Every generation believes they are the best that ever lived
upon the Earth and will continue to be the best when rated against future generations.
It is but human nature. But in doing so, we tend to forget previous cultures
and the importance they held in developing our current culture. Sometimes a
period film can give you a glimpse into the past but perhaps no other film has
ever managed to celebrate the culture of a particular era as was done with the
film American Graffiti.
Steve and Curt are long-time friends who have recently
graduated from high school. They meet one evening, scheduled to leave for
college the next day, with Steve adamant to get out of town for a new
experience and Curt needing some coaxing to get on the flight to head out to
college. They decide to enjoy their last night in their town and figure out
their lives before hopping onto the flight. They meet Terry and John at the
famous Mel’s Drive-In to make plans for the night. Steve and Curt, accompanied by
Curt’s sister and Steve’s girlfriend Laurie, decide to go to a dance organised
by their high school. Terry and John decide to drive around town and see where
things go from there. The night carries on with unforeseen situations befalling
all 5 friends while they run into each other and several other people before sunrise.
The film was written and directed by George Lucas and
produced by Francis Ford Coppola. It was released in the year 1973. It stars
Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, and Cindy
Williams. Actors in supporting roles include Harrison Ford, Candy Clark,
Mackenzie Phillips and former radio personality Wolfman Jack.
The film is set in 1962 in the town of Modesto in
California. The location of the film is pivotal in its style since a major
amount of the film consists of vehicles cruising on strips which Modesto was
well known for at the time. Radio also plays an important role in the film as a
famous radio personality is one of the characters in the film and the other characters
are constantly listening to the radio. This was typical behaviour of youngsters
during the timeframe the film is set in. Songs are ever present during the
course of the film which was the case when young men and women got into their
cars to drive around town leisurely. The soundtrack of the film consists of
songs from the 50s and early 60s. The dialogues of the characters also reflect
the parlance of the time. The women wearing dresses and men in trousers and
short-sleeved shirts with slick back hair, the sock hop dances and meeting at
drive-ins are also reminders of the time which are reflected in the film. The
film also features greasers who were the local hoodlums present in most
localities during the time.
The film isn’t very difficult to understand. It is a
coming-of-age tale of a group of friends told over one night in their lives.
During the course of the film, it is shown that one night can drastically
change a person with headstrong characters modifying their previous resolve and
confident characters doubting their self belief. The flaws in the film are that
it becomes difficult to identify any one character as the protagonist and the
film does not seem to have a typical plotline. However, these can be seen as a
benchmark in cinema since it is a great film despite it not fulfilling the need
for a protagonist or a plot consisting of a straightforward storyline. It was
once said that a film should have a beginning, middle and an end, but not
necessarily in that order. This film is probably the best example to prove that
quote right. It is also an excellent insight into the culture of the 1950s and
1960s with incredible detailing that only a person who lived and experienced
such a time would be able to produce on celluloid.
The film is a little out of the way from what we are used to
seeing. Since it is a period film, it would be expected to be different but the
identity of culture that it provides the audience is what makes it a film worth
seeing.
