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Surf films

From Surferpedia - The Wiki Encyclopedia of Surfing

Surf films can be divided into the following genres:

  • Surfing documentaries,
  • Beach party films,
  • Feature films,
  • Avant-garde,
  • Animation.


Contents

[edit] Surfing documentaries

Surfing documentaries target the surfing enthusiast. Bruce Brown's classic movie The Endless Summer glorified surfing in a round-the-world search for the perfect wave. Others include;

1953

1959

1968

1970

1975

1980

2000

[edit] Beach party films

Beach party films were popular in the 1960s, targeting the broader community. The Gidget series and Beach Blanket Bingo are less reverential depictions of the culture.

[edit] Feature films

Some feature films have used surf culture as a context within which a more broadly applicable theme could be developed. For example, John Milius' homage to the Malibu of his youth in Big Wednesday uses the changing surf as a metaphor for life's own phases. Others include;

Surf Culture Features

[edit] Animation

[edit] Avant-garde

A screenshot from the movie.
  • Liquid Time (2002) is an avant-garde surf film that focuses solely on the fluid forms of tubing waves.

[edit] Fictional character

  • Sean Penn as stoned surfer, Jeff Spicoli, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Jeff Spicoli is the stereotypical teenage surfer of the eighties, complete with surf talk and imaginary tubes, ridden beneath overhanging ivy. The ambitious, conscientious, hard working Brad Hamilton provides a foil for Jeff Spicoli, who believes in “operating from the heart” and “what you need will come to you,”. By contrasting Jeff Spicoli's carefree approach to life with Brad Hamilton's disciplined work ethic, the film exposes the dialectic in western culture [1].
  • Denny Miller as the handsome surfer, Duke Williams, guest starring on Gilligan's Island. Duke Williams is the stereotypical surfer of the early sixties; simple minded, yet handsome and athletic.

Duke: Man, five days on that board and I'm nothing but skin and bones.

Ginger: What skin.

Mary Ann: And what bones.

[edit] Scenes from movies

Willard: "Are you crazy God damnit? Don't you think its a little risky for some R&R?"

Kilgore: "If I say its safe to surf this beach Captain, then its safe to surf this beach. I mean I'm not afraid to surf this place, I'll surf this whole fucking place!"

In the extended version of Apocalypse Now, there is a scene in which Willard's team steals Kilgore's surfboard as they begin their journey up the river.

[edit] Television

[edit] Reality TV

  • SHANE Stedman appeared briefly on stage on an Australian gameshow [which?CONFIRM] shaping/polishing(?) a surfboard(shortboard/stubby single or twin[confirm]..circa 1970/71.

Also..what was the question contestant/s were asked regarding this? (if memory serves he was concealed behind a thin veil,contestant/s were possibly asked to guess what was going on behind the shadow puppet like demonstration?)[confirm]


[edit] TV commercials

  • SURFSHAKE milk promotion:,c1970/71 ? .Australian. Possibly only NSW ?

Shane Stedman(or lookalike)[confirm] as key promo figure/narrator(?)on TV commercial,Milkbar posters & bar card displays..

Gifts with purchase of a SURFSHAKE at any milkbar that displayed promo included a "Surfshaker" tumbler(Decor design)& a plastic hippy Headband (vague american indian diamond mesh pattern), with choice of colours orange,blue,purple?,green?,other?

Surfshake/I Am A Surfshaker(or similar) was printed on headband.[confirm]

A Surfshake was basically a double milkshake,extra milk,dble icecream etc. Cost was marginally more..


Hamms Beer 1965 with footage by Bud Browne from his 1964 film LOCKED IN Sugar Frosted Flakes 1967 with surfer Fred Hemmings

[edit] TV documentary series

[edit] TV comedy series

[edit] TV drama series

[edit] TV episodes

  • The Flintstones - "Surfin' Fred" (1965). Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty are holidaying on Rock Island, where a surfing contest is to be held. Fred hopes to relive his carefree teenage years, dancing to "hip" music with swarms of holidaying teenagers and revelling in their adulation of his sporting prowess. However, in the surf, Fred is repeatedly blasted by monsterous waves, as he tries desperately to impress the young crowd. Rock star and teenage heartthrob, Jimmy Darrock, who has been recruited to present the winner's trophy, avoids recognition by wearing sunglasses and assuming the role of a lifeguard. But, he had not counted on Fred's ineptitude on a board. Darrock has to retrieve Fred from the surf and perform resuscitation on him. When Wilma paddles over, a huge wave throws Fred onto her shoulders. Wilma manages to navigate through the pillars of a boardwalk, bringing her surfboard to rest inside the revolving door of the hotel. Fred and Wilma win the trophy for most adept use of a surfboard, and Darrock performs in the hotel restaurant, singing about the surfing craze.
  • Gilligan's Island - "Big Man on Little Stick" (1965). A surfer by the name of Duke Williams washes up on the shore and collapses, having spent five days at sea on his surfboard. The girls fall for Duke, played by Denny Miller, so Gilligan tries to learn how to surf by tying his feet to Duke's surfboard. Despite their interest in the newcomer, Ginger and Mary Ann panic when he makes a pass at each of them. To resolve the conflict, the castaways pretend the girls are not available. Ginger is with the Professor and Mary Ann is with Gilligan. So, Duke decides to leave the island and manages to depart by catching a huge wave. The men sit around the radio, anxiously listening to news of Duke's arrival in Hawaii. To their dismay, Duke doesn't remember where he's been for the last two weeks, having hit a rock and suffered amnesia.
  • Skippy Episode #69 (1968/1969)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Culture Jock University of Chicago Magazine, December '05, Volume 98, Issue 2.
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