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." Good-bye! What did Suzanne Somers Drive in American Graffiti? Curt, Steve and Laurie attend the high-school sock hop. The inclusionof this title text drew some criticism. Huyck and Katz found the ending depressing and were incredulous that Lucas planned to include only the male characters. John Milner 1. "[49], Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote, "American Graffiti is such a funny, accurate movie, so controlled and efficient in its narrative, that it stands to be overpraised to the point where seeing it will be an anticlimax. Along with Easy Rider (1969), American Graffiti was one of the first films to eschew a traditional film score and successfully rely instead on synchronizing a series of popular hit songs with individual scenes. What's a field car? Let's get nostalgic for nostalgia and look in-depth at the making of American Graffiti . : I ain't goin' off to some goddamned fancy college. Zack MethvinBANNEDfrom Longview Texas. [14] Lucas, Huyck and Katz rewrote the second draft together, which, in addition to Modesto, was also set in Mill Valley and Los Angeles. Debbie Dunham : Since its initial release, American Graffiti has earned an estimated return well over $200million in box-office gross and home video sales, not including merchandising. : [11] The cost of licensing the 75 songs Lucas wanted was one factor in United Artists' ultimate decision to reject the script; the studio also felt it was too experimental"a musical montage with no characters". [14] The studio, therefore, submitted a long list of over 60 alternative titles, with their favorite being Another Slow Night in Modesto[17] and Coppola's Rock Around the Block. Lucas convinced the San Rafael City Council to allow two further nights of filming for general cruising shots, which he used to evoke as much of the intended location as possible in the finished film. Date of death December 31, 1964 Physical description Gender Male Height 5'12" (1,82 m) Eye color blue Behind the scenes Actor Paul Le Mat Our community needs more information on this page! Send me email updates and offers from TMZ and its Affiliates. : : : During a tense ride, the Pharaoh leader tells Curt that "The Blonde" is a prostitute, which he does not believe. But there is more to the characters' stories. : Sweetheart, if the prize is you, I'm a ready teddy. WritersGloria Katz and Willard Huyck did not agree with the inclusion of this epilogue. Height Danny ODonoghue [56] Another theme is teenagers' obsession with radio, especially with the inclusion of Wolfman Jack and his mysterious and mythological faceless (to most) voice. I'm too old for you. Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures over the course of a night. While he and Debbie leave Steve's car in a rural spot in order to share a romantic interlude, thieves steal the car. She also noted with disdain that the epilogue did not bother to mention the fates of any of the women characters. [72] Lucas's Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (2002) features references to the film. Debbie Dunham : Wow, you're just like the Lone Ranger. Yeah, I know what you mean. Carol Dreyfuss also complained over the wardrobe that Lucas had chosen for the character. : He turned down those offers, determined to pursue his own projects despite his urgent desire to find another film to direct. Carol You would, you grungy little twirp. : Carol : [29] Fields worked on the first rough cut of the film before she left to resume work on What's Up, Doc?. The film is the first movie to be produced by George Lucas's company Lucasfilm. : Expectin' some action? The night unfolds with drag races, chasing a mysterious blonde in a Thunderbird, and listening to DJ Wolfman Jack on the radio. Laurie Henderson : [Steve, Terry, Laurie and John wish Curt goodbye]. At the end of its theatrical run, American Graffiti had one of the greatest profit-to-cost ratios of a motion picture ever. Yeah, she's goin' with me. Eye color What the hell's goin' on here, Toad? Danny & the Juniors How do the title cards impact "American Graffiti"? Girl in Cadillac [11], Lucas was dismayed when he returned to America in June 1971 and read Walter's script, which was written in the style and tone of an exploitation film, similar to 1967's Hot Rods to Hell. John Milner Later, after the alcohol has made Terry violently sick, he sees Steve's car and attempts to steal it back. Don't you have homework or something to do? The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: Internet reviewer MaryAnn Johanson acknowledged that American Graffiti rekindled public and entertainment interest in the 1950s and early 1960s, and influenced other films such as The Lords of Flatbush (1974) and Cooley High (1975) and the TV series Happy Days. We lost what could have been a great one when John Milner died while from getting hit by a drunk driver on New Year's Eve in 1964. : : Lucas had considered doing a documentary about the Wolfman when he attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts, but he ultimately dropped the idea. 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. Oh, wait, there's Dee Dee. [16] Instead, he elected to shoot American Graffiti using two cinematographers (as he had done in THX 1138) and no formal director of photography. It had been painted red and had 55,000 miles showing. Company Credits Oh. . [5] Universal refused these offers and told Lucas they planned to have William Hornbeck re-edit the film. Steve, on the other hand, looks forward to this change and tries to convince his devoted girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams) to break up so they can date other people. An epilogue prior to the end credits reveals that John was killed by a drunk driver in 1964, Terry was reported missing in action near An Lc in 1965, Steve is an insurance agent in Modesto and Curt is a writer living in Canada. [48] Gene Siskel awarded three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that although the film suffered from an "overkill" of nostalgia, particularly with regards to a soundtrack so overstuffed that it amounted to "one of those golden-oldie TV blurbs," it was still "well-made, does achieve moments of genuine emotion, and