THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020042
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CRAIG A. SHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: Medium
Technical innovations aside, a lot has happened in 28 years. How would the happy innocence of Brown's original film, the very thing that has made it endure, play with Generation X?
{REST} Think about it: In 1966, people were buying ``Born Free'' and ``Ballad of the Green Berets.'' The Orioles swept the Dodgers in the World Series. It would be two years before the Democrats met in Chicago. Kurt Cobain wasn't born.
So when the crew arrived in Dakar, Senegal, on Africa's Gold Coast, everyone shared the adventure. Brown is a cheerful narrator. A $1 cup of coffee? Unreal. In Accra, Ghana, he points out that for many of the natives, their first look at white men was these two Californians on surfboards.
August and Hinson hiked across seven miles of dunes to surf off Cape St. Francis in South Africa. They found the perfect wave. There is no mention of the strife that would rip that country for nearly three decades more. ``The Endless Summer'' (Pacific Arts Video) hopscotches to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti before arriving in Hawaii.
At the fadeout, there's this consoling thought: ``With enough time and money, you could follow the endless summer around the world. For now, this endless summer has to end.''
Another starts when ``The Endless Summer II'' opens Friday. Time will tell how it stands up.
Hollywood's fascination with surfing has been endless, so it's a good bet ``The Endless Summer II,'' as the title implies, won't be the last surf movie. Here's a list of videos in which ``the hairy thrill of a big wave'' figures:
``Gidget'' (1959). Sandra Dee + James Darren + Malibu. In an innocent, '50s-ish way, it adds up.
``Beach Party'' (1963). The first Frankie Avalon-Annette Funicello frolic, followed by ``Bikini Beach'' (1964), ``Muscle Beach Party'' (1964), ``Beach Blanket Bingo'' (1965) and ``How to Stuff a Wild Bikini'' (1965). The series' coolest character rode on two wheels. Quiz: Who was the leader of the pack? Who played him?
``Ride the Wild Surf'' (1964). From the If It Worked Once File, with Fabian, Tab Hunter and Barbara Eden.
``Surf Party'' (1964). See first three entries. Bobby Vinton and Jackie De Shannon star.
``Follow Me'' (1969). Who needs Woodstock? This documentary follows three surfers seeking out a different high - the perfect wave.
``Summer City'' (1977). An Australian entry in the hot rods, hot sun, hot romance market. Mel Gibson's film debut.
``California Dreaming'' (1979). Geeky Dennis Christopher tries to make the California beach scene.
``Big Wednesday'' (1978). Three dudes hold a post-Vietnam reunion and ride the big wave. With Jan-Michael Vincent, Gary Busey and William Katt.
``Puberty Blues' (1981). Bruce Beresford directed this pretty good film about two Australian girls longing to join the in crowd.
``Back to the Beach'' (1987). Frankie and Annette poke fun at themselves in this update. Lots of laughs, plus Annette sings with Fishbone!
``Surf Nazis Must Die'' (1987). Neo-Nazis hang zehn when they take over the beaches of California. Very high camp.
``North Shore'' (1987). Arizona surfer (huh?) finds action offshore and on shore in Hawaii.
``Aloha Summer'' (1988). Hawaii again is the proving ground - so to speak - for six teenager types.
``Lauderdale'' (1989). Here's something original: Two guys hit the beach on babe patrol.
``Red Surf'' (1990). A couple of wave riders get in over their heads with drug gangs.
``Mad Wax: The Surf Movie'' (1990). A magical surfing wax holds the key for a window cleaner. Loads of surfing footage.
``Point Break'' (1991). Patrick Swayze is a bank robber who gets his kicks surfing and skydiving. Keanu Reeves is the FBI dude. Uh-huh.
Answer: Erich Von Zipper was played by the late Harvey Lembeck.
by CNB