American Graffiti At The Hop,She's So Fine,Louie Louie by Flash Cadillac,Continental Kids (1973)

American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz and Lucas, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins, and Wolfman Jack. Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock 'n' roll cultures popular among Lucas's age group at that time. Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures throughout a single night. While Lucas was working on his first film, THX 1138, Coppola asked him to write a coming-of-age film. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas's teenage years. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors but found favor at Universal Pictures after every other major film studio turned him down. Filming began in San Rafael, California, but the production crew was denied permission to shoot beyond a second day. As a result, production was moved to Modesto. The film is the first movie to be produced by his Lucasfilm production banner. 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. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Produced on a $777,000 budget (equivalent to approximately $5,332,993 in 2023 dollars), it has become one of the most profitable films ever. Since its initial release, American Graffiti has earned an estimated return well over $200 million in box-office gross and home video sales, not including merchandising. In 1995, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids, now known as Flash Cadillac, is an American retro rock 'n' roll band known for their appearance as the band "Herby and the Heartbeats" in the 1973 film American Graffiti and a 1975 episode of Happy Days as the band "Johnny Fish & the Fins". During scenes at a high school dance, the band played cover versions of "At the Hop" and "Louie, Louie" as well as their original composition, "She's So Fine". Their version of "At the Hop" was released as a single in 1973.Flash Cadillac had chart hits in the 1970s with "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)", written by Lynsey De Paul and Barry Blue, "Good Times, Rock and Roll" and "Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)". "Dancin' (On A Saturday Night)" was listed in the Swedish top 10 in 1974.In 1977, the band released a cover version of Wizzard's "See My Baby Jive" written by Roy Wood.Their cover of "Susie Q" was featured in the film Apocalypse Now.