Spoiler Alert: This is not Happy Days

Movie: American Graffiti

Rank: 62

Year: 1973

Director: George Lucas

Cast: Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips

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This is no Happy Days.

To you, it may be obvious. However, I had always heard American Graffiti is the movie that led to Ronny, as he is credited here, Howard playing Richie Cunningham. The matter wasn’t helped when “Sunday, Monday, Happy Days,” started blasting against the backdrop of a 1962’s Mel’s Diner.

But let me tell you, this was no Happy Days. No warm family dynamics, no Fonzie getting a library card or Joanie loving Chachi. Rather, this is a surprisingly crass movie touching on the pressure for sex, uncertainty about the future and a possible mass murderer.

"We're finally getting out of this turkey town, and now you wanna crawl back into your cell, right? You wanna end up like John? You just can't stay seventeen forever."

- Steve, American Graffiti

This was put in rotation while visiting my family. I told my sister to pick a movie to watch, since I am so behind to make my goal of 100 movies in a year seems borderline Herculean at this point, and listened to her many musings as if this was a decision that would have a profound impact on her life. Gone with the Wind, a classic and favorite of hers, was an option. Schindler’s List for if we wanted movie night to have a serious tone. Toy Story, a staple of our childhood and helpful with the recent release of Toy Story 4. With everything, she decided to go for something we hadn’t seen before and for my mom, this was the perfect excuse for her trademark move of being disinterested in what we are watching, coming part way through its airing and providing judgements out loud.

Essentially, this movie follows the storylines of four friends, who converge and diverge throughout.

You have Ronny Howard as Steve while he navigates his way into college and his relationship with Laurie. I am pretty sure Steve proposes an open relationship, in order to not be tied down during college, but hey, what do I know. He is not the most endearing guy, pressuring Laurie for sex and being a general tool throughout the night.

You have John, the lackluster Fonzie-esque character who loves nice cars and cute girls, but rather ends up driving around Carol, the sister of a girl he likes. While their antagonistic relationship develops into a sweet rapport throughout the movie, I am left thinking about her threat of rape accusations against him if he didn’t do a basic thing for her.

You have Laurie’s brother Curt, proving that Richard Dreyfuss was at one point young, as he tries to make some last minute, life ruining decisions to avoid college and the future while also tracking down a blonde woman he saw drove by earlier.

Then, you have dweeby Terry as he drives around Steve’s car, picking up the reckless Debbie and facing the potential of murder along the way. At Debbie’s urging, they have a thief get them liquor during his heist, head over to a make-out spot and worry about getting murdered by the supposed "Goat Killer," which seems to turn on Debbie.

"Maybe if it's the Goat Killer, he'll get somebody and we'll see the whole thing."

- Debbie, American Graffiti

These stories fade in and out over the course of a night, driving around their town before they all separate for what their futures hold. Eventually, it culminates in a race between John and Harrison Ford’s Bob Falfa. Bob’s car flips, with Laurie also inside, and explodes moments after they escape.

Special shout out to Wolfman Jack, who is apparently someone my mom has heard of, and Harrison Ford, proving he was quite attractive in his youth.

I don’t know if this needs to be said, but I need to feel seen. I have watched Richard Dreyfuss in a few things, but it is hard to see him as anyone other than the dead pilot from Always after my dad forced me to view that movie so many times as a kid.

Here, folks, is where we get into the educational part of today’s presentation.

American Graffiti is rated PG, much to my shock after seeing the film and understanding the time period of its release. Why not have a PG-13 rating? Well, it didn’t exist. The Motion Picture Association of America didn’t introduce the PG-13 rating until July 1, 1984. Prior to this time period, films were either PG or R, which led to some scandalous moments for youth. If I was NBC, you see a shooting star saying “The More You Know” right about now.

Another fun fact, if IMDb is to be believed, is that George Lucas couldn’t afford to pay everyone in the crew because of how intensely low-budget this movie is, so he gave them credits at the end. Previously, credits had typically only been given to department heads. Fast forward to today, where the manicurist to the barista who brewed the special assistant to an extra’s coffee gets a credit.

I read it is also one of the hallmarks of the rise of Summer blockbusters. So, maybe George Lucas can get some of Avenger: Endgame's profits.

"You're the most beautiful, exciting thing I've ever seen in my life and I don't know anything about you."

- Curt, American Graffiti

While I don’t know if I was particularly enthralled with this movie, it was certainly a learning experience. I may have had a different reaction if my expectations weren’t so in contrast with the actualities of this movie. In the future, if I had to choose between a few episodes of Happy Days or re-watching this movie, I think I would rather take a seat at Arnold’s Diner.

I also don’t tend to love movies that are simply about existing, which is largely what this felt like. There was some working out of childish woes, but it didn’t feel like any true progress was made in the lives of these characters. Though, Terry should probably see a therapist to help process what had to be one of the more traumatic nights of his life.

I will leave you with this final nugget. As I was reading through my notes to scribble these words down, my last comment was “my mom is singing.”