Lloyd Billingsley from American Greatness wrote a fine story today about Suzanne Somers, a San Francisco Bay Area girl. She’s had many tributes. I’m going to borrow and shorten his story to an explanation of the movie and its fantastic dialog. Following is a clipped version.
Suzanne Somers first appeared on screen in American Graffiti, directed by an upstart named George Lucas…. Somers plays a ‘blonde in T-Bird’ and through the window she mouths the words, “I love you,” to Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss), cruising the streets with his sister Laurie Henderson (Cindy Williams) and boyfriend Steve Bolander (Ron Howard).
“I just saw a vision, I saw a goddess,” Curt says, “the most perfect dazzling creature I’ve ever seen. She spoke to me right through the window. I think she said, ‘I love you.’ That means nothing to you people? You have no romance, no soul?”
The blonde is variously described as the wife of a local jeweler and a prostitute. Curt continues his pursuit, interrupted by an encounter with the “Pharaohs” gang, led by Joe, wonderfully played by Bo Hopkins.
Curt is slated to leave for college the next day, so he seeks out disc jockey Wolfman Jack, played by the real Wolfman, Robert Weston Smith.
“I’m looking for this girl,” Henderson says.
“Yeah, aren’t we all,” responds the Wolfman, who airs a message to the girl in the white T-bird to meet or call Curt at Burger City, “or the Wolfman gonna getcha!”
Henderson parks his Citroen near the phone booth and falls asleep. The ring wakes him up, and for the first time, viewers hear the words of Suzanne Somers.
“Curt?”
“Yes, yes, this is Curt. Who are you?”
“Who are you expecting?”
“Do you drive a white T-bird?
“A white ‘56. I saw you on Third Street.”
“Who are you? Do you know me?” he asks.
“Of course.”
“How do you know me?”
“It’s not important.”
“It’s important. It’s important to me. You’re the most beautiful, exciting thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I don’t know anything about you. Listen, listen, listen, could we meet someplace?” he asks.
“I cruise Third Street. Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Curt. . .”
“Tell me your name, at least tell me your name.”
“Goodbye, Curt.” And the blonde hangs up.
The next morning Curt boards the plane to fly back east. In the movie’s final scene, he looks out the window and there is the white T-Bird cruising the highway. Curt’s wistful expression says it all.
Suzanne Somers first appeared on screen in American Graffiti, directed by an upstart named George Lucas…. Somers plays a ‘blonde in T-Bird’ and through the window she mouths the words, “I love you,” to Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss), cruising the streets with his sister Laurie Henderson (Cindy Williams) and boyfriend Steve Bolander (Ron Howard).
“I just saw a vision, I saw a goddess,” Curt says, “the most perfect dazzling creature I’ve ever seen. She spoke to me right through the window. I think she said, ‘I love you.’ That means nothing to you people? You have no romance, no soul?”
The blonde is variously described as the wife of a local jeweler and a prostitute. Curt continues his pursuit, interrupted by an encounter with the “Pharaohs” gang, led by Joe, wonderfully played by Bo Hopkins.
Curt is slated to leave for college the next day, so he seeks out disc jockey Wolfman Jack, played by the real Wolfman, Robert Weston Smith.
“I’m looking for this girl,” Henderson says.
“Yeah, aren’t we all,” responds the Wolfman, who airs a message to the girl in the white T-bird to meet or call Curt at Burger City, “or the Wolfman gonna getcha!”
Henderson parks his Citroen near the phone booth and falls asleep. The ring wakes him up, and for the first time, viewers hear the words of Suzanne Somers.
“Curt?”
“Yes, yes, this is Curt. Who are you?”
“Who are you expecting?”
“Do you drive a white T-bird?
“A white ‘56. I saw you on Third Street.”
“Who are you? Do you know me?” he asks.
“Of course.”
“How do you know me?”
“It’s not important.”
“It’s important. It’s important to me. You’re the most beautiful, exciting thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I don’t know anything about you. Listen, listen, listen, could we meet someplace?” he asks.
“I cruise Third Street. Maybe I’ll see you tonight.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Curt. . .”
“Tell me your name, at least tell me your name.”
“Goodbye, Curt.” And the blonde hangs up.
The next morning Curt boards the plane to fly back east. In the movie’s final scene, he looks out the window and there is the white T-Bird cruising the highway. Curt’s wistful expression says it all.
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