Feels Like a Long Time Ago

The guy who gave us THX 1138,
Along with several shorts that evidently weren’t so great,
Was crashing on the sofa of another young auteur,
Then working on The Godfather, their reps still immature.

His prospects in L.A. all gone, he’d moved to New York City
To meet with folk in cinema who’d show him any pity.
His greatest longshot chance: United Artists’ David Picker,
Who blew him off until he laid it on a little thicker.

The two would meet again soon at the festival in Cannes,
Where something made the CEO a more obliging man.
He paid the guy a bit to write American Graffiti
But didn’t like the script that came. So much for that entreaty.

When Universal made the film, the budget sure was low.
The buzz got bad, so Picker let his backup story go,
But one exec enjoyed the film: the son of Alan Ladd,
Creative head at Fox, who sought to know what else he had.

The young director’s father wished he’d join the same career
Of selling desk equipment, but the thought made Junior sneer.
Perhaps this had an influence upon a certain villain
He’d write for his next film (for whom the actor had no billin’).

Most everyone involved assumed the film would not succeed.
The Jaws director differed, but the rest would not take heed.
Imagine their surprise when it became an instant smash.
From that point on, George Lucas never would be strapped for cash.