How come nobody recognizes Officer Falfa?...I thought he was friends with these guys. I guess I don't remember his role in American Graffiti.
Granted his role is pretty much just a cameo, but wouldn't somebody know him?
If I remember right the only person from the original that Falfa comes across is Debbie (Candy Clark) and the two did not cross paths in the original film. Falfa runs into the Toad before he meets Debby and again at the drag race AFTER he has dropped Debby off. The ones who most would/should have recognized Falfa would be Milner and Laurie (Cindy Williams). Falfa was not friends with any of the gang. He was just an outsider coming into town to try and beat Milner in a race.
shareIn the original movie, Falfa invited Laurie (Williams) into his car. She was actually in Falfa's car when it overturned during the drag race with Milner. Besides Laurie, Falfa only had interactions with Toad and Milner in the original, though he also saw Carol in Milner's car at some point. Debbie had already gone home when the drag race occurred.
The original movie made it clear that Falfa was from out of town, just there to challenge Milner. For example, he had to ask Laurie where Paradise Road was (where the drag race occurred).
I wouldn't say "nobody" recognizes his character. I recognized him immediately. I'm somebody.
In the original film, his character wasn't a friend of the teens. He was a rival of John Milner's and challenged him to a race.
--The day I hold too tightly to my opinion is the day I stop learning. May that day never come.
I don't think that was Harrison Ford in the cameo.
The officer had a helmet on and glasses. They just picked someone who could pass for Harrison Ford around the mouth.
Yes, he wasn't a friend. Just an outsider.
Of course it was Harrison Ford! I think you'd better watch it again. Nobody else can look that much like HF, c'mon, the mouth, the smirk,,, it's HF all over!!
shareJust to reiterate, I knew it was him when I first saw it and I just watched it again on youtube and I don't know how anyone could think it's anyone else lol
shareWell for one, wasn't he a cop in San Francisco? It sure looked like San Fran where Debbie was pulled over. The original movie wasn't set in San Francisco, but rather probably a small town in California, maybe not too far from San Fran. As others have pointed out, Falfa was an out of towner, looking for Milner in the original. Perhaps he is originally from San Fran, or moved there afterwards.
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