Bruce Brown's surf films - Beyond Tiki

B BC-Da-Da Member Joined: Aug 14, 2002 Posts: 161	B BC-Da-Da Posted posted on Sun, Aug 18, 2002 11:55 PM Bruce Brown was the most commercially successful of all the independnt Surf filmmakers, but the best was John Severson, the founder of "Surfer" magazine. In the '60s, the image of the Surfer was more vital in L.A. than Sandy Koufax or Bob Dylan. No one out here had a crew-cut, and people who were socially conscious often were found at baseball games, unlike other areas of the country where the twain never met. The Surfer was tht central figure which bridged the gap between and Jock and Folk culture. In the '80s, Surf really ended as a Pop culture and truly became a Jock sport. The '70s were kind of like that, but 1971's "Five Summer Stories" was a definitive film in Los Angeles for all circles of sophistication. "The Endless Summer" is indeed the biggest selling Surf film of all time, but "The Endless Summer II" is not one to see, unless you want to puke. Besides "The Endless Summer" (which is the best Surf film ever), the best indy Surf film to find (pretty easy, actually) is "Strictly Hot" by Dale Davis. The Dragons did an unreleased soundtrack that crosses Surf instrumental with percussive Jazz, in what must be the most exotic Surf music ever (no offense to the Enchanters, wherever they are... "Tum Tiki" is a masterpiece). That said, all of the Bruce Brown films are very good. He even did motorcycle film ("On Any Sunday") after "The Endless Summer" (which was released in 1965, NOT 1966). It was shot in '64. "On Any Sunday" is a cool film, if you like motorcycle culture. Me, I find it boring as shit, but I respect what Brown was trying to do. Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth followed a similar path after many of the Greasers went off to Vietnam. Roth even got experimental with Trikes, but he was rejected by Bikers and Greases for seperate, but obvious reasons. "On Any Sunday" does sport a realy cool Psychedelic Surf soundtrack that blew my mind when I first heard the record. A nice little hidden secret. Maybe not?

Bruce Brown was the most commercially successful of all the independnt Surf filmmakers, but the best was John Severson, the founder of "Surfer" magazine.

In the '60s, the image of the Surfer was more vital in L.A. than Sandy Koufax or Bob Dylan. No one out here had a crew-cut, and people who were socially conscious often were found at baseball games, unlike other areas of the country where the twain never met. The Surfer was tht central figure which bridged the gap between and Jock and Folk culture.

In the '80s, Surf really ended as a Pop culture and truly became a Jock sport. The '70s were kind of like that, but 1971's "Five Summer Stories" was a definitive film in Los Angeles for all circles of sophistication. "The Endless Summer" is indeed the biggest selling Surf film of all time, but "The Endless Summer II" is not one to see, unless you want to puke.

Besides "The Endless Summer" (which is the best Surf film ever), the best indy Surf film to find (pretty easy, actually) is "Strictly Hot" by Dale Davis. The Dragons did an unreleased soundtrack that crosses Surf instrumental with percussive Jazz, in what must be the most exotic Surf music ever (no offense to the Enchanters, wherever they are... "Tum Tiki" is a masterpiece). That said, all of the Bruce Brown films are very good. He even did motorcycle film ("On Any Sunday") after "The Endless Summer" (which was released in 1965, NOT 1966). It was shot in '64.

"On Any Sunday" is a cool film, if you like motorcycle culture. Me, I find it boring as shit, but I respect what Brown was trying to do. Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth followed a similar path after many of the Greasers went off to Vietnam. Roth even got experimental with Trikes, but he was rejected by Bikers and Greases for seperate, but obvious reasons.

"On Any Sunday" does sport a realy cool Psychedelic Surf soundtrack that blew my mind when I first heard the record. A nice little hidden secret. Maybe not?

Post #6211 by BC-Da-Da on Sun, Aug 18, 2002 11:55 PM