Steve Bolander and Curt Henderson are two 1962 California high school graduates who are scheduled to leave for college in the morning and are spending one last night in their home town. Curt is uncertain about his decision to leave, while Steve is adamant that they need to get out of the small town. But Steve is somewhat conflicted as he would be leaving Laurie (Curt's sister). The two spend the night with their high school friends, attending the high school hop, hanging out at Mel's Drive-In, cruising the strip and looking for answers. Curt is on a quest to find a blonde he saw in a white Thunderbird. Steve gives his car to Terry "The Toad" Fields who drives the strip looking for love and finding Debbie Dunham, a blonde who is more experienced. John Milner cruises in his souped up coupe looking for girls and finding Carol, an underaged unwanted passenger in his car. "American Graffiti" is a picture of America coming to the end of an era that was seen as more of an innocent time, poised to enter an era of conflict and change. It exists on the boundary line between the Elvis Era and what was to follow.
In 1979, a sequel was produced, "More American Graffiti." It portrays the original characters, several years later and is staged over four New Years Eves from 1964 to 1967. The original cast members returned except for Richard Dreyfus. The film didn't do nearly as well as the original at the box office even though, by 1979 Ron Howard (Happy Days) and Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley) were by then well known television stars.
The night time of adventure is set to a music soundtrack from 1950's and early 1960's. Only two songs from 1962 are used ("Surfin Safari" by The Beach Boys and "Green Onions" by Booker T. & The MG's). Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids perform at the Freshman Hop attended by Curt, Steve and Laurie -- they perform "At The Hop" (originally recorded by Danny & The Juniors) and an original compsition, "She's So Fine." The songs listed to the right are in the order they are heard on the soundtrack -- all but "Gee" by The Crows are on the official soundtrack album.
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| Movie Trailer: |
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| click above to listen to the soundtrack |
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Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley & the Comets 1954
16 Candles The Crests 1958
Gee The Crows 1953
Runaway Del Shannon 1961
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers 1956
That'll Be the Day Buddy Holly 1957
Fanny Mae Buster Brown 1959
At the Hop Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids 1973
She's So Fine Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids 1973
The Stroll The Diamonds 1957
See You In September The Tempos 1959
Surfin' Safari The Beach Boys 1962
(He's) The Great Imposter The Fleetwoods 1961
Almost Grown Chuck Berry 1959
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes The Platters 1958
Little Darlin' The Diamonds 1957
Peppermint Twist Joey Dee and the Starlighters 1961
Barbara Ann The Regents 1961
The Book of Love The Monotones 1958
Maybe Baby Buddy Holly 1957
Ya Ya Lee Dorsey 1961
The Great Pretender The Platters 1955
Ain't That a Shame Fats Domino 1955
Johnny B. Goode Chuck Berry 1958
I Only Have Eyes for You The Flamingos 1959
Get a Job The Silhouettes 1958
To the Aisle The Five Satins 1957
Do You Wanna Dance? Bobby Freeman 1958
Party Doll Buddy Knox 1957
Come Go with Me The Del-Vikings 1956
You're Sixteen Johnny Burnette 1960
Love Potion No. 9 The Clovers 1959
Since I Don't Have You The Skyliners 1958
Chantilly Lace The Big Bopper 1958
Teen Angel Mark Dinning 1959
Crying in the Chapel Sonny Till & the Orioles 1953
A Thousand Miles Away The Heartbeats 1957
Heart and Soul The Cleftones 1961
Green Onions Booker T. & the M.G.'s 1962
Only You (And You Alone) The Platters 1955
Goodnight, Well it's Time to Go The Spaniels 1954
All Summer Long The Beach Boys 1964 |
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Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids
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| Wolfman Jack |
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