American Graffiti

American Graffiti is a 1973 film directed by George Lucas. It tells the story of a group of small-town middle-class American California teenagers on the last night of summer. It is set in 1962 against the backdrop of commentary and music created by disc jockey Wolfman Jack. The commentary is from his U.S. broadcasting studio that is linked to the transmitter of border-blaster XERB in Mexico.

Academy Awards

The film was nominated for several Academy Awards:

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• Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Candy Clark
• Best Director - George Lucas
• Best Film Editing - Verna Fields and Marcia Lucas
• Best Picture - Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz
• Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced - Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and George Lucas

The film is included in the National Film Registry.

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Inspiration for TV series

The unexpected success of this film helped to inspire ABC to give the green light for the television series Happy Days, which also starred Ron Howard. Both shows also featured as their theme song "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets, which led to the song returning to the American record charts in 1974, 20 years after it was recorded.

Related Topics:
ABC - Television series - Happy Days - Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets - 1974

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