American GraffittiDirected by George Lucas
Released on August 11,1973
Story-Line
The story is presented in a series of vignettes focused on the four main characters—Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss), Steve Bolander (Ron Howard), John Milner (Paul Le Mat), and Terry "The Toad" Fields (Charles Martin Smith). The four meet in the Mel's Drive-In parking lot at sunset as a car radio plays a rock and roll station. Steve and Curt are preparing to leave
town to attend college in the East, and this is the last night they will spend with their friends. Despite receiving a scholarship from the local Moose Lodge, Curt is reluctant to head off for the unknown, but Steve is eager to get out of Modesto. His girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams), Curt's younger sister, is unsure of his leaving, to which he suggests they see other people while he is away to "strengthen" their relationship. Steve and Curt are off to the freshman Sock Hop, but John goes off to cruise the streets in his yellow deuce coupe. Steve lets Terry have his 1958 Chevy Impala for the evening and while he will be away at college. While cruising down 10th street, Curt sees a beautiful blonde girl (Suzanne Somers) in a white 1956 Ford Thunderbird. She mouths "I love you" before disappearing down the street. After leaving the hop, Curt is coerced into riding with a gang of greasers who call themselves "The Pharaohs." He learns that
disc jockey Wolfman Jack broadcasts from just outside of town (despite rumors to the contrary), and inside the dark, eerie radio station Curt encounters a bearded man he assumes to be the manager. Curt hands the manager a message for the "Blonde in TBird" to call him or meet him. As he walks away, Curt hears the voice of the Wolfman and realizes he had been speaking with him. The other three story lines involve breakups and reunions, and their stories intertwine
until Toad and Steve end up on "Paradise Road" to watch John race against Bob Falfa
(Harrison Ford), with Laurie as Falfa's passenger. Within seconds, it is all over: Falfa's car apparently blows a tire and plunges into a ditch. Steve and John run over to the wreck, and a dazed Bob and Laurie stagger out of the car before it explodes. Distraught, Laurie grips Steve tightly and tells him not to leave her. He assures her that he has decided to not go away to the East after all. The next morning, the sound of a phone ringing in a telephone booth wakes Curt. He answers; it is the mysterious blonde girl. She tells him she might see him cruising tonight,
but Curt replies that's not possible, because he will be leaving town. At the airfield, Curt says goodbye to his parents, his sister, and his friends. While saying goodbye to Laurie, he asks Steve to join him. Steve tells him he is staying in town and enrolling in junior college instead. As the plane takes off, Curt gazes out of the window at the town and the life he is leaving behind. As he watches, he sees the white Ford Thunderbird, which belongs to the mysterious blonde. Curt
smiles, and as the movie ends but prior to the closing credits, the fates of the main characters are depicted: John was killed by a drunk driver in December 1964; Steve became an insurance agent in Modesto, California; Terry "The Toad" was reported missing in action in December 1965 near An Loc, Vietnam; Curt was living in Canada as a writer.
town to attend college in the East, and this is the last night they will spend with their friends. Despite receiving a scholarship from the local Moose Lodge, Curt is reluctant to head off for the unknown, but Steve is eager to get out of Modesto. His girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams), Curt's younger sister, is unsure of his leaving, to which he suggests they see other people while he is away to "strengthen" their relationship. Steve and Curt are off to the freshman Sock Hop, but John goes off to cruise the streets in his yellow deuce coupe. Steve lets Terry have his 1958 Chevy Impala for the evening and while he will be away at college. While cruising down 10th street, Curt sees a beautiful blonde girl (Suzanne Somers) in a white 1956 Ford Thunderbird. She mouths "I love you" before disappearing down the street. After leaving the hop, Curt is coerced into riding with a gang of greasers who call themselves "The Pharaohs." He learns that
disc jockey Wolfman Jack broadcasts from just outside of town (despite rumors to the contrary), and inside the dark, eerie radio station Curt encounters a bearded man he assumes to be the manager. Curt hands the manager a message for the "Blonde in TBird" to call him or meet him. As he walks away, Curt hears the voice of the Wolfman and realizes he had been speaking with him. The other three story lines involve breakups and reunions, and their stories intertwine
until Toad and Steve end up on "Paradise Road" to watch John race against Bob Falfa
(Harrison Ford), with Laurie as Falfa's passenger. Within seconds, it is all over: Falfa's car apparently blows a tire and plunges into a ditch. Steve and John run over to the wreck, and a dazed Bob and Laurie stagger out of the car before it explodes. Distraught, Laurie grips Steve tightly and tells him not to leave her. He assures her that he has decided to not go away to the East after all. The next morning, the sound of a phone ringing in a telephone booth wakes Curt. He answers; it is the mysterious blonde girl. She tells him she might see him cruising tonight,
but Curt replies that's not possible, because he will be leaving town. At the airfield, Curt says goodbye to his parents, his sister, and his friends. While saying goodbye to Laurie, he asks Steve to join him. Steve tells him he is staying in town and enrolling in junior college instead. As the plane takes off, Curt gazes out of the window at the town and the life he is leaving behind. As he watches, he sees the white Ford Thunderbird, which belongs to the mysterious blonde. Curt
smiles, and as the movie ends but prior to the closing credits, the fates of the main characters are depicted: John was killed by a drunk driver in December 1964; Steve became an insurance agent in Modesto, California; Terry "The Toad" was reported missing in action in December 1965 near An Loc, Vietnam; Curt was living in Canada as a writer.
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