A NIGHT AT THE SURF MOVIES ~ 4-18-07
By Corky Carroll
I recently got a request to write about the best and worst Hollywood made movies that have to do with surfing. There is a huge difference between a “surf movie” and a movie move that deals with surfing. Hard-core surf movies are basically documentaries about surfing. Well, more than that they are kinda like really good home movies. I don't mean this in a bad way. Actually in a good way. Get a few great surfers on some great waves and you have a great show. Probably not for non-surfers though, they would most likely get bored seeing wave after wave. That is where Hollywood comes in. Over the years there have been a number of films released out there on the big screen that have to do with surfing, surfers and the lifestyle. So, in an effort to comply with the request and because I thought it would be fun to see where my mind takes me in describing these films, here is my take some memorable or not Hollywood attempts at capturing our lifestyle.
1. GIDGET. This was the first and probably the most important film to do with surfing. Released in 1959 this movie, more than anything else that I can think of, was responsible for the huge growth spurt in surfing in the early 1960's. Staring Sandra Dee and based around the true story of a young girl named Kathy Kohner and the characters hanging out at Malibu in the 1950's. It was silly and corny and all that but was pretty spot on in giving the world a glimpse of the surfing life.
2. BIG WEDNSDAY. Directed by John Milius, Big Wednesday was a fairly realistic portrayal of surfers in the 60's. There was a part where they showed a visit to the draft board that was so funny and so perfectly accurate that would I have gone to see the movie just for that. The cast was perfect. Gary Busey, Jan Michael Vincent and William Katt. And they got great surfers to do the stunt work. Lifetime Malibu surfer Denny Aaberg had a lot to do with the script and that was a big plus for this film. The only thing I didn't think was accurate was they had way too much hugging. Surfers never hugged each other that much. Other than that this was an excellent movie and on the money for that time period.
3. NORTH SHORE. The story of a kid from Arizona who learned to surf in a wavepool and went to the North Shore of Oahu to try the real thing. This movie shows surfing moving into its current stage. Great scenes of parties, local color and a look at competitive surfing with the local versus non-local tension that does exist in Hawaii. Matt Adler is Rick Kane who is mentored by Chandler, played by Gregory Harrison. They both surf so they had a leg up on these roles going in. The character of “Turtle” was perfect and also Laird Hamilton playing a bad guy is totally classic. My favorite part about this movie was I had a small role as the contest announcer and I still get little residual checks in the mail. I love that part.
4. RIDE THE WILD SURF. This was sort of a very early version of NORTH SHORE combined with a beach party movie kinda atmosphere. Memorable are shots of Mickey Dora surfing Wiamea Bay. Hollywood all star cast including James Mitchum, Fabian and Peter Brown.
5. POINT BREAK. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swazey star in this film that tells the story of a roving band of big wave surfers who rob banks to pay for their surf travel expenses. Interesting concept. Johnny Utah must infiltrate this gang of surf dudes by learning to surf and becoming one of them. The best line of the film is: “It's not tragic to die doing what you love. If you want the ultimate, you got to be willing to pay the ultimate price.”
6. FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH. This is a classic. Stoned out surf dude Jeff Spicolli: "All I want is a cool buzz and tasty waves." Like it or not this character was a whole ton of dudes that I remember well. The role that made Sean Penn.
7. BLUE CRUSH. This was NORTH SHORE redone with girls. It sure got a lot more girls surfing.
8. IN GODS HANDS. Not a great movie but had some of the best surfing footage ever put on film. Shaun Tompson did a nice job. I have to hand it to Matt George for actually getting this thing made in the first place. But you must see it for the surfing.
THE TEACHER HIT ME ~ The Wave
4-18-07
By Corky Carroll
A few weeks ago I got an email from a teacher that used to work at the Intermediate School I went to in Seal Beach, J.H. McGaugh. The dude’s name is Bob Bankston. I guess he reads my columns and wanted to let me know that he was totally amazed that I ever learned to read, much less write. Now, I never had Mr. Bankston as a teacher but I do remember him well as he and I had a more or less bad experience when I was in the eighth grade. Mr. Bankston is the only teacher that actually hit me. I am sure most of the other ones, especially the ones who had me in their class, wanted to many times but held back. But, not good old Bob. He hauled off and smacked me hard one morning.
In fairness to him and to finally let him have a true understanding of what really happened that led up to the horrible attack I guess it is finally time to tell exactly what happened that fateful morning. Especially since Bob went on to become Principal of the school and has eventually retired and is now 82 and I am sure still feels perfectly justified in clocking me.
I lived in Surfside Colony, about a mile south of Seal Beach. The kids that lived there used to catch the school bus at either the entrance to Surfside or at the south end by Noel's Restaurant, which is now Taco Surf. I lived right in the middle so some mornings I went to the entrance and others to the south end. On this particular morning I chose the entrance. I must have surfed too long that day or something, although I really think that the bus was early, because myself and two other kids missed the bus. We all got there at the same time and we could see the bus at the south end picking up the kids there. So we decided, in error I might add, to run across Pacific Coast Highway and flag down the bus as it was heading back north towards Seal Beach.
As we were standing there along came Mr. Bankston in what I remember as a white Oldsmobile. As he went by he gave us all a really dirty look and we had the distinct feeling like we were gonna be in trouble when we got to school. Bummer. Thinking that Mr. Bankston had already turned his head back towards the way he was going and not looking at us anymore we flipped him the finger. Yes, obnoxious youth at thirteen years old. What can I say? But we really didn't think he saw us do it nor was it meant for him to see us do it.
The bus actually did stop and picked us up but the bus driver warned us to never ever do that again and the next time he would not stop and would report us to the Principal. The Principal at that time was this stocky dude named Mr. Dressler. I liked him even though I saw way too much of him for the wrong reasons. He was a fair guy and I respected him. Mr. Bankston I did not know at all.
When we got to school there was Mr. Bankston standing in the hall outside my classroom with Mr. Dressler and another teacher named Mr. Moffett. Mr. Bankston was telling Mr. Dressler that he had seen me hitch-hiking to school. Wow, he had actually read the wrong finger so to speak. Mr. Dressler looked at me and said, “Is this true Mr. Carroll? Were you hitch-hiking to school this morning?”
I casually said, “Nope.”
Mr. Bankston was in a rage. He said, “Look me in the eye and tell me you were not hitch-hiking to school this morning.”
So I did. And he slapped me so hard I saw stars. Having a bit of an Irish temper at that time in my life I balled up my fist and threw my hardest punch right at Mr. Bankston's chin. But Mr. Moffett saw it coming and caught my arm just before the punch connected. I had all of my 94 pounds behind that whopper too.
Mr. Dressler gave me a harsh talk and that was about it. I don't think that the school wanted to take this any further as even then a teacher was not supposed to hit a kid. It was different back then though. Parents still spanked their kids. I know that for a solid fact.
So, to Bob Bankston, I have to say I am sorry for the whole thing but the truth is that I was not telling a lie.