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Expert: - 2/17/2003


Question
You're going to think I am crazy but you may know the answer to my question so here it goes.... Somewhere between 1989 and 1991 I watched a movie about surfing. The movie was about a guy who surfed in a competition and fell in love with a girl. Her older brother was a bad guy and did not want them dating. Both the main character and the brother were very nice looking! I thought the movie was called "Endless Summer" or "Endless Summer 2" but I dont think that is correct even though both have to do with surfing. Do you have any idea what movie this is or what the name of this movie is? It's driving me crazy!

Answer
Dear Beth:  I´m assuming you are referring to U.S. movies only, and one released somewhere near the dates you provided (as opposed to all the beach movies released in the 1960s, or a film like ¨Big Wednesday,¨released in 1978).

With these things in mind, I think the movie you are thinking of is called ¨North Shore.¨ It was released in 1987, and has some of the plot details you name (there is a competition, and a girl with a brother, etc.). It takes place in Hawaii, where a young man from Arizona goes to improve his surfing.  Does this begin to ring a bell?

It couldn´t be either ¨The Endless Summer¨ or ¨The Endless Summer 2,¨ for a couple of reasons.  One, the first film came out in 1966.  The second was released in 1994, as a followup (past the 1991 date you provided).  Both are practically documentaries, with a world wide travelog thrown in.  I also don´t think you are referring to any of the actual comedies released in the late 1980s, including reunion movies of Gidget and the orig. Beach Party gang (Frankie & Annette).  ¨Point Break,¨ released in 1991, sounds too much like a thriller to be the film you are seeking.  However, if you don´t think I´ve gotten the answer right, or need more plot descriptions of any of these films, I refer you to the following websites:

magicsurfbus.com/surfmovies.htm
imdb.com (the internet movie data base)

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Barbara L. Baker

Expertise

I am a professor of communication at a midwest university, who has expertise on subjects related to film. I can answer general questions on U.S. film comedy (especially satires of the 1960s and 1970s) and comic theory. I also could answer questions related to specific comic genres, such as comedian comedies, screwball comedies, "stupid" comedies, and so forth. The more specific you can make your question, the better (e.g. main plot details, main characters, possible character names, possible actors, how you viewed the show, etc.). I also need to have a release date (or range of dates, or at least the year you viewed the film). Please do not just provide a set of links to someplace else (e.g. imdb discussion threads). I am less able to answer questions about comedies from other countries, made-for-TV movies, and recent comic films and actors (although I would do my best to find out). I cannot answer questions about specific TV shows or series, "Our Gang" episodes, anime/magna or about film collectables. I generally cannot provide movie recommendations, since what I find funny others may not. Nor will I answer obvious homework (although I will point you to resources to help answer the question, if asked). I also can't help you find movie stars, or where to buy movie memorabilia, or tell you how to break into the business.

Experience

Course work in comedy films along with teaching about comedy films for several years; I've also conducted research into comedy films.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in Communication, emphasis in film and rhetoric

Awards and Honors
A dissertation award from a national organization plus various paper awards

Past/Present Clients
My students

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