American Graffiti [M]

It’s the last night of the summer holidays for four teenagers before they set off into the big wide world. As the night wares on, each one will have a series of misdemeanours and adventures that will change and determine the course of their futures. It’ll be a night to remember. 

Produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by his protégé and former assistant, George Lucas, who also wrote the story, American Graffiti, is a wonderful coming-of-age classic that’s dripping with early 60s nostalgia. Packed with great style and the best rock and roll soundtrack, it’s earned its place in The Book. 

It’s the last night of the summer holidays for four teenagers before they set off into the big wide world. As the night wares on, each one will have a series of adventures and misdemeanours that will change and shape the course of their futures. As one is drag racing and babysitting, the other is drinking and desperately trying to impress the girl. Whilst another is grappling with “should I go or not?”, the fourth is breaking and fixing his relationship. When all is said and done, it’ll still be a night that none of them will forget. 

This type of film has been imitated time and time again: the late 50s, early 60s setting with diners, rollerblades, tight shirts, the slicked hair, drag racing, and cigarettes tuck up the sleeves. It’s all delightfully resemblant to Rebel Without a Cause and those sorts of classics, of course, minus the drama. What’s particularly nice about American Graffiti is that everything happens within the space of one night and it’s all these different little stories that are happening to each of the central characters. It’s funny, subtle, and very cleverly constructed. A really nice and quaint little film that earned itself Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Candy Clark was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. So there you go, instant credit. 

Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Wolfman Jack, Bo Hoskins, Manuel Padilla Jr., Beau Gentry, Jim Bohan, Jana Bellan, Deby Celiz, Johnny Weissmuller Jr., Suzanne Somers, and Harrison Ford, American Graffiti is a great little movie filled with action, comedy, romance, drag racing, punks, squares, and rock and roll. A really nice little film, definitely worth watching.