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| One of the most unforgettable scenes in American Graffiti is where Curt attaches one end of a metal cable to a light post and the other to the rear axle of a patrol car. As the car shifts into gear and leaps forward the trans-axle and two rear wheels are yanked out from under it. Where did the idea come from? Can this really happen? How did the crew manage to pull off such a stunt? Let's find out: |
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| Stand By For Justice! |
| "Stand by for justice!" These are the words Curt yells right before the patrol car loses its rear axle. It is an amazing spectacle to watch as the patrol car hurdles up and out, airborne for a moment then noses down and then jumps along the pavement, sending out sparks as it screeches to a stop. Although, its unusual to see such a dramatic display of rebelliousness channeled into an anonymous act this was not the first time this stunt was recorded on film. About 9 years before Graffiti was in production, this same stunt was performed in the sit-com, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. For episode #231, (which originally aired May 23, 1963), Eddie Haskell and the Cleaver boys fastened one end of a chain around a tree trunk and the other around the rear axel of their friend, Lumpy's car. When Lumpy tried to move his car it caused unforseen damge as the entire third member and wheels became detached. |
| The reults of the same stunt in American Graffiti were much more spectacular as the red light on the patrol car starts flashing and the siren wails. Moments later the car sits on the ground at a 20 degree angle while its engine whines at top speed. The stunt was so memorable that more than 30 years later it was still in the minds of many film fans. This prompted the producers of the TV series, MYTH BUSTERS to attempt the same stunt to see if it could really be done. On the 10th episode which aired Feb 22, 2004, they found that the rear axle was able to be pulled loose, but was caught along the underside of the police car and could not clear the trunk. The hosts theorized that a ramp was used in American Graffiti to give the car and axle enough of a boost to wrench the axel completely free. |
| Lucas was able to achieve the awesome spectacle without a ramp as the hosts of Myth Busters had surmised. The act of damaging the patrol car in the film was meticulously planned. The entire rear axle of the car was cut away from the frame and body and the cable was attached. The other end of the metal cable was not attached to a light pole (as in the story) but rather to a wench on a heavy-duty 10-wheel tow truck that was parked in the darkness at the far end of the lot. |
| As the car sped away from its parked location, at the exact moment when it crossed the sidewalk, the wench was activated. The pulling of the cable along with the force of the forward moving car caused the axle to be effectively yanked from beneath the car. Before the stunt was filmed there was some concern by the production staff that the car might actually flip over and land on its roof. Luckily, this never happened. |
| The car stunt was first seen on the wholesome family show, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, 1963. |
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