A summer night in 1962 becomes the focal point in the lives of four small town California teenagers as they face decisions, both immediate and long term, about the directions of their lives. Steve, wants to break up with Laurie, his devoted high school sweetheart and pursue new experiences away from home. Curt, is hesitant about going away to school and leaving the comfortable, familiar surroundings of family and friends. John, tries to maintain his too cool for school image as a hip guy, but can't seem to shake a nagging awareness that life is somehow passing him by. Finally, there's Terry, the nerdy wannabe trying to fit in but who still manages to screw up. During the course of the evening, their individual stories intertwine and separate. By the next morning, their lives will be changed, some only temporarily and some for a lifetime.
Terry: Pardon me, sir, but I lost my I.D. in... in a flood and I'd like to get some Old Harper, hard stuff. Would you mind buying a bottle for me?
Bum at Liquor Store: Why certainly! I lost my wife, too - her name wasn't Idy, though, and it wasn't in a flood - but I know what ya -
Terry: Thanks, here's enough for a pint.
Last few years it became very fashionable to portray 1970s as the Golden Age. People that actually had to live in that particular period had somewhat different perspective. In the Gloomy Decade lamentation over kinder and gentler past was quite fashionable. In 1973 George Lucas, young and unknown film director at the time, was one of the first to profit on such feeling of nostalgia. His semi-autobiographical drama AMERICAN GRAFFITI, shot in four weeks with small budget, turned out to be one of the most popular, and therefore, most profitable films of the year. Financial success, critical praise and "Oscar" nominations later allowed Lucas to engage in the next and even more successful project - STAR WARS.
