: Chicken shit - that's what it is. Paul Le Mat is best known for playing the drag racing John Milner -- opposite Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss -- in the 1973 film "American Graffiti." Guess what he looks like now! John Milner Walter was paid the $10,000, and he began to expand the Lucas/Huyck/Katz treatment into a screenplay. : [21] A key member of the production had also been arrested for growing marijuana,[14] and in addition to already running behind the shooting schedule, the San Rafael City Council immediately became concerned about the disruption that filming caused for local businesses, so withdrew permission to shoot beyond a second day. [22], Various studio employees who had seen the film began talking it up, and its reputation grew through word of mouth. : Madman They cruise the Modesto strip while listening to their favorite rock and roll songs, contemplating what lies ahead of them in their adulthood. John Milner Have a good trip! The film is the first movie to be produced by George Lucas's company Lucasfilm. "[17], Although American Graffiti is set in 1962 Modesto, Lucas believed the city had changed too much in ten years and initially chose San Rafael as the primary shooting location. [14] They pushed hard to get Lucas to adopt any of the titles, but he was displeased with all the alternatives and persuaded Tanen to keep American Graffiti. : : John Milner "George Lucas and I went through thousands of Wolfman Jack phone calls that were taped with the public," Jack reflected. Janet Maslin of The New York Times panned "More American Graffiti" as "grotesquely misconceived, so much so that it nearly eradicates fond memories of the original." Yeah, sure. Zack MethvinBANNEDfrom Longview Texas. [54] Dave Kehr, writing in the Chicago Reader, called the film a brilliant work of popular art that redefined nostalgia as a marketable commodity, while establishing a new narrative style.[55]. Milner's Coupe may be famous today, but when Lucas cast the '32 five-window for his movie, it was no high-dollar hot rod. : Sturhahn, Larry (March 1974). Filming & Production Date of birth Suzanne Somers The album contains all the songs used in the film (with the exception of "Gee" by the Crows, which was subsequently included on a second soundtrack album), presented in the order in which they appeared in the film. [48] Gene Siskel awarded three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing that although the film suffered from an "overkill" of nostalgia, particularly with regards to a soundtrack so overstuffed that it amounted to "one of those golden-oldie TV blurbs," it was still "well-made, does achieve moments of genuine emotion, and does provide a sock (hop) full of memories. With Steve allowing Terry to take care of his car while he's studying at college, Terry cruises around the strip and picks up rebellious Debbie. [5] Universal refused these offers and told Lucas they planned to have William Hornbeck re-edit the film. On October 14, 2011 By Sam Weisberg In Interviews Paul Le Mat is still most known for the role of John Milner in "American Graffiti," George Lucas' 1973 coming-of-age classic about a group of 1960s California high school graduates, and it's certainly not an unflattering way to be remembered. Along with Easy Rider (1969), American Graffiti was one of the first films to eschew a traditional film score and successfully rely instead on synchronizing a series of popular hit songs with individual scenes. Given the popularity of the film's cars with customizers and hot rodders in the years since its release, their fate immediately after the film is surprising. : My name? Station Attendant Steve Bolander, Terry "The Toad" Fields, Curt Henderson, Laurie Bolander, Debbie Dunham, Carol Morrison, fellow mechanics, Zudo, Beckwith, Eva, Teensa [10], THX 1138 was released in March 1971,[4] and Lucas was offered opportunities to direct Lady Ice, Tommy, or Hair. "Cruising was gone, and I felt compelled to document the whole experience and what my generation used as a way of meeting girls," Lucas explained. What happened to John Milner in American Graffiti? Why the hell do they bother? Yeah, well I'm not surprised, drivin' a field car! Steve and Curt are to travel "Back East" in the morning and start college but the latter has second thoughts about leaving. But, don't take all day drinking it - please. The film features characters intended to be Curt and Laurie Henderson's parents, Roger and Penny Henderson. [29] Fields worked on the first rough cut of the film before she left to resume work on What's Up, Doc?. You're gonna hafta do one hell of a lot more than that to scare me! After eventually taking Carol home, John is found by Bob Falfa, successfully goading him into the definitive race along Paradise Road outside the city, the event gaining attention and causing numerous cars to tag along to watch. Lucas argued that mentioning the girls meant adding another title card, which he felt would prolong the ending. John Milner John Milner : What the hell's goin' on here, Toad? John "Gunner" Gunnell;4743423 said: I'm not sure who owns it, but J. Neal East -- a former auutomotive writer who runs a car book store in So Cal, had his car used to make the sound track. Yearbook-style photos of the four male leads appear in a shot of the sky next towriting that reveals their adult fates. [69] Alongside other films from the New Hollywood era, American Graffiti is often cited for helping give birth to the summer blockbuster. | It's an empathetic look at the distances in which our sorrows can migrate.". [56] Another theme is teenagers' obsession with radio, especially with the inclusion of Wolfman Jack and his mysterious and mythological faceless (to most) voice. The character has a flattop in the script, but a compromise was eventually reached whereby Ford wore a Stetson to cover his hair. I'll see ya. Terry Fields Terry Fields : : John Milner : Grungy? All were