The Endless Summer (1939)

The crown jewel to ten years of Bruce Brown surfing documentaries. Brown follows two young
surfers around the world in search of the perfect wave, and ends up finding quite a few in addition
to some colorful local characters.
Michael Hynson ... Principal surfer (as Mie Hynson!
"o#ert $ugust ... Principal surfer
%ord &Tally Ho& Blears ... Himself
Bruce Brown ... 'arrator
Terence Bullen ... (outh $frican guide
)ayne Miyata ... Himself
*irector+ Bruce Brown
"untime+ ,- mins
http+..www.imd#.com.title.tt//0/123.
4odecs+
5ideo + -26 MB, 722 8#ps, 91.,20 fps, -66:1/6 (30+,!, ;5<* = ;5<* Mpeg>6,
$udio + 39- MB, 3,9 8#ps, 67/// H?, 3 channels, /@9/// = $41 *5M, 5B",
Bac #efore (ean Penn gave us his hilarious interpretation of a surfer as a drugged>out loser with
a limited voca#ulary in ABast Times $t "idgemont HighA, the common image of a surfer was that
of a clean>cut guy who surfed just lie other people sailed or fished. They were normal people.
This film was made during that time, when surfing was a sport and surfers were athletes. $nd its
that charm that maes this film special.
Bruce Brown had made 6 feature>length films prior to maing this one, #ut this film&s incredi#le
success made him a cult hero, a 4inderella story who came out of nowhere to give us a film that
could quite possi#ly #e the #est surfing documentary ever made. His premise was simple+ tae 9
surfers and try to achieve what everyone dreams of+ an endless (ummer of sun, surf, and girls
(#ut mostly surf!.
Brown&s narration, with its soft 4alifornia tone, really gives the film that comforta#le, easy feeling,
lie watching an old )alt *isney film from the early 0/&s, which contri#utes to the film&s charm.
)e now, we just now, that these two guys are going to go out on an adventure and no#ody will
die, no#ody will get arrested, and no#ody will do anything immoral (or at least CtooC immoral!.
Brom the west coast of $frica, to (outh $frica, to $ustralia, to islands in the Pacific, to Hawaii, we
go along as two young men from 4alifornia introduce the sport of surfing to people who have
never seen a surf#oard #efore. <t is quite hilarious to see villagers in Dhana and (enegal try to
surf a long#oard in heavy surf for the first time, and Bruce&s narration really tells a funny story,
and all along we&re rela@ing to the gentle guitar sounds of The (andals.
)e also get to see some of the #est surfers riding some great waves in the age #efore the
#eaches got crowded with jet sis, racing #oats, and more surfers. AEndless (ummerA is one of
those films that acts lie a time capsule, and is just as entertaining now as it was when it first
came out.
< highly recommend it for everyone. $dults, ids, surfers, non>surfers. There&s something for
everyone in this film. Fou don&t need to now how to surf to enjoy this movie.
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)hat a fun little film this isG Every - or 0 years < revisit this wor and enjoy it as much as the first
time < saw it. My hat is off to Bruce Brown for having the vision and determination to create this
film. )ith cinematography, music, and narration that is easy on the mind and eyes, this film floats
through the screen and has you envisioning your own paradise, whether or not you&re a surfing
aficionado. The two featured surfers in this film are at the top of their sport and seem to #e doing
it only for love > 'HT for #ig pri?es or cash purses. There is a unique innocence a#out this film
that is very appealing.
(ee this film #ecause it is not violent. (ee it #ecause there are no special effects (save one or
two jery camera moves!. (ee it #ecause it taes you #ac to a simpler time when the world (and
you do see much of the world! seems much simpler. (till fun and still an inspiration, this film will
remain forever timeless...
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THE E'*%E(( (IMME" is a terrific *ocumentary and a really great AtripA (in every sense of the
word! to another era+ the 3,0/&s.
Basically, the film is a photographic journal of two $merican surfers who start off from 4alifornia,
I($, and travel the world to find Athe perfect waveA. )e follow them as they travel, and, if we&re
in a receptive mood, we have a lot of fun also. The film includes most of their trip, #ut the focus is
on their journey through 'orth and (outh $frica, 'ew Jealand,Hawaii, Tahiti and $ustralia.
The film features some typical surfer humour that some would find a #it AlameA, #ut it always
maes me laugh. Hne silly e@ample+ The two surfers pac their #ags for their trip. Hne of them
reads a#out possi#le shar attacs. The ne@t thing that we see is the other one pacing a single
A#and>aidA...for emergenciesG Typical surfer humourGG <nterestingly, #ut unfortunately for us, the
only place the #oys can&t find a decent surf is here, in $ustraliaG *uring their $ustralian trip they
are constantly told #y the younger and older surfers alie+ AFou guys really missed it. Fou should
have #een here yesterdayGA This really means+ AFou guys really missed it. Fou should have #een
here last winterGA There are so many good things in the film to enjoy+ the laconic narration #y
Bruce BrownK the personalities of the two surfers, "o#ert and MieK the evocative music scoreK
the e@cellent photography and editingK and the scenic locations all com#ine to mae this a great
e@perience. This is one of the few films that will mae you really appreciate surfing...and
documentary films. <t&s a fine e@ample of how to mae an imaginative film with a small #udget.
THE E'*%E(( (IMME" is truly one trip definitely worth taingG