The list continues:
Number 8: American Graffiti (1973) dir. George Lucas
Where would Happy Days be without American Graffiti? Would we have gotten to see Dazed and Confused?
If there’s a movie on this list that is horrifically underrated, this one is it. George Lucas is best known as the creator of Star Wars. His empire was built on the backs of robots, laser swords and special effects. However, what people don’t realize is how diverse of a filmmaker George Lucas can be. American Graffiti not only showed his versatility, but also showed a softer and more personal side to his work.
The film’s influence is as underrated as the film itself. It was the driving force towards many cinematic innovations that have become common practice. The most important being the extensive use of popular music. George Lucas described it as “a wall of sound.” It is nearly impossible to find a scene in the film that does not have a popular song from the late 50’s or early 60’s. The soundtrack is completely diegetic. Each song emanates from either a car or local radio. Originally, the producers insisted on having Lucas hire an orchestra to simulate the songs. However, it would have cost the film its authenticity. That and its natural dialogue are the strongest points of the film. In the end, the authenticity would have suffered immensely without the natural performances and great music selection based heavily on the director’s own experiences.
At the time, the cast of actors may not have generated a tremendous amount of buzz. However, many of them would go on to play very iconic roles. Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss and Harrison Ford would become just a few of the recognizable faces on television and film in the following years.
The format of the film was also an original breath of fresh air. The image of the lost youth in the early sixties played a major role. It was a brief peek into the lives of several teenagers looking for their calling. Not only does it accomplish this, but it also gives us a vivid image of growing up in the early sixties on the west coast. The life of fast cars and rock & roll has an air of innocence about it. This is not long before the Vietnam War and racial turmoil of the mid-sixties. In a way, it speaks of a simpler time without denigrating what would later come.
This may not be the last George Lucas film on my list, but it is definitely one that most people have probably not seen. If there’s one movie on this list that is an absolute joy to watch, this one is it. After the opening credits, you’ll completely forget that this was a film directed by the creator of Star Wars.
(As a side note, this was one of only two films that George Lucas ever received an Oscar nomination for. It was nominated for Best Feature and Best Director)
Number 7: Casablanca (1942) dir. Michael Curtiz
If you think that war films can’t be romantic, if you think that old black & white movies look old or antiquated, you’ve probably never experienced Casablanca. This movie is just as new now as it was the day of its release. It is sexy, dirty, romantic, tragic and almost any other adjective you could think of.
At first, this film did not receive any of the acclaim I’ve just expelled. It was released briefly on November 26th, 1942, the day the Allied Forces advanced on Northern Africa. By the time of the film’s national release in January of 1943, Casablanca was already in the news. It was the site of a high level meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. Needless to say, many of the critics panned it as an Allied propaganda film. The New Yorker went so far as to call the film “pretty tolerable.” It was a slow burn to success after its release. It wasn’t until it hit television screens in the seventies that it caught on and garnered the respect it deserved.
It is definitely a film that is carried by phenomenal acting. Humphrey Bogart as the tough but sensitive Rick Blaine jumps off of the screen. He masks his romantic tragedy with slick words and alcohol. Ingrid Bergman balances his New York harshness perfectly with a gentler performance. She bore a subtler beauty than that of many actresses of the time. Most importantly, she could distract you from her looks with decent acting ability.
The story itself is simple. A heartbroken man must help his lost love’s husband escape from German occupied Africa. It is the liner notes of the film that create the tapestry of this cinematic classic. The desperate attempts of people to escape through the black market, the never ending fight for freedom during a time of war, and the desire for something more than what we’ve been given speaks volumes for a film that was made at the tail end of the Great Depression.
Furthermore, Casablanca is a quote machine. “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid,” has been quoted and parodied more times than can be counted. The film’s major song “As Time Goes By” is iconic. There are people who recognize the film’s dialogue and music without ever knowing where its from. The fact that this film was not looked upon as a tremendous achievement upon its release, shows that Hollywood was truly in its Golden Age.
to be continued… (please leave a comment with your thoughts)