MovieChat Forums > American Graffiti (1973) Discussion > Cool Milner moment

Cool Milner moment

posted 9 years ago by hemi165
10 replies | jump to latest

The part that I enjoy is when John Milner pulls out of the garage after he removed the header plugs from his car & he tells one of the guys he knows that some punk's looking for him. Maybe because I'm a car guy, but he's kind of like a rebel and racing cars is his "thing". It's almost as if he's a prize fighter and he needs to knock out another contender. It's a cool moment because the build up during the movie gets stronger as the movie gets closer towards the end between Milner & Falfa. I just knew as the movie went on that race was going to take place at some point, …….Very cool !!!!!!

[–] james_age 9 years ago

I also like when Falfa tracks Milner down at the diner parking lot. Milner casually tells him two words, "Paradise Road".

That's all that was needed to be said.

[–] hemi165 9 years ago

Could not agree more !!!!

[–] james_age 9 years ago

Hey hemi165, what does it mean exactly to "remove the header plugs"? Obviously it makes the car go faster in someway. Can you please explain it in simple terms to a guy who doesn't know to much about cars?

[–] hemi165 9 years ago

Basically, they replace exhaust manifolds on a car or truck's engine. They are less restrictive as far as gases from your car's exhaust. In short, your engine gets more horsepower……….in turn, your car will go faster !!!!!

[–] kentor404 9 years ago

I think it was in reference to the old hot rodder trick of having the exhaust diverted through mufflers under normal circumstances in order to be street legal, but also having removable plugs so the engine could breathe directly through the headers if you needed more power, such as for a race you thought might be a serious challenge. The exhaust would be louder with the plugs removed since it was exiting directly from the headers and no longer going through the mufflers, but the reduction in back pressure would allow the engine to produce more power. You'll notice Milner's car is louder as he's pulling out of the garage after removing the header plugs. Some hot rodders even had a pull cable connected to valves which diverted the exhaust through mufflers for street use or straight through the headers for impromptu competition, which would eliminate the need to manually remove headers plugs.

[–] james_age 9 years ago

Cool. Thanks. I imagine he leaves those plugs on while cruising so the cops don't harass him more than they already do.

[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

I always liked that scene myself. Milner had many cool moments though.

Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!

[–] RickVee 9 years ago

That is a great little scene however I see it a little differently. If you look at Milner during that scene (as he's in his car talking to the guy who noticed John popped the headers) he looks very worried. I always got the sense that Milner knew Falfa's car was faster than his and that his reign as being the fastest in the Valley was about to end. And to lose to Falfa would mean he'd lose his identity.

[–] ck1-5 9 years ago

That's exactly how I read it....the gas station attendant says something like, "I don't even know why they try anymore! You've been the king as long as I can remember!", to which Milner replied, "Yeah, it's been a long time, ain't it?", as if to say, "And it's all about to come to an end".

[–] hemi165 9 years ago

Very good take on that, i've considered that viewpoint as well. I guess both could work, although I agree a bit more with the latter myself……either way it's a great build up to the car race finale it this i believe an awesome movie !!!!!