Company Credits And just like the legendary surfing movie Big Wednesday, the massive swell pulled in on a Wednesday (19 January 2022). Terry Remick was spending a lot of her time with friends on the beaches of Hollister Ranch, enjoying her early twenties, when out of nowhere, a major Hollywood production drops in her lap. This is one of Terrys favorite shots. ). Billy Hamilton, above, was the double for Jan Michael Vincent. It made only US$4.5 million (half of its original budget) at the box office. The picture stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, and Gary Busey as California surfers facing life and the Vietnam War against the backdrop of their love of surfing. At some point, Lance bailed. All the main characters were inspired by real people, in particular surf legends Lance Carson and Kemp Aaberg and surfboard makers Hap Jacob and Dale Velzy. Published by at June 22, 2022. It was a lot of money. That experience working on Big Wednesday was kind of how I hoped pro surfing would be. We were treated like rock stars and I still get a cheque every year from the screen actors guild. WL: I just watched it the other day and its incredible the surfing you guys are doing on those big single fin longboards. This is a great shot of Jan Michael Vincent, one of the actors that actually could surf. I said of course, who wouldnt! It is so very personal. While the studio had high hopes for the success of Big Wednesday, it flopped, and was out of the theaters in a month. WL: Of course, that was right in the middle of the whole Bustin Down The Door saga. "The part is simply too big for me to do."[7]. Other filming locations included El Paso, Texas; Hollister Ranch near Santa Barbara; Surfrider Beach (in Malibu); Ventura, California; and La Libertad, El Salvador. document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); IC: One day I was at home in Australia and the phone rang and it was Hollywood calling. fbq('init', '916699485848838'); 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); [17][18][19], The film premiered in wide release in the United States on May 26, 1978.[20]. Matt Johnson, Jack Barlow, and Leroy Smith are three young California surfers in the 1960s. When we saw these photos, we contacted surf legend Denny Aaberg to give us some more insight. Jean Micheal Vincent and Billy Kat were there but the Masochist wasnt. Photo from the front cover of his biography: Kanga The Trials and Triumphs of Ian Cairns. [8], "Because I surfed, I'm the only director in the world who could have made his picture," said Milius. Matt Johnson: You know, Mrs. Barlow, there's something I'd like straighten out. He looked at these little skinny surfer idiots and he thought these guys are total pussys! Cameras were stolen and the whole crew got sick, but in the end, it was an encounter with a local militia that really sent them packing. "William Katt: New Golden Boy of Tile Romantic Lead Katt as the Golden Boy", "Big Wednesday: four decades between surfing and myth making", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Wednesday&oldid=1139114837, American coming-of-age comedy-drama films, Rotten Tomatoes template using name parameter, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 12:40. When Milius saw them sat next to each other, he couldnt believe the likeness, immediately switching PTs role to that of Kats double instead. Ian Cairns, shown above . By most accounts, the trip was a disaster. [24], Milius later said the film was "sort of a numb spot in my life. Other highlights included a complex dual scoring system and hilariously swollen heats sizes, often featuring up to eight competitors, (which sounds like a heavy crowd, but thanks to a lack of leashes and clean up sets, still resulted in frequent periods of entirely empty lineup. So, PT told Milius, hey, Ive got a bronzed Aussie buddy who could replace him. Other potential explanations suggested that in the late 1970s, the Vietnam wound was still too fresh and binge drinking, a prominent feature of the film, had lost its flavour. Surf star Gerry Lopez, who would. Wed have certain times where wed be shooting scenes and the rest of the time we were just hanging out on the film set watching shit happen. Not to mention a few vintage lenses. The friends reunite years later, after Barlow has served in Vietnam, for the "Great Swell of '74". In early 77, the points were counted and Peter Townend emerged as the first-ever winner, with fellow Bronzed Aussie Ian Cairns taking the runner up spot. For those of you that dont know about George Greenough, you should learn. Nowadays, he lives inland in Connecticut, having traded trimming the waves down the Bu for clay pigeon shooting and smoking cigars in his later years. Buy $9.99. Wed surf and then get a filet mignon for lunch. Milius said that while the story was inspired by his own life experiences as a young surfer in Malibu, he was interested in achieving a balance between a realistic depiction of true events and the mythologising of surfers and surfing culture. Los Angeles Times 21 August 1977: n7. The Los Angeles Times reported that it was one of the very few to really capture the surfing life., Surf journalist Paul Gross concurred, writing in The Surfers Journal on the films 25th anniversary that even its harshest critics had to acknowledge that Big Wednesday remains true to the sport., While Surfer Magazine went one further in their modern appraisal bestowing what may be the ultimate compliment, declaring simply that Big Wednesday makes you proud to be a surfer.. