George Lucas influenced scene…

I’ve never heard it mentioned but it’s so obvious that the direction in the scene with John Travolta and Chris Hargensen cruising the strip is directly lifted from George Lucas’ American Graffiti from 3 years earlier. The way the blaring music overtakes the soundtrack, while neon lights are seen on each side as well as splashing the windshield. Of course it establishes Travolta as the big guy on campus with the car of guys talking to him and then the car of swooning girls, then of course the cop that shines his flashlight. The up close cinematography inside the car is directly lifted as they also interact with the passing car drivers in each movie. And then there’s the tracking shot taken from the street with their car driving and the camera simultaneously moving back as the car moves forward then they swerve to speed in the opposite direction. I don’t know why no one else has mentioned the direct influence of George Lucas on Brian DePalma in this scene.