The documentary "Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis" reveals the untold story behind Bruce Brown's iconic film "The Endless Summer." It follows the journey of Dick Metz, a California surf pioneer, as he travels the world from 1958 to 1961. Metz's adventures lead him to discover the "perfect wave" at Cape St. Francis in South Africa, which inspires Bruce Brown to create "The Endless Summer" and revolutionize the sport of surfing. The film also documents Metz's return to South Africa at the age of 90 to retrace his original journey. It features interviews with influential figures in the surfing world, including Metz, Bruce Brown, and other surfers. The premiere of the film at the Newport Beach Film Festival is particularly special for director Richard Yelland, as it tells a personal story rooted in his hometown.
Related Movies
The Endless Summer (1966)
Bruce Brown's The Endless Summer is one of the first and most influential surf movies of all time. The film documents American surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August as they travel the world during California’s winter (which, back in 1965 was off-season for surfing) in search of the perfect wave and ultimately, an endless summer.
Riding Giants (2004)
Riding Giants is story about big wave surfers who have become heroes and legends in their sport. Directed by the skateboard guru Stacy Peralta.
Gabriel Medina (2020)
The personal and professional evolution of Gabriel Medina, a boy without the traditional surfer stereotype who became one of the biggest names in surfing and world sport.
Islands in the Stream (2004)
5 surfers travel from Tahiti to the Tuamotu atolls by boat to experience unbelievable waves by themselves. whether they were a world champion or free surfer, they had an amazing time.
Step Into Liquid (2003)
No special effects. No stuntmen. No stereotypes. No other feeling comes close. Surfers and secret spots from around the world are profiled in this documentary.
Perfect moment - L'aventure continue (2004)
On land, sea and air: sport and extreme sensations. On the program, among others: Garret McNamara's fight with "Jaws", a formidable surfing spot, snowboarding with Xavier De Le Rue, three times world champion, windsurfing with Josh Angulo in Cape Verde, freefly with the parachutists of Team Babylon.
Maya and the Wave (2024)
After a brush with death, Maya Gabeira makes history in the male-dominated world of big wave surfing.
The Current: Explore the Healing Powers of the Ocean (2014)
The Current tells the story of individuals from all walks of life that have faced incredible obstacles, found the drive to overcome their disabilities, and have through water sports become real everyday heroes. - Bethany Hamilton, Missy Franklin, Mallory Weggemann, Anthony Robles, Jesse Murphree
Morning of the Earth (1972)
In the early ‘70s, founding member of Australian surf magazine Tracks, Albert Falzon, began filming off the North Coast of New South Wales, Hawaii, and Indonesia. He set out to make a film “that was a reflection of the spirit of surfing at the time” and the end result, Morning of the Earth, proved its worth as a vital document of surf culture and a powerful nature film.
Pacific Vibrations (1970)
Psychedelic surfer documentary. Also see http://encyclopediaofsurfing.com/entries/drugs-and-surfing
World Debut: From Outsiders to the Olympics (2021)
What were once lifestyle fads have evolved into some of the world's fastest-growing sports and are now set to debut on the world’s biggest stage – the Olympic Games. Step inside the journey of three new sports born on the fringes of society – skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing – alongside names like Tony Hawk, Emily Harrington, and Sofia Mulanovich.
Children of the Sun (1968)
Children of the Sun will stir memories of the happiest days in any surfers life... those uncomplicated hot sunny days... no crowds... never to be forgotten fun filled days. Filmed around the virgin coastline of New Zealand and the classic points of Northern Queensland Australia, this film is an amazing chronicle of a time now looked on as the golden years of surfing... the styles and beach scenes... the cars, people and fashions... surfing during the mid to late 60s... the New Era!
The Life (2008)
Call it the ultimate dream job, the endless summer that pays, the search for the perfect wave.Call it pursuing your dreams and disguising it as a career. Call it whatever you think fits; we call it "The Life." "The Life" is the story behind the O'Neill surf team, seven very different individuals, all on the same quest of living out their dreams. From Jordy Smith's competitive drive to Timmy Reyes' knee injury comeback, this film presents the true nature of the athletes featured.
The September Sessions (2002)
Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and others take a trip to the coast of Sumatra, where they find themselves surfing beautiful waves, and lose the urgency they have come to live with being professionals. September Sessions documents this trip with interviews and 16mm footage of life on a once in a lifetime surftrip.
Thicker Than Water (2000)
Chris Malloy, Emmett Malloy, and Jack Johnson got together to document the life and times of a pro surfer. Shot all on 16mm Film "Thicker Than Water" follows Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, Brad Gerlach, Shane Dorian, and others on a 18 month journey through the North Atlantic, South Pacific, and the Bay of Bengal.
Shaka (2018)
Showcasing breathtaking footage of mountains and waves around the world, Shaka follows snowboarding world champion and renowned athlete Mathieu Crepel as he faces the biggest challenge of his life: to surf the legendary waves of Jaws Beach, Hawaii.
The Endless Summer II (1994)
Bruce Brown, king of surfing documentaries, returns after nearly thirty years to trace the steps of two young surfers to top surfing spots around the world. Along the way we see many of the people and locales Bruce visited during the filming of Endless Summer (1966).
Mondo Hollywood (1967)
Long considered a cult classic, "Mondo Hollywood" captures the underside of Hollywood by documenting a moment in time (1965-67), when an inquisitive trust in the unknown was paramount, hope for the future was tangible and life was worth living on the fringe. An interior monologue narrative approach is used throughout the film, where each principal person shown not only decided on what they wanted to be filmed doing, but also narrated their own scenes. The film opens with Gypsy Boots (the original hippie vegan - desert hopping blender salesman), and stripper Jennie Lee, working out 'Watusi-style' beneath the 'Hollywood' sign -- leading into the 'sustainable community' insight of Lewis Beach Marvin III, the S&H Green Stamp heir, who lived in a $10 a month garage while owning a mountain retreat in Malibu.
Sea Fever (2009)
Filmed over the course of two years to capture the mood of Irish surfing throughout the seasons. "Sea Fever" is an insight film into the surf culture developed in Ireland over the last 40 years. With dramatic footage from Ireland's giant wave Aileen's (Aill na Searrach) at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher and close-up interviews with the troubadour surfers that brave these 40-50-foot waves to Kevin Cavey and the early pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s with their rudimentary equipment and spirit of adventure, "Sea Fever" sets out to capture the character and craic of Irish surfing. "Sea Fever" features John McCarthy, Mickey Smith, Sam Lamiroy, Mole Joel, Easkey Britton, Kevin Cavey, and Rod "dolphin man" Bennett.