After success directing “The Godfather,” (1972) Francis Ford Coppola, came aboard as the producer for the 1973 film “American Graffiti,” saving the film from being butchered.

On August 1, 1973, George Lucas brought his nostalgic film American Graffiti to the big screen at the Avco Cinema Center in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below: ...

Although “American Graffiti” (1973) was funded by Universal, Lucas was given almost complete creative control in exchange for making the picture on a micro-budget. Lucas took full advantage.

Mackenzie Phillips (as Carol) and Paul Le Mat (as John Milner) in 1973's "American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas. "American Graffiti" costars Ron Howard and Cindy Williams.

Debuting in a single theater in Los Angeles on Aug. 12, 1973, it quickly mushroomed into a massive, crowd-pleasing pop-cultural phenomenon. A hit in theaters everywhere, it was later recognized as ...

When "American Graffiti" finally cruised into theaters on Aug. 11, 1973, the studio heads were proven wrong.

American Graffiti is turning 50! That means that the young men and women who starred in the film are no longer quite so young. The car-loving high school students of 1973 when the movie came out ...

By 1973, 11 years after the events in the movie take place, he’d appeared in a few B-movies and television sitcoms, but “American Graffiti” was the closest he got to being in an A-film, and ...

Bo Hopkins, the actor who has appeared in classics like “ American Graffiti,” “ The Wild Bunch,” “ Midnight Express ” and “The Getaway,” died Friday. He was 80 years old.

His death was also reported by TMZ. Hopkins was noted for playing rogues and villains, most notably as Joe Young in the 1973 film “American Graffiti,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.