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| Wolfman holds up some popular vinyl in 1973, the same year he appeared in American Graffiti. Albums include: Wolfman's self-titled album (1972), The Deliverance Soundtrack (1973) & "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" by Jim Croce (1971-72). |
American Graffiti is saturated with wall-to-wall oldies from the 1950s & early '60s and most fans of the film can instantly identify the songs heard while watching the film. However, most fans aren't aware of the names of the songs that were written into the script but never made it into the film. Here I've compiled a list of 8 songs that were written into scenes in the second draft of the script titled, ROCK RADIO IS AMERICAN GRAFFITI (SAGA OF THE LOW RIDERS) dated May 10, 1972 but for various reasons didn't make the final soundtrack. I've included the dialogue as it was written in the original script, some of which may not have been in the film. For more on these subjects please see my article, THE AMERICAN GRAFFITI SOUNDTRACK dated Dec. 9, 2010 and the Nov. 8, 2010 post, WRITING GRAFFITI. Some of the original songs that humorously underscore the subject of each scene may have worked better than the ones that replaced it but I'll let you decide. All songs mentioned can be heard on You Tube or purchased through any music service. Enjoy.
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Scene: 12; TRAVELING – MAIN STREET – JOHN – COUPE
John pulls alongside the Studebaker and the girl in the front seat rolls down her window.
JOHN
You wanna ride around with me for awhile?
GIRL # 1
I’m sorry, I can’t I’m going steady, I just can’t.
Song in Script: “FEVER” by Little Willie John (1956), Peggy Lee (1958)
Actual Song Used in Movie: “WHY DO FOOL FALL IN LOVE” Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.
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Scene: 27; TRAVELING – TERRY & DEBBIE - MERCURY
Terry is out again in the stream of taillights, flashing through the small town. He passes some kids on the street and waves - - they stop, seeing it’s Terry. They shake their heads in amazement.
A car pulls alongside and the driver yells over - -
DRIVER
Toad - -? Is that you in that beautiful car?
Jeeze, what a waste of machinery…
The car takes off - -
TERRY
(Shouting)
Ah, suck gas bozo --
Song in Script: HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY by The Tune Weavers (1957), Elvis Presley (1958).
Actual Song Used in Movie: “RUNAWAY” by Del Shannon.
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Scene: 30; AUTO WRECKING YARD – JOHN & CAROL
John’s coupe crunches to a gravelly stop in front of an auto wrecking yard.
CAROL
Why are we stopping here?
JOHN
I wanta look at the cars. It relaxes me.
Song in Script: “IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME” by Brook Benton (1959)
Song in Movie: NONE. (There is no music during this scene.)
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Scene: 37; TRAVELING – CURT & HOODS - PONTIAC
The radio blares and we see all the hoods sitting super low in the car, their eyes just visible over the windows. The Wolfman is giving the phone operator a bad time as she tries to get him to accept a collect call. All the Pharaohs are amused.
BEAN
You tell her, Wolfman! He’s my man. When I graduate I’m going to be a Wolfman. You know he broadcasts out of Mexico someplace…
JOE
No he don’t. I seen his station. It’s just outside town. XERB right on the building.
Song in Script: “WESTERN MOVIES” by The Olympics (1958).
Actual Song Used in Movie: “JOHNNY B. GOODE” by Chuck Berry
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Scene: 42; BURGERS DRIVE IN – JOHN & CAROL COUPE
John cruises around the lot until he finds a space among the rows of dazzling cars.
JOHN
(into intercom)
One ten cent Coke…Is ice extra? All right, ice…..
CAROL
Thanks for nothing.
Song in Script: “IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT” by The Five Satins (1956).
Actual Song Used in Movie: “WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF LOVE” by The Monotones.
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Scene: 44; EXT. SCENIC LIQUOR STORE –
TERRY & DEBBIE - MERCURY
Terry pulls into the parking lot and stops. He looks up at the flashing liquor sign and considers his battle plan.
DEBBIE
Do you have ID?
TERRY
No… hey, but no sweat. What’ll it be?
Beer, little wine?
DEBBIE
If you could get some Old Harper, I’d give you a French kiss.
TERRY
Old Harper, rrright!
Song in Script: “TEENAGER IN LOVE” by Dion & The Belmonts (1959).
Actual Song Used in Movie: “MAYBE BABY” by Buddy Holly.
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Scene: 55; MAIN STREET – TERRY, DEBBIE & STEVE
The trio is standing on a busy street corner.
STEVE
I’m going over to Burger City
TERRY
You think Laurie’s there?
STEVE
I’m not looking for Laurie! I don’t care where she is…you wanta come?
DEBBIE
Yeah
TERRY
No.
STEVE
Well, make up your minds
TERRY
No thanks, we gotta - - report the car missing.
Song in Script: “DONNA” by Ritchie Valens (1958).
Actual Song Used in Movie: “PARTY DOLL” by Buddy Knox
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Scene: 65; THE “COME ON IN” BAR –
TERRY & DEBBIE - MERCURY
A half a dozon people are standing around in the parking lot behind bar. Debbie is sitting on the hood of a car, swinging her legs and chewing gum. The people all seem to be watching something on the ground behind the car. Coughing is heard, then gagging, and the unmistakable sound of someone being sick.
OLD MAN
You cold, Lottie? We’ll go in a minute.
OLD WOMAN
Maybe we should move him. Staying on his hands and knees like that…
(she grins)
He looks like a dog, doesn’t he? Looks like old Ginger.
OLD MAN
Sicker than a dog, that’s for sure.
Song in Script: “POISON IVY” by The Coasters (1959).
Actual Song Used in Movie: NONE.
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Scene: 70; INT. RADIO STATION –
CURT & STATION MANAGER
Through the maze of glass, shifting like prisms, he sees the station manager sitting by the mike - - howling! Then he laughs and howls again, starting to sing an insane song called “Bluebirds on My Dingaling” pounding out the rhythm on the console.
CURT
Wolfman….
He backs away, leaving the Wolfman who’s on his feet now screaming out the end of the song, dancing by himself in the little glass room from which his voice radiates out through the night and around the world.
Song in Script: ‘BLUEBIRDS ON MY DINGALING” by Unknown. (May be a fictitious song.)
Actual Song Used in Movie: “HEART & SOUL” by The Cleftones.
~ FIN ~
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