I think the 55 Chevy which was one of three was also used in “ Two lane blacktop.” Also was the engine sound used in “Smokey and the Bandit “.
i lived american graffiti! 1n 1962, i think everyone did,, a different time and country. great movie, enjoyed, interesting facts, i look forward to the other films you speak of,,thanks, jim
one word for this movie rocks
I was 9 years old and loved the era!
American Graffitti, Dirty Dancing, and To Sir With Love Starring LULU are my Favorite Three Movies !!!
To Sir With Love is one of all-time favorite movie songs.
Nice trivia ,,thank you.
Memories of high school and cruising “ The Big El “,
El Camino Real, San Bruno , California.
Yes, an outstanding movie to take you back to your youth. That was when all kinds of good, exciting, and innocent fun was happening on the week ends. Nothing like these drug crazed ass~holes of today. No more cool hot rods and good music either... Boy~Boy have times went to hell in a handbasket!!!
Where was I in 1962? I was 8 years old in the boston suburbs...........and I remember it like it was yesterday
One of my favorite movies!
This is a great video. I liked it, I liked it a lot.
Interesting the inside info on American Graffiti.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
My mother was 12 in 62 so I was an entity in that time 12 years in the future.
The scene where Dreyfuss andPaul Le Matt talk about the strip getting shorter was improvised when Lucas fell aspleep and didn't say cut and the actors just kept on talking.
One really significant historical inaccuracy about this film, which nobody ever discusses or probably even realizes, is that in 1962 virtually no radio station was broadcasting all these old songs. No high school dances were playing oldies and touch-dancing was losing popularity because the Twist had become a huge hit the year before, leading to stuff like the Fly, the Pony, the Mashed Potatoes, etc. But this fictionalized depiction immediately created a fantasy version of the '50s that is still in place in American pop culture. It worked so well at the time because there had been such immense changes in so much of American life between 1962 and 1973 that the setting for the film was immediately funny, but recognizable.
I grew up in Modesto on Jahrom Ln. over off Coffee Blvd. Went to Buyer High school and had a great time cruising McHenry. it was alive and well in the early 80's throughout the early 90's. We would all drive out to Paradise road to drag occasionally. There was a 340 orange Duster out there blowing everyone away at the time. This was the early to mid 80s and cruising was a live and well on Fridays and Saturdays. There was no gang activity, no drugs etc etc. it was all about the cars, girls and who wants to race down Brigsmore. My older friend Mario had a dad who worked for the Modesto Police Department. There was a month police auction, I think it was monthly? anyway his dad bought him a 69 SS 396 Nova. Gold Crager's that we took steel wool to and took all back to chrome. Had the orig. 396 big block, auto trans. We installed a Star shifter and had a hell of a blast on weekends.
Thank you, Jim Case.
The album was released by their label, MCA and made another fortune!
This was excellent ~ thanks so much for making it A M M!
watched this movie on a military base overseas. Was a great escape from being in the service.
All these "little-known facts" (which are well-known to a few of us "American Graffiti" geeks) combine to make this one of the greatest films in cinema history, and probably the most American film of all.
That is so true. The cars & cruisin' scene in the USA wasn't found anywhere else in the world, and we're still #1 in celebrating that era. Proud to be a cruisin' Boomer!
Great video! You did a nice job with this. Thank you! Subbed.
Thanks!
Every year the first Saturday after high school graduation people come to Modesto from all over for graffiti night
That summer of '62, I was 15 y/o, heading to 16 in September. ---------------And I was totally Curt Henderson. ------------WolfSky9
I grew up right through the 60's had a beast of a car for drag night we had our own places to go. I loved the show so much I bought an authentic green electric guitar with the whole cast autographing it. I looked for a poster or 8x10 but never seen one. I paid a premium price for it I never want to sell it, I hope my daughter keeps it with all my other pictures which I have over 100 now. I have the dvd so I can watch the toad hit the side of the building time after time.
American Graffiti was a big hit in Europe specially Germany , the cars , the music , the cruising , It's what they envisioned America as being like .
The soundtrack was awesome.
Nice job! Interesting!
I do believe it was the first movie to have a wall to wall soundtrack, it was the first movie to tell the story in four sections instead of being a Lineal Formula, and they actually played the music in an alley way and recorded it there then added those recordings to the movie, instead of just adding the real recording to the soundtrack. this is so that it would sound like the music was coming from everywhere around and make it feel like the music was coming from all the radio's in the cars and bouncing off the walls and windows in the street.
Great presentation. It should be noted Toads Vespa accident IS in the original script despite what others including the actor who portrayed Toad, Charles Martin Smith have said in retrospect.
In 62 i was 2 years old living about 20 miles from where this film was filmed
AG is truly a masterpiece.
The sock hop scene was filmed at Tamalpais HS gym, in Mill Valley, CA. The outside parking lot scenes were filmed elsewhere. Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids were hired to be the band, Herbie and the Heartbeats. The story goes, Fred Roos, the famed casting director saw them at a hoot night at the Troubadour in L.A. and remembered them for being a 1950s/60s cover act. They were asked to write a song for the soundtrack; the sound track sold very well and the band was honored with gold records. Since Fred Roos was also casting for Happy Days, a story was written especially for them--as Johnny Fish and the Fins--and directed by the late, great Jerry Paris. Coppola hired them to be the band at the USO show in Apocalypse Now. They were sent to the Philippines twice to shoot their scenes. They were working in unmercifully bad conditions and contracted dysentery. Coppola loved them so much he wanted them as the class reunion band in the 80s movie Peggy Sue Got Married. Sadly, some creative-intent politicking kept Flash Cadillac from the film and Marshall Crenshaw was in the film instead.
Excellent analysis. Best of luck with your channel.
Shot in 29 nights, not days!
Great presentation and info. The movie might have sparked renewed interest in cars of the 50's. By 1973 there were plenty of cool cars and muscle cars of the 60's on their own... a movie like that sure could have given 50's cars a boost. I was 16 years old in 1973, and American Graffiti was a big party of that summer for me in a lot of ways, mostly the cars though.
I think you could get a 55 to 57 Chevy running and driving for about $500. it might need work, but it was all there. Ron Howard's 58 Impala... probably less, the 58's were not popular at all.
This was a great film.
1962 a senior in High School in Indiana..
My dad listened to Wolfman Jack in Pleasant Hill, Or. Near Eugene. On a crystal radio he built himself.