Main Cast: Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, Gary Busey, Patti D'Arbanville, Lee Purcell
Release Year: 1978
Country: US
Run Time: 126 minutes
Plot
Jan-Michael Vincent plays a self-destructive beach bum to whom surfing is a Zen experience. We first meet Vincent in the devil-may-care 1960s, in the company of his carefree buddies William Katt and Gary Busey. The boys reunite ten years later, after one has served time in Vietnam. The beach is still there, the waves still break upon the shore, and towards the end of the film, the characters become people that we truly care about. Barbara Hale, the real-life mother of costar William Katt, makes a piquant supporting appearance. Cut from 129 minutes to 104 for its pay-cable release, Big Wednesday is also known as Summer of Innocence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Film fans accustomed to typical John Milius fare like Conan The Barbarian and Red Dawn might find themselves confounded by this action-less drama, but it is well worth sticking with because it is the most personal and moving effort in his filmography. Despite its dramatic nature, Big Wednesday manages to be as grand as any of Milius' action films because it applies an epic sense of scope to what is essentially an intimate coming-of-age tale. It's a risky choice but Milius makes it work because he uses this epic richness to bring a grandeur to the lives of the characters that brings its themes of bravery , loyalty and personal honor into sharp focus: the world may change and it may wreak changes upon the film's young heroes, but their belief in these principles helps them to ride out the tumultuous twists and turns of adulthood. Milius is ably aided in this aim by dazzling work from his behind-the-camera crew, especially the gorgeous, sun-kissed cinematography by Bruce Surtees and a heart-tugging yet heroic musical score by Basil Poledouris. Big Wednesday's appeal is cemented by the perceptive and sensitive performances of its three leads: Gary Busey tempers his usual wild antics with a palpable sense of loneliness, William Katt turns in a subtle but dramatically rich performance as the most responsible member of the group and Jan Michael Vincent gives the film its heart with his stunning turn as the best and most troubled of the surfers. In short, Big Wednesday is not only John Milius' most ambitious film but also one of the unsung gems of 1970s American cinema. It's straight-faced sincerity and macho tone might not sit well with every viewer but it is well worth a look to any cult film fanatic interested in the best efforts of the 1970s 'movie brat' generation. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Sam Melville - Bear; Robert Englund - Narrator, Fly; Barbara Hale - Mrs. Barlow; Fran Ryan - Lucy; Reb Brown - Enforcer; Jack Bernardi - Tailor; Keith Davis - Ostrich; Sasha Jenson - Surfer #5; Steve Kanaly - Sally's Husband; Celia Kaye - Bride of the Bear; Todd Lookinland - Surfer #3; Gerry Lopez - Himself; Frank McRae - Sergeant; Stephen Mendillo - Orderly; Titus Napoleon - Chubby; Arthur Rosenberg - Official; Joe Spinell - Psychologist; Michael Talbott - Hog; Lynn Theel - Party Girl #7; Charlene Tilton - Party Girl #2; Hank Worden - Shopping Cart; Dennis Aaberg - Slick; Darrell Fetty - Waxer; Gray Fredrickson - Doctor; Perry Lang - Tall Kid; Ollie O'Toole - Minister; Clete Roberts; Yvon Arai - Boggie; Iris Korn - Old Woman; Rick Dano - Panhead; Herb Voland; Stacy Keach Sr. - Old Man
Credit
Dean Edward Mitzner - Art Director, Ann Lambert - Costume Designer, Richard Hashimoto - First Assistant Director, John Milius - Director, Terry J. Leonard - Second Unit Director, Robert Wolfe - Editor, C. Timothy O'Meara - Editor, Tamara Asseyev - Executive Producer, Basil Poledouris - Composer (Music Score), Charles Rosen - Production Designer, Bruce Surtees - Cinematographer, Buzz Feitshans - Producer, Alex Rose - Producer, Greg MacGillivray - Producer, Ira Bates - Set Designer, Joe Unsinn - Special Effects, Harlan Riggs - Sound/Sound Designer, Dennis Aaberg - Screenwriter, John Milius - Screenwriter