does provide a sock (hop) full of memories. Can you help out? Probably a couple of weeks past their bedtime. However, Universal did object to the film's title, not knowing what "American Graffiti" meant;[17] Lucas was dismayed when some executives assumed he was making an Italian movie about feet. : Bob Falfa Official Sites John Milner During the production of THX 1138 (1971), producer Francis Ford Coppola challenged co-writer/director George Lucas to write a script that would appeal to mainstream audiences. Richard Dreyfuss was the only principal cast member from the original film not to appear in the sequel. First, they were offended by Lucas' erasure of the female characters. [71] In 1997 the city of Modesto, California, honored Lucas with a statue dedication of American Graffiti at George Lucas Plaza. : [70] The film's box-office success made George Lucas an instant millionaire. Milner was killed on New Years Eve when he was struck head on after a race in the second movie. Suzanne Somers, Kathleen Quinlan, Debralee Scott, and Joe Spano also appear in the film. Girl in Cadillac 12 Partner. He held the title of Modesto's undisputed drag racing champion. : [28] Jan D'Alquen and Ron Eveslage were hired as the cinematographers, but filming with Techniscope cameras brought lighting problems. It is a sequel to George Lucas's 1973 film American Graffiti. John Milner : We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Directed by George Lucas, this 1973 classic is filled with cruising-for-a-bruising teens, young love, and all of the feels of the last summer before college. [John turns off the radio] Filmphest argues "they do provide a contrast of the carefree past with the more troubling future, but they also kill some of the mystique around the picture and unnecessarily close events that could have been left more open-ended." Milners "baby shit" yellow street rod in both movies is often . : John Milner [16], Over 100 unknown actors auditioned for Curt Henderson before Richard Dreyfuss was cast; George Lucas was impressed with Dreyfuss's thoughtful analysis of the role,[6] and as a result, offered the actor his choice of Curt or Terry "The Toad" Fields. Carol They cruise the Modesto strip while listening to their favorite rock and roll songs, contemplating what lies ahead of them in their adulthood. John Milner : 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. In More American Graffiti, John Milner was revealed to have been killed by a drunk driver in December 1964 (reminiscent of the death of James Dean in 1955, . Now calling himself "Terry The Tiger", he attempts all night to impress her by lying about the car being his and purchasing alcohol with no ID. On their last evening of summer vacation in 1962, high school graduates Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander meet two other friends, confident drag-racing king John Milner and unpopular but well-meaning Terry "The Toad" Fields in the parking lot of Mel's Drive-In in Modesto, California. : Adding to the documentary feel was Lucas's openness for the cast to improvise scenes. Ford was kicked out of his motel room at the Holiday Inn. John Milner The studio eventually proposed a flat deal that offered every music publisher the same amount of money. I'm sorta' embarrassed to be this close to ya! Why did you do that? [30] Walter Murch assisted Lucas in post-production for audio mixing and sound design purposes. : "[34] It was the 13th-highest-grossing film of all time in 1977[35] and, adjusted for inflation, is currently the 43rd highest. Ok, so here's the deal. Bob Falfa Laurie, Steve's girlfriend and Curt's sister, arrives moments later, Steve suggesting to her that they see other people while he is away at college to "strengthen" their relationship. You got a bitchin' car. All were offered for sale in San Francisco newspaper ads; only the '58 Impala (driven by Ron Howard) attracted a buyer, selling for only a few hundred dollars. [22] Also, the date of John Milner's death was changed from June 1964 to December 1964 to fit the narrative structure of the upcoming sequel, More American Graffiti. : [10], THX 1138 was released in March 1971,[4] and Lucas was offered opportunities to direct Lady Ice, Tommy, or Hair. : Hey, get down! : "George Lucas and I went through thousands of Wolfman Jack phone calls that were taped with the public," Jack reflected. John Milner John Milner Steve and Curt are to travel "Back East" in the morning and start college but the latter has second thoughts about leaving. A soundtrack album for the film, 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti, was issued by MCA Records. John Milner is the tritagonist of the film American Graffiti. [16], Universal initially projected a $600,000 budget but added an additional $175,000 once producer Francis Ford Coppola signed on. What happened, man? I thought some of my friends might be here. 4 Is American Graffiti based on a true story? Suzanne Somers [5] To co-write a 15-page film treatment, Lucas hired Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, who also added semiautobiographical material to the story. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. More American Graffiti is a 1979 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Bill L. Norton. Shit! What happened to John Milner in American Graffiti? "The Wolfman was an ethereal presence in the lives of young people," said producer Gary Kurtz, "and it was that quality we wanted and obtained in the picture. [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. [18] Bob Balaban turned down Terry out of fear of becoming typecast, a decision he later regretted. Actor : : How old are you? John Milner "I used the absence of music, and sound effects, to create the drama," Lucas later explained.[30]. John Milner The setting is two months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, and before the outbreak of the Vietnam War and the John F. Kennedy assassination[9] and before the peak years of the counterculture movement. : Male Lucas recalled, "He would have made $30million (equivalent to $183million in 2021)[33] on the deal. Grungy? John Milner What? American Graffiti (1973) Suzanne Somers as Blonde in T-Bird IMDb. 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