Coming of Age Films—American Graffiti

Last week’s look at The Last Picture Show [1971] featured a bunch of teens [mostly] as they ended one phase of their life and moved into the next in terms of both careers and relationships. With American Graffiti [1973] by George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyack, we witness a pivotal night in the life of recent high school grads before they head off to college.

This is an iconic coming of age film. It’s set in a California town in the early 60s and it captures what life is like for teens in the town and at school—from the leather jacket gang guys to the hot-rodders to the head cheerleader and the dorky guy. But it’s really the smart-ass writer-wannabe, Curt, and the class president, Steve, who drive the story.

The entire film takes place in one night—the night before Curt and Steve are heading away to college. One last night to… go wild? Imagine romances? Decide to break up with the hometown girlfriend? Wish you were cooler?

It’s a night full of fun and insecurities and surprises and music—emphasis on music.

Music is interesting from the writer’s POV, because, generally, you don’t include it in the script. There’s always the fear that whoever is reading your script won’t know the song you say is playing on the radio or something, so they can’t relate. It’s common to just write “a bossa nova song plays” or something similar. But with American Graffiti the music SO drives the story—and it’s so 60s recognizable—so that when the script was written, chances are everyone knew the songs involved. Music is something to think about when you’re writing a script set in a particular era.

But what made American Graffiti so beloved is the combination of fun, craziness, danger and epiphanies that came about in this last night. Maybe you shouldn’t go to the college back East. Maybe you should stay and be with the great friends you’ve made in high school.

It’s about leaving your present to find a new future. Take a look at the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=OZ9Gp6Qc8LQ

See what I mean about the music?

This is a film that never seems to get old because it’s a story—incredibly well told—that never gets old. Everyone can remember those pivotal moments when the world changed for them, when leaving the comfortable for the unknown seemed to carry so much importance.

In addition, against the backdrop of that universal story, you have rich, believable characters who are like people you knew in high school—and yet, are not stereotypes. 48 years after it was made, the film still sings. Ask yourself, if you had to evaluate the coming of age story you’re thinking about telling—could it hold up nearly five decades from now?

Next week, we close out the 70s and hear lots more great period music with Grease.

Copyright © Diane Lake

30May21

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