Beach Boys movies

[Pretty Funky]

Lets tidy this subject up.

Endless Summer (1974) Album
American Band (1985) Documentary
Summer Dreams  (1990) TV Movie
Endless Harmony (1998) Documentary and Soundtrack
American Family (2000) TV Movie

...any corrections welcome.

[hypehat]

Waitttt I'm confused...whats Endless Harmony? I thought we were talking about movies made about the BB's?

Endless Harmony's a documentary narrated by them. Kind of an 'Anthology' type thing, worth a watch, too. And, seeing as it's 2 hours long, could be considered a movie... But not a 'biopic' type thing. Sorry for the confusion

Now you are confusing the confused...American Band was the 1985 documentary "narrated by them"...Endless Harmony is a 1998 documentary and one in the classic sense.

Oops! My brain obviously needs a tune-up. REALLY sorry for the confusion 

[RickD]

and going by what Ed just said I think it is time for -

Endless Harmony - The Director's Cut (2009)  (about 8 hours long)

How about it Alan - nothing a couple of dozen lawyers couldn't sort out!

[Pretty Funky]

...or Al's next group!

The American Endless Family Summer Harmony Band of Dreams anyone?

[Shady]

...or Al's next group!

The American Endless Family Summer Harmony Band of Dreams anyone?

LMAO 

I found 'Summer Dreams ' yesterday on-line and checked it out. Pretty much terrible.

Still waiting for that Brian bio, hope the wheels get into motion sometime soon.

[melissalynn]

And I don't think I'm alone in thinking it's still pretty damn good!

Nope, you're definitely not alone! 'Endless Harmony' is what got me 'into' the BB. I saw it on VH1 back in '98 and that was my introduction to the band. Big props to Alan for creating such a wonderful film even though he had to cut out a lot of 'key elements'. I owe my obsession with the Beach Boys to that one film.

[Alex]

watching American Family.... is the version 'Brian' plays of 'In My Room' at the piano actually sung by old Brian? it sounds really like him....

I Get Around was also sung by old Brian!

[Chris Brown]

watching American Family.... is the version 'Brian' plays of 'In My Room' at the piano actually sung by old Brian? it sounds really like him....

I Get Around was also sung by old Brian!

Which was, for me anyways, more than a little disconcerting.

[CarCrazyCutie]

And I don't think I'm alone in thinking it's still pretty damn good!

Nope, you're definitely not alone! 'Endless Harmony' is what got me 'into' the BB. I saw it on VH1 back in '98 and that was my introduction to the band. Big props to Alan for creating such a wonderful film even though he had to cut out a lot of 'key elements'. I owe my obsession with the Beach Boys to that one film.

Ditto! Don't get me wrong, I like American Band. It definitely has it's place, especially for those rare clips of the guys (I'd buy a dvd of that stuff alone!!) and the fact that the band narrated it. IMO, though, Endless Harmony is far and away the best thing on the band (movies and docs included). I can't imagine someone hearing the music and seeing that and not walking away at least a casual fan. And the ending montage is absolutely perfect and gets me everytime. The clip of Denny and Carl in the grass and getting up and walking away is so fitting but always tears me up I really believe it's the most complete, honest, and endearing depiction of their story while still keeping it about the music

[punkinhead]

Endless Harmony also has a fantastic soundtrack...

the final release of Loop De Loop with the original demo: Sail Plane Song
and Soulful OldMan Shunshine

[Aegir]

Lets tidy this subject up.

Endless Summer (1974) Album
American Band (1985) Documentary
Summer Dreams  (1990) TV Movie
Endless Harmony (1998) Documentary and Soundtrack
American Family (2000) TV Movie

...any corrections welcome.

Wow, how uncreative.

[joe_blow]

From a pure production point of view I'd have to say American Family seems to be the better movie. That said, I did prefer the Murry character in Summer Dreams. The use of actual Beach Boys songs in AF sounded better to these ears. If you sit down and look at all the inaccuracies of the movies I am sure you could form a completely different opinion.

One of my favorites was how Brian came down to the studio fully bearded  in his robe (a la the It's OK Special Belushi/Ackroyd scene - oh no let's not bring another TV special into this) to a session for Add Some Music (where Dennis was eager to get back to the Manson orgie for another round). Mike Love's smugness in the movie also was something that irritated more than a bit.  Also have to love how they constantly take quotes from interviews and add as dialogue (BW - "I'm just a hard working guy"- MW "If you love me Audrey you'll.... ML - "If the world meditated it would  be a whole different...")

[Dove Nested Towers]

Endless Harmony also has a fantastic soundtrack...

the final release of Loop De Loop with the original demo: Sail Plane Song
and Soulful OldMan Shunshine

There is a large quantity of great previously unreleased material on the EH soundtrack, including one of the best Smile snippets of all IMO, Brian playing an informal, early version
of H & V, I'm in Great Shape and Barnyard on the piano, a priceless glimpse of his passion,
vision for the album and unadulterated, raw inspiration during that fragile era. Wonderbill,
Barbara, 'Til I Die alternate mix, Long Promised Road from Carnegie Hall, All Alone many years before the POB/Bambu Legacy edition, what an embarrassment of riches!

[Andrew G. Doe]

I enjoyed the subtle editing of Endless Harmony on several occasions...