| American Graffiti | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Mort Drucker | |
| Directed by | George Lucas |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography |
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| Edited by | |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $777,000[1] |
| Box office | $140 million[1] |
American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Cindy Williams and Wolfman Jack. Harrison Ford and Bo Hopkins also appear. Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock 'n' roll cultures popular among Lucas's age group at that time. Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures throughout a single night.
While Lucas was working on his first film, THX 1138, Coppola asked him to write a coming-of-age film. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas's teenage years. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors but found favor at Universal Pictures after every other major film studio turned him down. Filming began in San Rafael, California, but the production crew was denied permission to shoot beyond a second day. As a result, production was moved to Petaluma, California.[2][3] The film is the first movie to be produced by his Lucasfilm production banner.
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. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Produced on a $777,000 budget (equivalent to approximately $5,332,993 in 2023[4] dollars), it has become one of the most profitable films ever. Since its initial release, American Graffiti has earned an estimated return well over $200 million in box-office gross and home video sales, not including merchandising. In 1995, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
- ^ a b "American Graffiti (1973) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
- ^ Mabry, Jennifer (August 9, 2023). "'American Graffiti' at 50: An oral history of 'the quintessential hot rod movie'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
Although "American Graffiti" is set in Modesto, in California's Central Valley, the film was shot in Petaluma...
- ^ Roeper, Richard (August 24, 2023). "50 years ago, 'American Graffiti' showed '70s audiences a simpler time". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
Although the story is set in Modesto, the majority of filming actually took place in Petaluma, California.... Filming also took place in San Rafael (the city council withdrew permits after one day)...
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.