FilmScene 101: Cinema Summer School
"Teen tales don’t get much better than this."—Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Screening features a FilmScene 101 discussion by University of Iowa Cinematic Arts graduate students Geoff Daniels and Will Hella
Right before Star Wars George Lucas directed this classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock 'n' roll. Starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers in their breakout roles, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Nominated for five Academy Awards®, including Best Picture and Best Director, American Graffiti features the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets.
Post-screening discussion:
Focuses on the compilation film score as a device for alluding to cultural contexts and evoking nostalgia for mid-century America. Though nostalgia for "the Fifties" is commonly associated with reactionary Reaganite politics, "pop nostalgia" has a more complicated history, which will be discussed through the film. Geoff Daniels studies sound in film. Will Hella studies historical film.