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Milius wrote the script with his friend and fellow surfer, journalist Denny Aaberg. Above is the Silver Splendor 1956 and below is the Overland Trail 1949 Pullman Club Car . There was no one living there and you had to come in by boat, even until today its really uncrowded. Recently, we called him up at home in Laguna Beach to see what he could remember from his time working on the film. When it comes to authentic depictions of a surfing life, few Holywood films hold a candle to 78 cult classic Big Wednesday. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; BIG WEDNESDAY Wednesday, April 24, 2019 7:30 PM 9:30 PM Pacific City (map) Join us at our gallery space at Pacific City, Huntington Beach this Wednesday, April 24th for a screening of BIG WEDNESDAY and special guest legendary Australian ripper and Big Wednesday stunt double IAN CAIRINS. However, the rapid commodification of surfing culture that occurred during the late 1970s and 1980s made Big Wednesdays nostalgic celebration of a pure surfing culture relevant again. You can also see a pretty nice wave rolling throughGreat photo. Frank McRae played a tough Army Sergeant at the induction center. Following its home video release in the 1980s, the film gradually acquired cult status. 2022 Goleta Surfing. Milius described the film in a 1976 interview: It's a surfing HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY: the loss of an aristocracy, the end of an era, the passing of a more innocent time to a more corrupt and complex one-all growing up is the passing of innocence. I dug a Yater spoon out of David Adornettos back yard and used it as my longboard, though we also brought our shortboards. (1) George Greenough surrounded by his tools of the trade and (2) with his homemade housing. WL: Tell me about the filming of the final sequence? and nothing that happens after will ever be the same. Above and below are Peter Townend. Nineteen seventy-six was a big year for innovation. Ian Cairns, shown above, was the surf double for Gary Busey. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; You had to have permission from the director, John Milius [to paddle out]. P.T. And then there was the surfing. Denny Aaberg continues his life long passion for playing music. "[9], Milius and producer Feitshans had met at American International Pictures, where they worked on Dillinger (1973). We were allowed to be out surfing all the time and Cojo is pretty nice its a bit like Little Rincon at Bells. You always feel you owe it something. This thing would be wrapped up in two weeks. Looks like that heavy camera setup bumped George in the eye, and hes laughing it off. New York Surf Film Festival. Give me a break! By 1998, following a 20th anniversary showing at the Newport Film Fesival, the turnaround in opinion appeared to be complete. It was super fun. One day this El Salvadoran militia comes to visit our beach set, continues Milius. Milius and his friends George Lucas and Steven Spielberg famously agreed to exchange a percentage point of Big Wednesday, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind prior to the release of the three films throughout 1977-1978. All Rights Reserved. Shop Now, 8 OF THE BEST FEMALE SURF RETREATS FOR 2023, Where To Surf In Italy The Wavelength Guide. Raised in Southern California, Milius made Big Wednesday as an homage to the time he spent in Malibu during his youth. Above is Peter Townend, with a classic arch stance. At 62 and 190 lbs., he was a big, powerful Australian surf star that had won lots of international contests. Jan-Michael Vincent and Lee Purcell in Big Wednesday. When he comes home from Vietnam he is an Army Green Beret. [3] It was inspired by a short story Aaberg had published in a 1974 Surfer Magazine entitled "No Pants Mance",[4] and published by Australian surfing magazine Tracks in April 1973[5] and the lives of a group of friends who used to surf with Aaberg and Milius including Lance Carson. It inspired the names of things as disparate as the weekly New Zealand lotto draw, an Australian pale ale and countless storms and hurricanes. Over the last 40 years, John Milius surf cult movie, Big Wednesday (1978), has made a mark on global popular culture. So anyway one Sunday we took him out surfing at Sunzal, it was about 3 feet, and he got smashed and almost drowned and had to be rescued and brought in. I jumped on a plane and flew down there to join the crew, who were about a week into the shoot. But even though we did the Ranch for a month, and El Salvador for a couple of months, they still didnt have the big day, so they just said ok were going to Hawaii., were going to sit up there and make it happen. [13], The leads were played by Jan Michael Vincent, Gary Busey and William Katt. The international distribution of the movie promoted the Bear label worldwide, with people wanting boards with the bear logo. She is the guide for a few of these private rail trips which travel through the Gaviota Coast. PT leapt at the chance. The $11 million PG-rated Big Wednesday was the only Hollywood movie of its kind in the '70s. Free Delivery on all Orders Over 80. IAN will be signing his new book from 6:30 to 7:30. Big Wednesday is a 1978 American coming of age film about California surfers facing life, the Vietnam War, and use of the ever-changing surf as a metaphor for the changes in life.. Matt Johnson: Well, I did a lot of things around here I'm kind of ashamed of. "[22], The staff at Variety wrote, "A rubber stamp wouldn't do for John Milius. We never got a Big Wednesday day down there, and I was always just saying to Milius, dude, you should have just gone to Western Australia. Hell, we offered to smoke dope in front of them just to prove we were surfers. Crumple Car was a nickname for Little Drakes. The fictional Bear