I watched American Family the other day...

[myonlysunshine]

It had been over 10 years since I last watched the film, so I didn't remember a lot of details. I thought it started out really well, most of the scenes were based on events that actually happened. I'm currently in the middle of reading Peter Ames Carlin's Catch a Wave biography of Brian Wilson, so I noticed a lot of things from the book matched up with the movie. At least until it got to the Pet Sounds and Smile era, where the movie all of a sudden became the most unflattering account of Brian Wilson I'm familiar with. In every scene, Brian is portrayed as whacked out on drugs, high, tripping on acid, unable to take care of himself, etc. He is portrayed as looking like this complete dope whose success during this era is made to seem like it happened by accident. When in reality, Brian knew exactly what he was doing, and although he was doing a lot of drugs, he was not stoned or high all the time.

Although the movie is obviously a fictionalization of what actually happened, I found that a lot of the movies' historical accuracies tended to break down during the Pet Sounds and Smile era. Tony Asher isn't even mentioned in the movie, Van Dyke Parks is introduced too early on and is portrayed as this constant force in Brian's life from the moment he meets Loren Schwartz. And Schwartz isn't named Schwartz in the movie, he's called something completely different. Did he not give permission to use his name in the movie or something?

Somebody told me that Mike Love was used as a consultant for this movie, which could explain some things. But I couldn't find his name listed anywhere in the credits for American Family on IMDB. Is it true that he had a say in the production of the movie? What exactly was his role?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Somebody told me that Mike Love was used as a consultant for this movie, which could explain some things. But I couldn't find his name listed anywhere in the credits for American Family on IMDB. Is it true that he had a say in the production of the movie? What exactly was his role?

They did ?  My, my, my... 

[myonlysunshine]

So it's not true huh? Were any of the Beach Boys involved with the movie at all?

[Andrew G. Doe]

So it's not true huh? Were any of the Beach Boys involved with the movie at all?

Did I say it's not true ?  Just expressing surprise.

And yes, Brian was directly, if minimally, involved. He recorded maybe 30 seconds of piano/vocal for two scenes (no, I'm not going to tell you which ones - if you have ears, they're very, very obvious).

[The Shift]

I would love to see this without having to wait for it to buffer on my Mac… hopefully it'll be one of the six discs in the forthcoming box set (along with Looking Back With Love, Salute to Nascar, Summer in Paradise, Going Public and Symphonic Sounds).

[Rocky Raccoon]

I was sad when they kicked Buckwheat out of the band.

[myonlysunshine]

I thought the actor who played Murry was pretty good, as was the actor who played Mike Love. It was actually a very Murry-centric film, he was just as much the star as Brian was.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

At least until it got to the Pet Sounds and Smile era, where the movie all of a sudden became the most unflattering account of Brian Wilson I'm familiar with. In every scene, Brian is portrayed as whacked out on drugs, high, tripping on acid, unable to take care of himself, etc. He is portrayed as looking like this complete dope whose success during this era is made to seem like it happened by accident.

And, I would add, extremely over-the-top arrogant. I seem to remember Part 2 beginning (or it was somewhere on the cusp between the two parts) where Brian sits with Marilyn in 1966 evaluating a televised performance of California Girls (which is real life probably occurred in 1968) and is presented as a tyrannical egocentric monster. I am curious whether anyone has ever heard Brian talk like that ever?

[myonlysunshine]

At least until it got to the Pet Sounds and Smile era, where the movie all of a sudden became the most unflattering account of Brian Wilson I'm familiar with. In every scene, Brian is portrayed as whacked out on drugs, high, tripping on acid, unable to take care of himself, etc. He is portrayed as looking like this complete dope whose success during this era is made to seem like it happened by accident.

And, I would add, extremely over-the-top arrogant. I seem to remember Part 2 beginning (or it was somewhere on the cusp between the two parts) where Brian sits with Marilyn in 1966 evaluating a televised performance of California Girls (which is real life probably occurred in 1968) and is presented as a tyrannical egocentric monster. I am curious whether anyone has ever heard Brian talk like that ever?

That scene takes place immediately preceding the part of the movie where Brian begins to make Pet Sounds. So I'm guessing it was supposed to take place in late 1965. Brian nitpicks everything the band is doing on television, causing Marilyn to make a remark about how she thinks Brian is turning into his father. And no, I've never heard Brian talk like that.

[Aegir]

And, I would add, extremely over-the-top arrogant. I seem to remember Part 2 beginning (or it was somewhere on the cusp between the two parts) where Brian sits with Marilyn in 1966 evaluating a televised performance of California Girls (which is real life probably occurred in 1968) and is presented as a tyrannical egocentric monster. I am curious whether anyone has ever heard Brian talk like that ever?

that's not what's going on in that scene. it's Brian expressing regret that he's not on the road, and he feels his band slipping away from him, but there's nothing he can do about it.

[Cabinessenceking]

At least until it got to the Pet Sounds and Smile era, where the movie all of a sudden became the most unflattering account of Brian Wilson I'm familiar with. In every scene, Brian is portrayed as whacked out on drugs, high, tripping on acid, unable to take care of himself, etc. He is portrayed as looking like this complete dope whose success during this era is made to seem like it happened by accident.

And, I would add, extremely over-the-top arrogant. I seem to remember Part 2 beginning (or it was somewhere on the cusp between the two parts) where Brian sits with Marilyn in 1966 evaluating a televised performance of California Girls (which is real life probably occurred in 1968) and is presented as a tyrannical egocentric monster. I am curious whether anyone has ever heard Brian talk like that ever?

