The Early Days of George Lucas
Before George Lucas became famous for bringing us the incredible ‘Star Wars’, he had to overcome many obstacles. It might be surprising to find out that Lucas’s first big break wasn’t even ‘Star Wars’. Instead, it was a comedy-drama titled ‘American Graffiti’.
Challenges Faced on the Road to Stardom
At Cannes Film Festival 2024, Lucas was given an honorary Palme d’Or for his amazing contribution to the cinema world. Here, he opened up about the difficulties he encountered when creating ‘American Graffiti’. In the beginning, he had to scrape around for a meager budget of $750,000 to produce the film.
Navigating Rejection and Roadblocks
Lucas first proposed the idea for ‘American Graffiti’ to United Artists, along with ‘Star Wars’. To his surprise, the studio didn’t show much interest in it, even though then-unknown actor Harrison Ford was to star in it alongside Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, and Paul Le Mat.
Despite being turned down by United Artists, Lucas didn’t give up. He transferred the film to Universal Studios. Even there, he battled financial constraints and other issues, but he stayed committed to the project. In an interview, Lucas compared the first audience reaction to ‘American Graffiti’ to the excitement of a rock concert.
Fighting for a Theatrical Release
But the struggle wasn’t over. Universal Studios thought about releasing the film only on TV. That didn’t sit well with Lucas. He fought hard to ensure ‘American Graffiti’ got its opportunity on the big screen.
Triumph at the Box Office
Lucas’ determination paid off. Once ‘American Graffiti’ reached theaters, it started to draw a steady crowd. Released on August 11, 1973, the film managed to gross roughly $115 million in the US and around $140 million worldwide.
At the Cannes Film Festival, Lucas spoke about the financial success of the film. Making real profit directly from the box office was a rare occurrence back then. With ‘American Graffiti’, Lucas tasted this success first-hand.
Springboard to Star Wars
The huge success of ‘American Graffiti’ caught the eye of Allan Ladd Jr., the then head of production at Fox. Ladd reached out to Lucas for a new project. This led to the birth of ‘Star Wars’, which would go on to become a monumental franchise playing a pivotal role in film history.
Lessons Learnt from Lucas’s Journey
What’s the moral of George Lucas’s story? Never underestimate the power of persistence and believe in your unique narrative. ‘American Graffiti’ was the result of one man’s passion, and its commercial success was phenomenal. It led to greater opportunities and fame for Lucas. Sometimes, success can come from the most unexpected places and open doors to achievements we could have only dreamt about.
You can get a glimpse of Lucas’s early work by watching ‘American Graffiti’, available on Netflix today. Who knows? It might inspire all budding filmmakers out there, showing that every great story has a beginning and a journey, all leading to a galaxy far, far away.
The story of ‘American Graffiti’ is a testament to George Lucas’s dedication and resilience. It continues to inspire and uplift, showcasing how excelling in unexpected places can create the path for victories beyond what anyone could imagine.
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/george-lucass-pre-star-wars-victory-the-tale-of-american-graffiti/