Ride the Wild Surf
| Ride the Wild Surf | |
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| Directed by | Don Taylor |
| Produced by |
Art Napoleon Jo Napoleon |
| Written by |
Art Napoleon Jo Napoleon |
| Starring |
Fabian Shelley Fabares Peter Brown Barbara Eden Tab Hunter Susan Hart James Mitchum |
| Music by | Stu Phillips |
| Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc |
| Edited by | Howard A. Smith Eda Warren |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | est. $1,400,000 (US/ Canada) |
Ride the Wild Surf is a romantic drama in the beach party style. It was filmed in 1963 and distributed in 1964. Unlike most films in the genre, it is known for its exceptional big wave surf footage – a common sight in surf movies of the time, but a rarity in beach party films. Likewise, the film has only one pop song – the titular Jan and Dean track, which is heard once, at the end of the film.
The story follows surfers Jody Wallis (Fabian), Steamer Lane (Tab Hunter), and Chase Colton (Peter Brown), who come to Hawaii's Oahu Island to ride the world's biggest waves and compete against surfers from all over the world.
Steamer falls in love with Lily Kilua (Susan Hart), whose mother objects to the romance because she considers surfers to be "beach bums," since her husband—a surfer—left home and family to follow the surf circuit. Self-described college dropout and surf bum Jody falls for the demure Brie Matthews (Shelley Fabares), who challenges him to return to college. In the case of the relatively strait-laced Chase, he finds himself pursued by the adventurous Augie Poole (Barbara Eden).
The main story, though, is the challenge to surf the monster waves at Waimea Bay, and fit in among the champion surfers there such as Eskimo (James Mitchum). Despite conflicts, injuries and rocky romances, Wallis, Chase and Steamer prove themselves brave—or crazy—enough to try to be the last one to ride in the highest wave.
The soundtrack was composed by Stu Phillips - it was the third film score he had ever composed. Phillips also founded Colpix Records and produced hits for Nina Simone, The Skyliners and one of Ride the Wild Surf's stars, Shelley Fabares.
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