American Graffiti Trailer

Why are cars so important to the American narrative? Perhaps because America was built on travel: the voyage from the homeland to the land of opportunity; the trek across the vast, unexplored land, creating new settlements and new opportunities along the way. Building roads of steel and asphalt to encourage and speed the westward push. People travelled across America first by horse, then by train, and eventually by automobile.

Cars have truly become an extension of self. It's no wonder Americans were quick to embrace the car as a symbol of freedom and choice.
Movies are as much a part of American culture as cars. Movies function to show us what life is like, or what it could be like. They epitomize freedom and possibility, just as cars do. It seems only fitting that movies and cars should come together to create entertainment. A look at American films show just how enmeshed in the movies cars really are.
Many movies resonate with viewers because of the cars they feature. In "American Graffiti" (1973) a 1932 Ford coupe, a 1955 Chevy, a 1958 Chevy Impala, a 1951 Mercury coupe, and a 1956 Ford Thunderbird are all part of a special night of car cruising for a group of high school friends. This movie also depicts another strong element of American car culture, the teenage driver.