So at the end of the movie as we're given the epilogue of the four main guys, we're told that Curt is a writer living in Canada. Did anyone else get the feeling that he was there because he decided to run from the Draft instead of going to 'Nam with Toad?
shareActually no, because the timeframe of the epilogue isn't really disclosed. Draft dodger in the context you present it is technically defined (under guidelines established in 1977) as “certain persons who, during the Vietnam War era, violated the Military Selective Service Act by draft-evasion acts or omissions committed between August 4, 1964 and March 28, 1973.”
We’re simply not given enough information to say for sure whether Curt did or didn’t evade the draft. Living in Canada by itself means nothing.
The implication is awfully strong that he moved to Canada to avoid being drafted. I guess it's a matter of interpretation, but in my mind it's about 100%.
I didn't know there was a "technical definition" of the phrase draft dodger. To me, it's like any other phrase: it means what people think it means, which may vary from the (usually more specific) meaning it's given in a statute. The only purpose (and effect) of defining a word in a statute is to limit and specify its meaning in that statute. It's done so the draftsman can just use a defined term, and doesn't have to keep repeating the specific elements and limitations over and over.
The timeframe of the epilogue doesn't seem particularly relevant. Since the movie was released in 1973, it would be hard to understand that it's talking about events that occurred after that date. Unless you're suggesting that Carl moved to Canada before August 1964 (i.e. after his sophomore year at college) and for some reason stayed there, everything relevant occurred within the timeframe referred to.
A narrow understanding the term draft dodger would be more like: someone who actually was drafted, and avoided service somehow. It's more likely (or at least fairly likely) that Curt moved to Canada before actually being drafted, to avoid that possibility.
In any event, the OP's question wasn't about the definition of "draft dodger." It was a question about the character. My understanding of the question was: "Did Curt move to Canada to avoid being drafted?" My answer: that's the fairly clear implication.
It's debatable and up for interpretation.
shareI saw this movie when it played at the theatres in '73, and just about everyone surmised that Curt went to Canada to avoid the draft.
shareWhich, given to proximity to the winddown of Vietnam makes sense, because that is fresh in people's minds. However, the card is open ended enough that people apply their own interpretation. Of course, More American Graffiti reinforces this idea, though Curt is replaced by a different brother.
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!
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I never took it that way. First of all he would have been eligible for a student deferment at least as long as he stayed in school, and even after school, assuming he wasn't declared 4F, like so many other college graduates of that era he could have found ways around the draft. Ironically, George Lucas tried to get into the military after graduating college in the same time frame as the Curt character, but he was turned down by the Air Force because of his driving record (speeding tickets) and then rejected for induction into the Army after it was determined he had a disqualifying medical issue (diabetes).
shareIt's a completely fictional character so there is no real "back story", but I never took it to be meant that way. First of all he would have been eligible for a student deferment at least as long as he stayed in school, and even after school, assuming he wasn't declared 4F, like so many other college graduates of that era he could have found ways around the draft. Ironically, George Lucas tried to get into the military after graduating college in the same era as the Curt character, but he was turned down by the Air Force because of his driving record (speeding tickets) and then rejected for induction into the Army after it was determined he had a disqualifying medical issue (diabetes).
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Yeah, I'm voting draft dodger, too, and I think the 1973 audience would have been hip enough to understand that. At least, that's how my mom explained it to me waaay back in the day when we saw this movie almost 40 years ago. (On cable.)
I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.
I hope he did find a way to dodge the draft whether that's why he wound up in Canada or not. Too many boys of my generation either lost their lives in the meat grinder that was Vietnam or came back home with life-changing injuries; at least the boys from working-class or poor families. The rich boys got deferments or had their rich daddies help them weasel out of serving in some other way. Pretty much the only option the poor kids had was to run off to Canada. As an army veteran who served in the Vietnam era, I'm glad the boys who had no inclination to play soldier had that option. Soldiers generally don't want to fight alongside someone who has no desire whatsoever to be there.
shareExcellent and very thoughtful post, TongueFu. For the last few years, I have been living in a small semi-rural town that has a large VA hospital. Every day, I see the walking-wounded remnants from the Vietnam war. And, in this sad parade, I rarely the sons of the rich/powerful families.
So, good for all the 'Curts' who managed to escape into Canada.
-AnaElisa
"All life's riddles are answered in the movies."