Post by twothousandonemark on Jun 29, 2021 1:47:40 GMT
Heatwave, day off, I put it on late last night. Its become part of my summer rota.
I first encountered it thinking it was just some boomer proxy pilot film for Happy Days (which I never watched), like M.A.S.H. the movie for the show. Wasn't until a late night airing early 90's I stumbled into the Wolfman Jack scene, I thought it was cool Curt going out to that old radio 'shack' lols literally to investigate. Wolfman kickin' back eating popsicles was so f'n cool, & his 'reveal' shot through the door window was also f'n cool & well done by Lucas.
Strangely, I guess I'd always placed it in the 1950's because I didn't know the actual history of the cars & music, let alone the early 60's styles. Early 90's seeing it, was less than 20yrs from its release, which itself was only 11 years from its time & place 1962 arguably.
It always seemed like it could've been filmed in 1964 or something, based on the night shooting & low budget, which actually helps its magic a lot.
The nostalgia of it in hindsight seems sadly fleeting - those characters' parents were WWII gen, & they were about to go into the Vietnam gen themselves. The idea that somehow America has fallen forever beginning in 1963 with JFK & beyond, that this film's portrayal as the last innocent night for Americana?? Well, no, just for those kids it seems, & there will always be kids feeling innocent times until their pop culture rut, & there always has been yes?
I dunno, I love the movie yet it seems its stature as some museum piece of lost Americana is rose coloured glasses.
Ppl sometimes harp on the final shot, yet that's life. I do agree that the girls deserved story card of their own, & Lucas seems to suggest they didn't have enough money? lols Laurie was hooked up with Steve anyways, Toad's blondie probably moved to Texas & marry a rancher, & the mystery blonde probably starred in Vegas for a few years before drugs in the 70's.
I first encountered it thinking it was just some boomer proxy pilot film for Happy Days (which I never watched), like M.A.S.H. the movie for the show. Wasn't until a late night airing early 90's I stumbled into the Wolfman Jack scene, I thought it was cool Curt going out to that old radio 'shack' lols literally to investigate. Wolfman kickin' back eating popsicles was so f'n cool, & his 'reveal' shot through the door window was also f'n cool & well done by Lucas.
Strangely, I guess I'd always placed it in the 1950's because I didn't know the actual history of the cars & music, let alone the early 60's styles. Early 90's seeing it, was less than 20yrs from its release, which itself was only 11 years from its time & place 1962 arguably.
It always seemed like it could've been filmed in 1964 or something, based on the night shooting & low budget, which actually helps its magic a lot.
The nostalgia of it in hindsight seems sadly fleeting - those characters' parents were WWII gen, & they were about to go into the Vietnam gen themselves. The idea that somehow America has fallen forever beginning in 1963 with JFK & beyond, that this film's portrayal as the last innocent night for Americana?? Well, no, just for those kids it seems, & there will always be kids feeling innocent times until their pop culture rut, & there always has been yes?
I dunno, I love the movie yet it seems its stature as some museum piece of lost Americana is rose coloured glasses.
Ppl sometimes harp on the final shot, yet that's life. I do agree that the girls deserved story card of their own, & Lucas seems to suggest they didn't have enough money? lols Laurie was hooked up with Steve anyways, Toad's blondie probably moved to Texas & marry a rancher, & the mystery blonde probably starred in Vegas for a few years before drugs in the 70's.
