Harrison Ford’s career heavily involved George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise, but they are not the films that he has to thank for his career. Ford’s iconic Han Solo character in the multi-billion dollar franchise did make him a household name. However, his first prominent role was in American Graffiti. Ironically, the film is not just Ford’s first major project. It is also the first film Lucas ever directed, which is pretty impressive considering American Graffiti changed Hollywood forever.
The impact of American Graffiti was so significant after its release that it even got its own sequel, More American Graffiti. However, Bill. L Norton directed this one instead of George Lucas. Harrison Ford, on the other hand, had a small cameo. The film released in 1979, so Ford and Lucas were working on the blockbuster sequel Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at that point. Even though this franchise is a cultural phenomenon, it is still necessary to look back at one of George Lucas’ and Harrison Ford’s best movies to see how they got their feet into Hollywood.
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American Graffiti Is Now On Prime Video – What It’s About
The Film Takes Its Audience Back To 1962
American Graffiti tells the story of a group of high school best friends on their last night together before two of them head off to college. The film features a superb soundtrack to enhance the 1962 setting and truly brings out the feeling of being a young adult during this time. Unfortunately, American Graffiti‘s unexpected ending features a main character death and significantly tones down the playful atmosphere. However, having both a thrilling adventure and an emotional ending makes the film stand out in the coming-of-age genre.
Harrison Ford and George Lucas also worked on the
Indiana Jones
movies together.
Now that American Graffiti is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, more audiences can watch this fun yet saddening story unfold, not to mention how more viewers can see how the film is drastically different from other projects George Lucas and Harrison Ford worked on together. Sure, Star Wars also features some coming-of-age themes with exciting adventures. However, American Graffiti is not only significantly more realistic but also showcases experiences many people go through. The film is not just about a lively night with friends; it is also about the everyday experience of saying goodbye.
How American Graffiti Launched Harrison Ford’s Career
His First Onscreen Acting Role
Harrison Ford does not have as big of a role in American Graffiti as he does in Star Wars. Nonetheless, he still made a great impression as an actor while portraying Bob Falfa. In his first appearance in American Graffiti, Ford wears a cowboy hat while challenging Paul Le Mat’s John Milner for a street race. Bob Falfa is clearly full of himself and just wants to show off. Yet, Ford’s charisma as Bob makes the character more likable than he should be. This charisma would play into most of Harrison’s following roles.
Thankfully, George Lucas picked up on his worthiness and now Ford is the legendary Han Solo.
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Bob Falfa proved himself as an actor worthy of more roles. Thankfully, George Lucas picked up on his talents and now Ford is the legendary Han Solo. Without this role in American Graffiti, it is possible Ford would never have become such a notable actor in Hollywood. Indeed, he is an excellent actor and perhaps would have been given a role eventually. Then again, even some of the best actors have trouble finding the right role for them to get into Hollywood.
American Graffiti Is Still Worth Watching Today
The Coming-Of-Age Themes Still Hold Relevance
Of course, American Graffiti is far from the first coming-of-age film. The movie still established particular qualities of the genre that have shaped it in the way it is today. Not every coming-of-age trope from the movie has been seen in all the genre’s films in the last 51 years. Even so, some of the most prominent ones come from American Graffiti. Examples of these tropes include the coming-of-age summer movie. If American Graffiti did not popularize these tropes, the coming-of-age genre would be considerably different today.
American Graffiti
was released in 1973.
Even for movie watchers who usually do not like coming-of-age films, American Graffiti is still a must-see. The film’s themes do not just shape a genre, they relate to life. Growing up and moving on from one’s childhood is such a universal experience that guarantees the film will make its new viewers reminisce about this time of their lives. Of course, this reminiscing could spark some heavy emotions. It should, as that is one of the points of American Graffiti.
Harrison Ford’s connection to the coming-of-age genre because of his role in American Graffiti genuinely shaped his career. He is a major part of the film’s influence on the genre, proving how his role was more than just his entrance into Hollywood. It was his first way of making an impact through cinema. Ford paying homage to the film with his Bob Falfa More American Graffiti cameo showcases that he recognizes the everlasting significance of the movie. Star Wars and Indiana Jones might be cultural spectacles, but so is American Graffiti.
American Graffiti
American Graffiti is a coming-of-age film directed by George Lucas in 1973. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Paul Le Mat, and Charles Martin Smith, the movie centers on a group of teenagers on the last night of summer vacation before they head off to college and begin their adult lives.
