KINGMAN, Ariz. – Candy Clark or Debbie Dunham in American Graffiti, made a celebrity appearance in Kingman Saturday, Oct. 3, at Another Darn Car Show in the parking lot of Journey Church.
She had a tent set up, touting all her sponsors, and autographed pictures of scenes from the 1973 George Lucas movie starring not only Ms. Clark but Charles Martin Smith, Ron Howard, Richard Dryfus, and Harrison Ford, among others.
Clark’s role of Debbie went on a wild car ride with Toad (Charles Martin Smith).
“It wasn’t that wild,” Clark said. “He wasn’t an expert driver and he was head over heels – with everyone.”
“He wasn’t a truth teller. He said he had money, that he could buy liquor. We went to a liquor store and he had to borrow money from me.”
Debbie took over and out came a line from the movie as only Debbie can say it.
“Girls don’t pay. Guys pay.'”
Clark resurfaced and said, speaking of Toad borrowing money from her at the liquor store, “He never paid me back. I figure with interest and penalties, he owes me over $30,000.”
Clark said Debbie and Toad were her favorite characters in American Graffiti.
She reminisced another scene from the movie. She said Paula Mac yanked Toad’s pants down in the drive-in restaurant.
“And there he was, standing in the restaurant with his pants around his ankles.”
When asked if Clark and Mr. Smith developed a romance during the movie, she had a quick response.
“Heck no. My boyfriend at the time was Jeff Bridges. Who would cheat on Jeff Bridges?”
Clark said it was her first time in Kingman and she thinks it’s really beautiful.
“I love the rock formations,” Clark said. “Driving in from Vegas, we saw so many varieties of rock formations; all this stuff that’s been here for millions of years.”
