Ride The Wild Surf (1964)

Three surfers (Fabian, Tab Hunter, Peter Brown) from Southern California spend their Christmas vacations in Hawaii in order to compete with surfers from all over the world and ride the biggest waves. Directed by Don Taylor (TOM SAWYER), this isn't your typical beach party movie. It takes surfing as a sport seriously and the film dispenses with comedic hijinks for the most part, there aren't any songs (unless you count the end credit song by Jan and Dean) and concentrates on the sport of surfing (those waves aren't for sissies). While I can appreciate the effort, it's still not a very good movie. The dialogue is cliched and trite, the acting isn't very good but at least Oscar winning cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc (TOWERING INFERNO) does an exceptional job of capturing those waves. Phil Karlson (GUNMAN'S WALK) was brought in to direct for a few days when directory Taylor fell ill. With Barbara Eden, Shelley Fabares, Susan Hart, Catherine McLeod and James Mitchum.