That scene takes place immediately preceding the part of the movie where Brian begins to make Pet Sounds. So I'm guessing it was supposed to take place in late 1965. Brian nitpicks everything the band is doing on television, causing Marilyn to make a remark about how she thinks Brian is turning into his father. And no, I've never heard Brian talk like that.

I guess they did that to give them some lines and hint at some 'character development'. truth is no on has a fleeting idea of what Brian was thinking. at any time. including now.

[jammer730]

Wasn't that supposed to be the Jack Benny Show appearence? Oddly enough, Brian was there and the vocals were live. I'm sure we all remember Brian's sharp E flat, yikes!

[Aegir]

nope, this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ1UqDnY7as

[Rocky Raccoon]

nope, this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ1UqDnY7as

Even though it's mimed, I love that clip for some reason.  Mike actually looks pretty dapper (I think his beard was just the right length by that point) and I love the stage setup, very 60s.

[jammer730]

Whoa, yeah, hadn't seen that one. You can definitely see the pride Mike has for his  beard

[doing]

I love how little effort Dennis puts into trying to lip-sync to the record.

[Amy B.]

I'm watching this now, on TV. Oh my God. I agree that Brian is portrayed as an idiot. I wonder if the actor based his portrayal on the modern-day Brian. Not that he's an idiot either, but he's obviously a bit less sharp a lot of the time.

[JohnMill]

I believe I read in Dom's second book that VDP is basically portrayed as a drug pusher.  Is there any truth to that?  Given what I've read in Dom's book and some of the less than flattering comments I've read about the film on this and other Beach Boys forums over the years, this particular movie has never been high on my "must watch" list.

[carolinablonde]

I'm watching this now, on TV. Oh my God. I agree that Brian is portrayed as an idiot. I wonder if the actor based his portrayal on the modern-day Brian. Not that he's an idiot either, but he's obviously a bit less sharp a lot of the time.

I turned to it as well out of morbid curiosity...I had never seen it, and my TV choices tonight are slim.  Wow, what a trainwreck!

[hypehat]

I believe I read in Dom's second book that VDP is basically portrayed as a drug pusher.  Is there any truth to that?  Given what I've read in Dom's book and some of the less than flattering comments I've read about the film on this and other Beach Boys forums over the years, this particular movie has never been high on my "must watch" list.

Besides one part where his character plays a well known classical piano piece in a bluesy fashion, which is pretty cool, the Van Dyke character is portrayed as a over-intellectualised buffoon - his characters dialogue is nigh on incomprehensible, which is completely inaccurate, this is from a guy who has spoken to Van Dyke personally and read enough interviews to understand that Van Dyke actually doesn't talk in an especially florid style. It's a style, but it's by no means impenetrable in the way portrayed in AF. He's a great orator - it sounds like the intersection between intellectual East Coastism and a Southern relaxation, I guess?

Also, this is dredging it up a bit, but Van Dyke only appears in scenes of drug taking debauchery/confusion, and the 'Geronimo' number (by Alan Boyd, correct?) is no Cabin Essence - they may paraphrase the whole Cabin Essence episode, but the song is so ridiculous as to further Mike's agenda (no disrespect intended, even Van Dyke can't spoof that style - see Black Sheep)

My god, that is a messy post.

[Vegetable Man]

I read somewhere that the Van Dyke character was so far from the truth that they had to change his name to something else. Is this true? Or am I thinking about a different character?

[Mr. Wilson]

VDP as a drug pusher ? HMM.. Well just because VDP partied with BW and was a close friend of his doesn't make him a drug pusher.. If your hangin out with your friends havin some beers and  BW wanted to smoke some pot and you scored it for him and everyone there shared  in it and watched TV or played pool or went swimming does that make anyone in the group a pusher.. In my eyes NO. .. Its just buddies hangin out.. Drug pushers to me are people that have quantities and make money on it..  VDP hung out with lots of people back then..Lowel George + Little Feat...Everyone he knew back then was a stoner .. Nothin unusual about that back then.. Now if you didn't get high you might see it differently ..VDP is unfairly judged.. Now Loren is another matter IMHO. I was extremely UPSET in beautiful dreamer movie when he describes BW on an acid trip at his house and BW goes in his bedroom and freaks out + Loren thought it was funny.. According  to what Loren said he NEVER went to check on BW. Well ive done acid and its not a good thing to be on it alone especially if your having a bad trip..! IMHO.. Loren was out of line.. Any words spelled wrong here im sorry im stoned. LOL

[hypehat]

I read somewhere that the Van Dyke character was so far from the truth that they had to change his name to something else. Is this true? Or am I thinking about a different character?

Van Dyke insisted on that and the disclaimer at the start.

[HeyJude]

So it's not true huh? Were any of the Beach Boys involved with the movie at all?

Did I say it's not true ?  Just expressing surprise.

And yes, Brian was directly, if minimally, involved. He recorded maybe 30 seconds of piano/vocal for two scenes (no, I'm not going to tell you which ones - if you have ears, they're very, very obvious).

Why would it be surprising that someone mentioned that Mike Love consulted in some fashion on this film? I don’t know what official title/capacity he had, but my recollection is that it was mentioned by Stamos and/or those involved in the production back in 2000 that Mike was involved, at least in some vague perhaps unofficial way, in consulting on the film.

[Amy B.]

I couldn't even finish the movie. I turned it off after BW grew his beard and weighed 300 pounds and was totally out of it by 1968. Mike comes out smelling like roses, pretty much. I don't know who was involved in it (except clearly Brian did some vocals for it), but I remember reading that Brian watched it on TV and got very upset at how he was portrayed, and VDP (as mentioned) also got very upset.  VDP is lumped in with "the drainers," and it's just not fair.