American Graffiti

Genre: slice-of-life comedy drama 

With: Richard Dreyfuss (Curt Henderson), Ron Howard (Steve Bolander), Paul Le Mat (John Milner), Cindy Williams (Laurie, Curt’s sister), Charles Martin Smith (Terry Fields), Candy Clark (Debbie), Mackenzie Phillips (Carol), Wolfman Jack (the Disc Jockey), Bo Hopkins (Joe), Harrison Ford (Bob Falfa), Suzanne Somers (her legendary cameo as the girl in a T-Bird)

Director: George Lucas

Release: 1973

Studio: Universal Pictures, Lucasfilm, The Coppola Company

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.2/10

Your Last Night Out… So Make It a Good One

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Story-line: Curt, Steve and other teenagers spend the last night of the summer cruising around, discussing their future and looking for thrills, spills, good times and love.

Pluses: competent acting by an ensemble cast destined for greatness, a nostalgic portrait of adolescence in the early 60s, an astute and atmospheric screenplay by George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck, able direction and a fabulous retro soundtrack.

Minuses: none whatsoever.

Comments: an atypical Lucas masterwork that spawned the hit TV series Happy Days and brings back memories of deuce coupes, sock hops, Studebakers and necking. As the DJ would say, ‟Get your bugaloos out baby! The Wolfman is everywhere.”

MBiS

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