The Endless Summer (1966)
Grade: 70
Bruce Brown directed, produced, edited and narrated "The Endless Summer", a pseudo-documentary that follows two professional surfers around the world. It was filmed as a silent, with witty narration and a surf music score later added. You would think that a documentary on surfing would eventually reach low tide and become beached, but the expected repetition and boredom never quite arrives. This has much to do with the skill of Brown's editing, and his knowledge of and enthusiasm for surfing.
Our surfer protagonists are Mike Hynson and Robert August. We don't get to know them beyong surfing (and some clever comic relief pantomiming) and it fact it is difficult to tell which one is which. Perhaps this is just as well, since that allows the focus to be on the sport of surfing, and how the surf varies worldwide from beach to beach. Brown and the crew stay behind the camera, creating the illusion that they aren't there, and that it is just Mike and Robert who are surfing around the world.
The best part of the film comes early. Mike and Robert begin their travels with the northwest coast of Africa, becoming the first ever to surf there. They encounter local villagers, fishermen and their kids, who had never seen a white man, much less a surfer, in their lives. It is entertaining to see our surfing heroes trying to communicate with the locals, who of course speak no English, and attempting to teach them how to surf.
You don't have to be an expert surfer to appreciate the film. Surfing techniques are explained in amusing slang expressions, and the cinematography, while on the cheap, is very good. Sometimes the waves are awesome, with the surfers risking their lives for the thrill of the ride.
briankoller@usa.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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