"Movies that Shook the World"

[theantiquetiger]

This is a show on AMC I saw today and they were talking about the most important Lucas film that was made in the 70's, how it catapulted alot of actor's careers, started a pop culture craze, and the biggest money making movie series of all times would have never happened if the film was never made. Of course, they were talking about "American Graffiti", not "Star Wars."

They said if "American Graffiti " would have been a flop, "Star Wars" wouldn't have been made because he used all his funds from that movie to make "Star Wars", and he still was barely able to fund it.

It is a pretty cool show, the first time I have seen it.

[YoungOnce]

I love the original trilogy and American Graffiti.

But George Lucas made better movies when his budget was constricted.

[Adam West]

American Graffiti is a great movie.

It amazes me at how many famous actors/actresses were in that movie and were relatively unknown at that time.

Regardless of what anyone thinks of his more recent Star Wars movies, he definitely has an eye for talent. Natalie Portman anyone?

[toys2cool]

American Graffiti is a great movie.

It amazes me at how many famous actors/actresses were in that movie and were relatively unknown at that time.

Regardless of what anyone thinks of his more recent Star Wars movies, he definitely has an eye for talent. Natalie Portman anyone?

Speaking of Portman,did anyone watch The Other Boleyn Girl? I thought it was really good and she was awesome.She started as the little girl in the Professional and she was really good from a young age

[Vortigern99]

Just a point of clarification: Lucas did not "use all his funds from that movie [American Graffiti] to make 'Star Wars'. The original 1977 film was financed entirely by 20th Century Fox at a budget of $11 million. Wikipedia reports:

"20th Century Fox approved a budget of $8,250,000; American Graffiti's positive reviews allowed Lucas to renegotiate his deal with Alan Ladd, Jr. and request the sequel rights to the film."

Initially the studio only allowed about $8 million, but Ladd got the rest from a begrudging Fox for re-shoots and post-production effects work. None of it was Lucas' own money. He did, however, go on to finance 'The Empire Stikes Back 'on his own, which won him permanent independence from the studio system he had so reviled.

[theantiquetiger]

Just a point of clarification: Lucas did not "use all his funds from that movie [American Graffiti] to make 'Star Wars'. The original 1977 film was financed entirely by 20th Century Fox at a budget of $11 million. Wikipedia reports:

"20th Century Fox approved a budget of $8,250,000; American Graffiti's positive reviews allowed Lucas to renegotiate his deal with Alan Ladd, Jr. and request the sequel rights to the film."

Initially the studio only allowed about $8 million, but Ladd got the rest from a begrudging Fox for re-shoots and post-production effects work. None of it was Lucas' own money. He did, however, go on to finance 'The Empire Stikes Back 'on his own, which won him permanent independence from the studio system he had so reviled.

This is what the show on AMC was saying, and they had a interview with Lucas. They said if American Graffiti would had flopped, Star Wars would have never happened because of the money. Maybe they meant Fox would have not backed him if AG was a flop.

[Hector]

Regardless of what anyone thinks of his more recent Star Wars movies, he definitely has an eye for talent. Natalie Portman anyone?

You are kidding, right?

Portman is a solid actress but she was TERRIBLE in the new trilogy, simply TERRIBLE.