Some of geoffs rare downtime was spent in petaluma, california where part of george lucas classic movie american graffiti was filmed. American graffiti directed by george lucas and stars ron howard, paul lemat, richard dreyfuss, cindy williams, charles martin smith and candy clark pop into peggy sues diner and eattothebeat with great music and. American graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard, richard dreyfuss and. American graffiti premiered on august 2, 1973, at the locarno international film festival in switzerland, and was released on august 11, 1973, in the united states. An enduring classic, american graffiti celebrates an america of the early 1960s, where teenagers cruise the streets in hot rods and rock and roll tops the music charts. American graffiti, george lucass last film before star wars, is the perfect end of summer movie it was a turning point for the director, and for his characters, too. Music, emotions, friends, driveins, that was my life. American graffiti filming locations road trip makes stops at mels drivein, kre radio, pinkys pizza parlor and others. So our heroes spend a restless night driving up and back, hooking up, looking for.
They built the ford coupe mainly so that it would look good in front of the cameras. Dismissed as a disgraceand unreleasable by the suits who know the business, american graffiti not only grossed millions and spawned a wave of pale imitations, but earned a pair of oscar nominations for george lucas as both writer and director. En 1962, curt henderson, steve bolander, terry fields et. Rev your engines for petalumas salute to american graffiti. It is the sequel to the 1973 film american graffiti. Inspired by his youth in the valley town of modesto, california, graffiti was george lucas second feature film, and is a masterwork of vibrant colors, exciting soundtracks, and endearing characters. In 1972, the original mels located at 140 south van ness in san francisco was selected as a feature location by filmmaker george lucas for his 1973 coming of age film american graffiti. The rocknrollsoundtracked film, following a group of friends throughout a single lifechanging night, assisted in propelling the careers of upandcoming actors including. Petalumas salute to american graffiti visit petaluma. Cruising with american graffiti can you go home again. So, don,t ask me if i can relate to the movie american graffiti.
Nov 17, 2010 a few years back this stunt was recreated in the same lot with a 61 fairlane during the petalumas salute to american graffiti event in may of 2008. Click the image above for a clip from the movie for a peek at 4th street american graffitistyle. American graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard, richard dreyfuss and harrison ford. American graffiti 1973 movies, tv, celebs, and more. Petalumas salute to american graffiti celebrates its 15th year in 2020. Axalta coating systems most of you would remember them as dupont had a huge display area where they filmed interviews and unveiled the 1958 impala from american graffiti. Reenactment paradise road aka freitas rd petaluma where the 1973 american graffiti was filmed. More american graffiti is a 1979 american comingofage comedy film written and directed by bill l. The 55 chevy was driven in american graffiti by bob falfa harrison ford and featured in the final dawn drag race with the yellow deuce coupe. An editing technique in which two shots with the same movement are cut together, making it seem uninterrupted. A scene from george lucass 1973 film american graffiti. Theyre even more antiquated today, which makes the existence of films like american graffiti worthy of being put in special little time capsules. May is the perfect month to plan a weekend getaway in easytogetto petaluma.
American graffiti looks like no other movie, an achievement which is always the best measure of a truly gifted director. American graffiti and the sixties in the seventies society. The film was inspired by lucas own adolescent years cruising the strip in modesto, on highway 99 between stockton and fresno in. Here, we look at american graffiti, george lucas first feature released under lucasfilm. Nprs larry abramson returns to his hometown, san rafael which also happens to be where george lucas nightinthelife. American graffiti and mels drivein restaurant ultra. American graffiti was shot in small towns in northern california, but its real stage is those lanes of blacktop. So this will likely be the last george lucas directed movie for me, unless he ever goes through with making those inaccessible art movies he always says he wants to make. American graffiti 1973 filming location 40th anniversary. American graffiti is different from the other ones he directed because its the only one thats not in space or in a futuristic dystopian worker colony under the earth. Abc passed but repurposed the material for an episode of love american style the following year.
The sequel, more american graffiti, reunited much of the cast and crew with the exceptions of richard dreyfuss and lucas, but that film was considered somewhat of a dud in comparison with the. Set in 1962 but reflecting the culmination of the 1950s, the. Wolfman jacks station 16 of 16 found this interesting. Darn, curt leaves friends and family to persue studies in the east. The film was set in modesto, california, but primarily filmed in petaluma in only 28 days.
And for the cast of american graffiti, george lucas had just one wellknown actor ron howard, who was famous as opie from the andy griffith show. Dennis stock writerdirector george lucas looks through the camera on the set of his american graffiti, filmed in and around the bay area. Lucas and company planned to shoot the film in san rafael, california, as the real settingmodestohad changed too much since 1962. May 11, 2016 the 55 chevy was driven in american graffiti by bob falfa harrison ford and featured in the final dawn drag race with the yellow deuce coupe. American graffiti is a 1973 film directed by george lucas with a cast of actors who were relatively unknown at the time including ron howard. Please plan to attend the show and visit modesto, the birthplace of american. American graffiti acts almost as a milestone to show us how far and in many cases how tragically we have come. Apr 18, 2018 axalta coating systems most of you would remember them as dupont had a huge display area where they filmed interviews and unveiled the 1958 impala from american graffiti.
The event is an annual celebration of american graffiti, classic american cars, cruising the main drag, rock n roll music and the happy days of the 50s and early 60s. Its kind of strange to think about how american graffiti was set only 11 years before. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but found favor at universal pictures after every other major film. More american graffiti 1979 movies, tv, celebs, and more.
