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American Graffiti Based on George Lucas’ Coming of Age in Modesto

George Lucas was born in Modesto, California in May of 1944. He is one of America’s most well-known and respected film directors, screenwriters and producers. Some of the major epic movies attributed to him include the Star Wars and Indian Jones series. He has risen through the ranks to become one of the country’s most successful Independent producer/director. Tourists who visit Modesto can take part in its annual festival that celebrates one of Lucas’ all time cult classic films American Graffiti. Any hotel Modesto will be full of guests who are eager to attend Graffiti Nights, which is the name of the festival.

American Graffiti was both co-written and directed by Lucas. It starred Richard Dreyfus, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford, Ron Howard and Mackenzie Phillips among others. It was released in 1973 and was a quintessential coming of age film, which was set in the 1960s. It traced the lives and told the stories of various young individuals who were on the cusp of adulthood and trying to find their place and identity.

The idea for this film, as well as the majority of its themes, was based on Lucas’ own life growing up in Modesto. Lucas had a difficult time getting it financed and even after it was picked up by Universal Pictures it had difficulty finding and continuing a city to shoot in. The majority of the film was shot in Petaluma, which is located in California’s Sonoma County. When the film was finally finished it received immediate audience approval and critical acclaim upon its release. In addition, American Graffiti was nominated for an Academy Award that year in the category of best picture. Many of the film’s actors are major Hollywood stars and while a few of them, in particular the child stars Ron Howard and Mackenzie Phillips, were already well known, this film was the launching pad for many of their careers.

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Tags: hotel Modesto, Ron Howard, Star Wars

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