Ride the Wild Surf

Ride the Wild Surf (1964)

Who will be crowned King of the Surf?

A group of friends go to Hawaii during the height of surfing season, to compete with other surf bums and find girlfriends along the way.

Date of release
1964-08-05
TMDB
5.3 / 10 (12)
Runtime
1h 41m
Genres
Comedy
Director
Don Taylor

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: Hawaii

Ride the Wild Surf is a 1964 American romantic drama film. Unlike the beach party movies of the era, this was a departure from the typical Hollywood approach to surfing as it was a drama, not a comedy. It is known for its exceptional big wave surf footage – a common sight in surf movies of the time, but a rarity in Hollywood 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.

Production

The film was written by Jo and Art Napoleon. From late 1963 to early 1964, they traveled with cinematographer Joseph Biroc to Hawaii to shoot surf footage of surfers. They filmed at Haleiwa, Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea Bay. The surfers included Mickey Dora (who doubled for Jody, Fabian's character), Phil Edwards, Rusty Miller, and Mike Hynson.

They then returned to Hollywood to write the script. They pitched the project to Columbia who agreed to finance. It was originally going to be called Surfing Wild and star Glenn Corbett. The movie is sometimes called a beach party film although it has been argued it is closer to a male Where the Boys Are than the musical Beach Party.

Jan and Dean both were scheduled to appear in the film, supporting Fabian, who was borrowed from 20th Century Fox. Jan and Dean were pulled by Columbia after Dean's friend, Barry Keenan, became involved in the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra, Jr. in December 1963. They were replaced by Tab Hunter and Peter Brown.

Hunter made the film after the Broadway flop The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore. He later said Ride the Wild Surf "was cut from the same cloth as the movies I made with Natalie [Wood] in the mid-fifties. Only this time it was 'Dad, can I have the big surfboard tonight?' " Hunter drew inspiration for his performance from his brother Walt who was a surfer.

Susan Hart was cast after impressing Mike Frankovich of Hollywood in some TV appearances she had made; she dyed her hair black for her role. Hart was seen by James H. Nicholson of AIP in the film, which led to him signing her to that studio and later marrying her.

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