surfboards logo and t-shirts, originally created by the filmmaker as props for the film, went on to become a popular surf trademark owned by Milius himself. Theories behind the failure are wide-ranging; the scars of Vietnam were still too raw, there was too much fighting, too much binge drinking and, with the transition brought on by the shortboard revolution complete, the surfing audience viewed the longboard-centric surf scenes as pass. He flew to Hollywood and headed straight for Warner Brothers studios, where he happened to pull up a chair alongside another of the films stars, Billy Kat. It was a very personal film and it really tore me up when it was attacked in such a way that no one saw it. Click Here to hear the song and see some stills from the film. Seversons title referenced a popular myth that posited all great surf days fall on Wednesdays. Browse the full lineup and get your ticket here. Either way, the cast and crew enjoyed filming at such an amazing location. | You just get treated like a king, youre part of the crew, hanging out with the actors, writers and directors. Hamilton was surfing for Jan Michael Vincents character and Cairns was the double for Gary Busey. [1], Big Wednesday was a box office flop upon its release, and was quickly pulled from theatres after taking in only $4.5 million. The friends include Matt Johnson, a self-destructive type who has a devil-may-care attitude; Jack Barlow, the calm and responsible one of the bunch; and Leroy "The Masochist" Smith, whose nickname tells a lot about his personality. Above is a distant view of the set they made, a replica of the Malibu wall, complete with lifeguard tower. He features prominently in two documentaries about surfing: Hollywood Dont Surf and Between the Lines: Surfers during the Vietnam War. Big Wednesday - The Hottest Ride Ever: Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent) is praised for his magnificent ride, but he, Jack (William Katt) and Leroy (Gary Busey) know that their summer days are over.. It become one of the most influential surf movies ever made. They still used a stunt double for a lot of the surfing action, his was Bill Hamilton. As he remembers, it was some sort of military vehicle that was there for years and years. gerry cooney vs george foreman waterfront homes for sale in eden isles, slidell, la Terry didnt bother with all that, she was already at the beach. We had a huge bottle of water, and what they didnt tell us was they were filling it up out of the well, so everyone got amoebic dysentery. Above is George Greenough, Denny Aaberg with the guitar, Peter Townend and Townends girlfriend. There was perfect longboard waves coming through, a little groomed south swell at Cojo Point, and while the surfers managed to get out and score a few waves, it was the extras who had to suffer. Youlll see in the movie Jean and Billy paddling out, pushing under and catching a couple of waves and then youll see the stunt doubles come in. Three 1960s California surfers (Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, Gary Busey) fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves. Click Here to learn about Dan. Wed surf and then get a filet mignon for lunch. That camera looks heavy. After roping in a few replacements, including Billy Hamilton, to stand in for Vincent and famous Malibu surfer Lance Carson to double for the third star, Gary Busey, the crew set off for El Salvador, where the filming for Big Wednesday got underway. Greenough was hired to do water shots and Townend was a surf double for William Katt, one of the stars in the film. Filming for the action sequences began with a two-month stint in El Salvador, with the right point at El Sunzal serving as a nice empty stand-in for Malibu. This board is deep red with the classic BEAR logo on the deck made famous by Sam Melville's character in Milius . Several surf legends Peter Townend, Ian Cairns, Jay Riddle and Bill Hamilton were involved in the making of the film as stunt coordinators or doubles. Free Delivery on all Orders Over 80. It wasnt just a story about somebody trying to ride the biggest wave or something. "It's so alluring, so easy to get lost in. P.T. "[7], Anthea Sylbert was an executive at Warners at the time. . We were outlaws, juvenile delinquents, anarchists and rascals. Directed by John Milius.Written by John Milius and Denny Aaberg, loosely based on their own experiences at Malibu and a short story Aaberg had published in a 1974 Surfer Magazine entitled "No Pants Lance." MacGillivray, in turn, supervised a team of surf cinematographers. A few of the extras,including Kym Herrin in the blue dress. We were treated like rock stars and I still get a cheque every year from the screen actors guild. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. We were samurai. (1) Cairns in a Sunset tube (2) PT off the bottom. Among these was Kym Herrin, who later gained fame as a Playboy bunny. director of photography Film Editing by Casting By Karen Rea . This is a great shot of Jan Michael Vincent, one of the actors that actually could surf. "[7], "A lot of things [in the film] happened to me," said Milius. And thats what the movie is. Despite what he describes as a childhood of juvenile delinquency, Milius developed into an accomplished screenwriter, penning a series of hit films in which surfing often featured. All of a sudden he realised hey theres a lot of shit going on out there in the water. The film is set in California between 1962 and 1974 and follows the lives of three surfers: Matt Johnson (Jan-Michael Vincent), a self-destructive local surf star, and his two best friends, Leroy The Masochist Smith (Gary Busey) and Jack Barlowe (William Katt).