offered for sale in San Francisco newspaper ads; only the '58 Impala (driven by Ron Howard) attracted a buyer, selling for only a few hundred dollars. In fact, your car's so neat, we're gonna give you our special prize. American Graffiti (1973) Suzanne Somers as Blonde in T-Bird IMDb. Laurie, Steve's girlfriend and Curt's sister, arrives moments later, Steve suggesting to her that they see other people while he is away at college to "strengthen" their relationship. Because of this, Pauline Kael later accused Lucas of chauvinism. John Milner [6] Among the actors was Mark Hamill, the future Luke Skywalker in Lucas's Star Wars trilogy. John Milner : John Milner 1 What happened to John Milner in American Graffiti? American Graffiti evokes mankind's relationship with machines, notably the elaborate number of hot rodshaving been called a "classic-car flick", representative of the motor car's importance to American culture at the time it was made. If I had a boyfriend, he'd pound you. Hey! [Steve, Terry, Laurie and John wish Curt goodbye]. He turned down those offers, determined to pursue his own projects despite his urgent desire to find another film to direct. What did Suzanne Somers Drive in American Graffiti? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Ha-ha! markybgoode 1.64K subscribers Subscribe 3.5K Share Save 548K views 11 years ago A 20 minute insightful conversation with Paul. Terry Fields : You're talking to the woman I love. In 1972, he appeared in American Graffiti (released in 1973), a coming-of-age film about a group of friends in Modesto, California in the early 1960s. Date of death December 31, 1964 Physical description Gender Male Height 5'12" (1,82 m) Eye color blue Behind the scenes Actor Paul Le Mat Our community needs more information on this page! Here it is. On their last evening of summer vacation in 1962, high school graduates Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander meet two other friends, confident drag-racing king John Milner and unpopular but well-meaning Terry "The Toad" Fields in the parking lot of Mel's Drive-In in Modesto, California. He played John Milner - a role that would earn him his first Golden Globe Award. Is she gonna ride with you? The inclusionof this title text drew some criticism. How old are you? Date of death [puts the ticket in the glove compartment which is full of similar tickets]. | Indeed, LeMat--aka, John Milner--and the coupe share paralleled popularity among American Graffiti fans, until you can hardly differentiate one without the other. Terry represents Lucas's nerd years as a freshman in high school, specifically his "bad luck" with dating. There's some punk lookin' for me. More American Graffiti (1979) Paul Le Mat: John Milner Showing all 5 items Jump to: Photos (1) Quotes (4) Photos Quotes John Milner : Hey, look, I want you to keep this, take that with you [Hands Toad a twisted bolt] John Milner : That's from when my flywheel broke remember? American Graffiti (1973) Harrison Ford: Bob Falfa Showing all 11 items Jump to: Photos (6) Quotes (5) Photos Quotes Bob Falfa : Hey man, I'm sorry if I scared ya! We know John Milner (Paul Le Mat) was killed by a drunken driver in 1964, so the movie has to roll back in time to visit him. John Milner [7], After the financial failure of THX 1138, Lucas wanted the film to act as a release for a world-weary audience:[8], [THX] was about real things that were going on and the problems we're faced with. It is a sequel to George Lucas's 1973 film American Graffiti. Oh. : Mud, if anybody sees you. | Curt has second thoughts about leaving his home with Steve to attend an East Coast college. I hope she sees me. [76] The registration plate on Milner's yellow deuce coupe is THX138 on a yellow, California license plate, slightly altered, reflecting Lucas's earlier science-fiction film (THX 1138). Let's catch 'em at the light. [hands her the ticket Holstein just issued him]. : Richard Dreyfuss was the only principal cast member from the original film not to appear in the sequel. At The Hop/Artists. Yeah, I know what you mean. The night unfolds with drag races, chasing a mysterious blonde in a Thunderbird, and listening to DJ Wolfman Jack on the radio. John Milner It was a rag, in the vernacular of the . Hey! The proposition also gave Universal first-look deals on Lucas's next two planned projects, Star Wars and Radioland Murders. : During a tense ride, the Pharaoh leader tells Curt that "The Blonde" is a prostitute, which he does not believe. Bob Falfa "[31], The choice of music was crucial to the mood of each scene; it is diegetic music that the characters themselves can hear and therefore becomes an integral part of the action. [11] The cost of licensing the 75 songs Lucas wanted was one factor in United Artists' ultimate decision to reject the script; the studio also felt it was too experimental"a musical montage with no characters". Debbie Dunham : Wow, you're just like the Lone Ranger. : "You can't stay 17 forever. Lucas held firmhis was a story about West Coast teenagers in the early 1960s. 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. we know from the end of American Graffiti that Milner dies in a car crash . Quit laughing! Hey, man, are you all right? Whether or not you accept "More American Graffiti" as canon is up to you. Hey Carol Ah, you know, I remember about five years ago, take you a couple of hours and a tank full of gas just to make one circuit. Meanwhile, skilled racer Bob Falfa is searching out John to challenge him to the defining race for John's drag-racing crown. Probably a couple of weeks past their bedtime. 2 What did Suzanne Somers Drive in American Graffiti? [70] The film's box-office success made George Lucas an instant millionaire. [40] By the 1990s, American Graffiti had earned more than $200million (equivalent to $415million in 2021)[33] in box-office gross and home video sales. 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