Mar 26, 2019 and for the cast of american graffiti, george lucas had just one wellknown actor ron howard, who was famous as opie from the andy griffith show. American graffiti and the sixties in the seventies. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the academy award for best picture. But with ingenuity, a killer retro soundtrack, and an assist from francis ford coppola, george lucas american graffiti did get made, and is a lowbudget classic. The final drag race scene was filmed on frates road, which was named paradise road in the film. The north modesto kiwanis club thanks our sponsors, the show entrants, and the public for their support. Of all the youththemed nostalgia films in the past couple of years, george lucas american graffiti is among the very best to date. American graffiti simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. American graffiti was wolfman jacks first movie appearance and in 1991 he wrote an article for street rodder magazine about the film, which is summarized below.
Whereas the first film followed a group of friends during the summer evening before they set off for college, this film shows where they end up a few years later. Actor richard dreyfuss on the set of american graffiti, filmed in and around the bay area. This was the first time that bolanders 58 has been seen since the odometer was spun back to 1972. The 2019 american graffiti tm festival and car show was a great success. An enduring classic, american graffiti celebrates an america of the early 1960s, where teenagers cruise the streets in hot rods and rock and roll tops the music charts inspired by his youth in the valley town of modesto, california, graffiti was george lucas second feature film, and is a masterwork of vibrant colors, exciting soundtracks, and endearing charact. The pilot for the show, originally entitled new family in town was actually filmed for abc in 1971 with the cast that would eventually appear in happy days. Aside from producer francis ford coppola who was just coming off the success of the godfather, the only household names in the credits were the rocknroll stars. Sep 02, 2017 american graffiti, george lucass last film before star wars, is the perfect end of summer movie it was a turning point for the director, and for his characters, too. This film may take place in the very early 60s but the laid back, nocturnal, real time hangout vibe of the film is the story of every american youths summer years.
How do you incorporate the anniversary of chopin death in a car related post. On the collectors edition dvd and vhs, a sunset with clouds has been digitally added in where the cloudygrey sky originally was. American graffiti seems to smartly captivate the audience with easy going atmosphere, innocent gags and popular pop music, but it is a bittersweet dream of something that has already happened and, when you are young, do not know if and how it is going to happen. Most of the classic george lucas films memorable scenes were filmed in downtown petaluma in june and. That meant there were parts of it that didnt have to be put together perfectly. The final drag race scene was filmed on frates road, which was named paradise road in. Many american graffiti fans who come to petaluma want to know where the various scenes were filmed, so weve prepared a detailed filming locations. American graffiti is a 1973 comingofage film based on director george lucass memories of growing up in the 1950s and early 60s, and he thus manages to cram in as much popular history as possible.
Movies directed by george lucas movies set in california movies set in the 1960s united states national film registry movies universal pictures movies. American graffiti film location scenes part 1 youtube. Filming locations 25 filming dates 1 filming locations. Site of final drag race in american graffiti in petaluma. American graffiti critics consensus one of the most influential of all teen films, american graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads last days.
A few years back this stunt was recreated in the same lot with a 61 fairlane during the petalumas salute to american graffiti event in may of 2008. However, lucas soon became frustrated at the time it was taking to fix camera mounts to the cars. You can mark the dates for the 2020 show which will be held on june 12, 14, 2020. Portions of american graffiti were filmed in berkeley, san francisco, san rafael, mill valley, sonoma, marin county, concord and pinole, however most of the. These last two series, in particular, bore a close relationship to american graffiti.
The 1973 film american graffiti is george lucass love letter to the 1950s and his home town of modesto, california. More american graffiti may be one of the most innovative and ambitious films of the last five years, but by no means is it one of the most successful. The film was inspired by lucas own adolescent years cruising the strip in modesto, on highway 99 between stockton and fresno in central california. American graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film directed and cowritten by george lucas starring richard dreyfuss, ron howard, paul le mat, harrison ford, charles martin smith, cindy williams, candy clark, mackenzie phillips and wolfman jack. Geoff visits location where american graffiti was filmed youtube. Stanley kauffmann, who liked it, complained in the new republic that lucas had made a film more fascinating to the generation now between thirty and forty than it could be for other generations, older or younger. Come for classic cars, craft beer or just to relax and enjoy the stunning beauty of sonoma county wine country. Portions of american graffiti were filmed in berkeley, san francisco, san rafael, mill valley, sonoma, marin county, concord and pinole, however most of the memorable scenes were filmed here in petaluma, june august, 1972.
The event was filmed and may still be available on dvd at the petaluma celebrates american graffiti website. The films transportation manager henry travers sold the cars cheaply after production wrapped and both the black 55 chevy and yellow 32 deuce coupe were bought by steve fitch of kansas city. Many of the original production staff were there to participate. Many american graffiti fans who come to petaluma want to know where the various scenes were filmed, so weve. Set in modesto, california, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock n roll cultures popular among lucass age group at.
That sense of nostalgia is why we went back to the strip for our series on location, which looks at the places where movies are filmed, and the. Set in 1962 modesto, california, american graffiti is a study of the cruising and rock and roll cultures popular among the postworld war ii baby boom. Teen movies good movies classic films classic cars hot rod movie modesto california american graffiti graffiti tagging police cars. The sequel, more american graffiti, reunited much of the cast and crew with the exceptions of richard dreyfuss and lucas, but that film was considered somewhat of.