The 5: The Great American Surf Movies
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It has been a brutal winter and parts of the country are still dealing with mounds of snow, below zero temperatures, and freezing wind. So, as we enter spring, and wish we could go on spring break like college students, its time to enjoy the definitive surf movies and pretend you’re getting sunburned with the rest of these beach bum blondes…not all these movies can be called “good” but they are all entertaining.
- Gidget (1959). Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson (directed by Paul Wendkos). Ridiculous? Yes. Pathetic use of process shots? Some of the worst. Realistic? Absolutely not. But in 1959, the underground world of surfing was exposed to movie going audiences with this hit movie…and created a nickname for tomboy girl surfers still used today. It spawned a spin-off series (starring Sally Field), premiered a year before Elvis’s Blue Hawaiian, and led to American International’s domination of surf and beach movies with even worse teen films like Beach Blanket Bingo. Besides, how can you possibly overlook Academy Award winner Cliff Robertson playing a character named the The Big Kahuna? Watch a clip on YouTube or scroll down below.
- Endless Summer (1966). Documentary (directed by Bruce Brown). After the corny surf movies which dominated drive-ins for almost a decade, the documentary Endless Summer was a breath of fresh air. Still considered the greatest surfing movie ever made, and first documentary for many, it documents the 10 years odyssey of Robert and Michael’s searching for the best waves in the world. Even the music by The Sandals has become classic film score. Watch a clip on YouTube or scroll down below.
- Big Wednesday (1978). Jan-Michael Vincent, Gary Busey, William Katt (directed by John Millius) When released in theaters, this epic film of surfers over a 20 year period was considered a bomb. But in its 30+ years since, it’s been embraced not only as one of the great surf movies, but one of the ultimate guy movie. Three friends survive their reckless youths, are divided by the unrest of the 60s and Vietnam war, and reunited to accomplish their goal of surfing one transcendent wave. It only makes sense that the man who wrote “Charlie don’t surf” would write and direct a nostalgic, personal, Vietnam era movie about surfing one year before Apocalypse Now’s release. Watch a clip on YouTube or scroll down to watch em all.
- California Dreaming (1979). Dennis Christopher, Seymour Cassel, Glynnis O’Connor (directed by John Hancock). What do cycling and surfing have in common? Nothing. But in 1979, Dennis Christopher starred in two movies about the sports; Breaking Away and California Dreaming. A Midwesterner’s desire to journey to and become part of the west coast’s vibes is the focus of this surf movie. Better yet, it gave beloved character actor Seymour Cassel a leading role and let 70s sweetheart Glynnis O’Connor play a beach bunny (complete with bleached blonde hair). As corny as the movies of the 60s, it captures the California pop culture image which dominated in movies and TV. Watch the clip on YouTube or down below.
- Point Break (1991). Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey (Directed by Kathryn Bigelow) Has there ever been more of a surf philosophizer than Johnny Utah? Perhaps the greatest, pop-corn action movie ever made, Point Break is certainly one of the most enjoyable. After decades of harmless, somewhat rebellious surfers on film and TV, this film plays up the wild, dangerous side of the surf culture by turning a gang of surfers into bank robbers who live to be daredevils. But the movie will always be a beloved, hit because of the quotable lines by Swayze…and Busey. Watch a clip below…or here on YouTube.
Gidget
Endless Summer
Big Wednesday
California Dreaming
Point Break
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Lesley Coffin is a feature editor for FF2media and has also written the books Lew Ayres: Hollywood Conscientious Objector (2012) and Hitchcock's Stars (2014), and currently writing a third book. Follow on twitter @filmbiographer for thoughts on movies and cat pictures.
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Lesley Coffin is a feature editor for FF2media and has also written the books Lew Ayres: Hollywood Conscientious Objector (2012) and Hitchcock's Stars (2014), and currently writing a third book. Follow on twitter @filmbiographer for thoughts on movies and cat pictures.