American Graffiti vs Happy Days

[Studdy911]

I have a question American Graffiti vs Happy Days who wins and does anybody think that with character of Fonzie gaining popularity that it influences the motion picture of Grease I heard that Henry Winkler actually got to play the leading role but he turned it down due to the fact that he couldn't sing it would have been interested to see him and Olivia Newton John.

[thebabymysweet]

"AMERICAN GRAFFITI" IS THE FATHER OF "HAPPY DAYS".

"LOVE AMERICAN STYLE" IS THE MOTHER OF "HAPPY DAYS".

"LOVE AND THE HAPPY DAYS" ( a.k.a. "Love And The Television Set" was
the original title of Gary Marshall's single episode teleplay for Love American Style. )
IT WAS THE INITIALLY "UNFERTILIZED EGG" OF THE MOTHER UNTIL
THE FATHER CAME ALONG, FELL IN LOVE, AND DONATED HIS "SPERM".

( Did anyone notice the "phallic symbolism" of the cars driven by
Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat and Charlie Martin Smith
in "American Graffiti"? )

"AMERICAN GRAFFITI" WAS NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE DURING THE 1973-1974 ACADEMY AWARDS
BUT DISAPPOINTINGLY LOST TO "THE STING".

IF RON HOWARD DID NOT GO TO FILM "AMERICAN GRAFFITI" WITH DIRECTOR GEORGE LUCAS IN 1973
RIGHT AFTER STARRING IN THE SINGLE EPISODE "LOVE AND THE HAPPY DAYS" FOR THE SERIES
"LOVE AMERICAN STYLE" IN 1972 , THERE WOULD BE NO "HAPPY DAYS" IN 1974.

[MC]

Originally Posted by thebabymysweet

( Did anyone notice the "phallic symbolism" of the cars driven by Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat and Charlie Martin Smith in "American Graffiti"? )

Personally, I don't see it... "Maybe" the car Ron Howard and Charles Martin Smith drove, as it's the same car driven by both characters (remember Steve was going to entrust his car to Terry/AKA "Toad" while he was away at college)... With it's longer body style, etc. if one was of that mindset to interpret it that way, "maybe" it could be seen that way, but John Milner's coupe, no way-It's too compact and "stocky" compared to Steve's car...

I don't remember Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) even driving a car in the film... I remember him in the VW with his ex-girlfriend, and he was taken for a ride by The Pharoahs, but I don't recall him driving anything?

[thebabymysweet]

I was speaking METAPHORICALLY as well as SYMBOLICALLY.

"Although AMERICAN GRAFFITI is set in 1962, the attitudes of these characters are from the 1950s.
This was a time when the world revolved around THE CAR - A STATUS SYMBOL OF PUTTING WHEELS ON RESTLESSNESS,
A MEANS OF LOOKING OVER THE ACTION ON MAIN STREET, A PLACE TO NECK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
It was a time when HAVING A PARTNER, EITHER A STEADY OR AN INTERESTING PICK-UP, MEANT EVERYTHING.
TRIBAL ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION oftentimes hinged upon SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

And it was also a time when ROCK N ROLL WAS THE BOND THAT LINKED YOUTH TOGETHER
and separated them from their parents. THE AIRWAVES provided kids with all THE STUFF
out OF which DREAMS AND DRAMAS are made. CARS, MATES, DATES AND GOOD OLD ROCK N ROLL
gave youth THE CULTURE OUT OF WHICH THEY WOULD FASHION THEIR LIVES."

( "American Graffiti" film review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice )

"The narrative's REAL STAR is not human but AN OBJECT - THE CAR AND THE LIFESTYLE IT EMBODIES.

These adolescents don't seek Nature to regain their emotional balance, solve their identity crises, or make love.
THE CAR IS A SYMBOLIC SUBSTITUTE FOR NATURE, PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SECURITY, PHYSICAL PROTECTION
AND A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.

Significantly, most of THE INTERACTION IN AMERICAN GRAFFITI takes place THROUGH THE CARS' WINDOWS
but it is RICH COMMUNICATION, including EXCHANGE OF PROVOCATIONS, FLIRTATIOUS REMARKS AND INSULTS."

( "American Graffiti : Car Cruising As A Metaphor" by Emanuel Levy )

"The use of CARS IN AMERICAN GRAFFITI works as A METAPHOR on several levels.
THE CARS can be viewed as TRANSPORTING THE CHARACTERS through CHANGE but ALSO LIMITING them.

For instance, when the nerdish Terry inherits his buddy's elegant '58 Impala for the night, he becomes much cooler.
JUST HAVING A VEHICLE TO DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE CIRCUIT INCREASES HIS CHANCES WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX.

GEORGE LUCAS has described CRUISING AS A TEENAGE MATING RITUAL,
where INTERACTION takes place BETWEEN THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Through CAR WINDOWS, young people communicate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND FLIRTATIONS."

( "Kip's American Graffiti Blog : Themes and Symbols part 1" by Mark a.k.a. Kip Pullman )

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Studdy911

I have a question American Graffiti vs Happy Days who wins and does anybody think that with character of Fonzie gaining popularity that it influences the motion picture of Grease I heard that Henry Winkler actually got to play the leading role but he turned it down due to the fact that he couldn't sing it would have been interested to see him and Olivia Newton John.

John Travolta can't sing either.

[icecream]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

John Travolta can't sing either.

Yes he can. John Travolta did great singing in Grease.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by catsrule

Yes he can. John Travolta did great singing in Grease.

OK, that's your opinion. My opinion is that he stinks.

[thebabymysweet]

John Travolta landed the role of Danny Zuko in "Grease" most likely due to
his Oscar nominated lead performance in the legendary disco blockbuster
"Saturday Night Fever" a year before.

Henry Winkler already portrayed a motorcycle tough guy in another past film
"The Lord Of The Flatbush" with Sylvester Stallone.

Perhaps Henry was then advised by his agent or manager
to avoid stereotyping and more actively pursue versatile
starring roles in movies like "Heroes" and "The One And Only".

[OH Nuts!]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

John Travolta can't sing either.

I half agree with you. His singing was decent, but certainly not phenomenal.

[Race's Girl]

I prefer Happy Days to American Graffiti