MovieChat Forums > American Graffiti (1973) Discussion > Bob Falfa's backstory, has it ever been ...

Bob Falfa's backstory, has it ever been brought up/discussed?

posted 3 years ago by JackalopeCash57 (92)
5 replies | jump to latest

I am curious if this was ever explored - I know Ford briefly reprises the role in the sequel film in which we find out that Falfa became a cop; I have always assumed that the disastrous drag race at the end of this film most likely served as a sign to Falfa it was time to grow up and move on to the next chapter in life (I mean, Falfa was like in his early 30s here while the rest of the characters were in their late teens and early twenties).

Perhaps the mystique of the character is what makes him so memorable (that along with the fact that he pretty much was the template for Han Solo)

[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

I remember seeing the movie on its opening night in 1973 and I can't say that Ford seemed to have much charisma in the role. Falfa was a jerk. A bit of a country bumpkin bully -- though Ford DID use his trademark snarling mouth to good effect. Plus the one dumb chick keeps saying of him "Ain't he neat?" or something like that.

I think it is only retroactively -- now that the world knows Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Indiana Jones -- that Falfa ends up with more charisma than he was supposed to have.

Consequently, Falfa's backstory just didn't matter.

[–] Egosomnia (861) 3 years ago

Yes, that's exactly right.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Doesn't he have a different girl in the car with him every time we see him? Nah, can't be any charisma there...

[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

Ha, well...yes and no.

I think mainly he has ONE...the kinda dumb gal who keeps saying "Aint he NEAT?" or something. At the climax, Cindy Williams gets in the car with him, but she clearly doesn't like him, and is just doing it to bother her boyfriend, Ron Howard. She even tries to get OUT of the car.

Because Falfa is presented as pretty much a jerk -- the villain of the film(other than the Pharoahs) to the extent that the film HAS villains.

I suppose there is some other different woman in the car, too at some time.

Its not that Falfa lacks charisma...he just doesn't have "movie star leading man" charisma yet. Ford needed Star Wars and Indy to get that.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Probably true. I always thought Bob Falfa was kind of cool, mostly for the car and because he didn't see the need to kiss up to Milner, who everyone else in the movie (aside from the 'Holstein') does kiss up to; And I get it, Milner's a good guy, but I always respect people who refuse to be like everyone else, which is kind of how I perceived Ford's character.