The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jan-Michael Vincent | ... |
Matt
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| William Katt | ... |
Jack
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| Gary Busey | ... |
Leroy
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| Patti D'Arbanville | ... |
Sally
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| Lee Purcell | ... |
Peggy Gordon
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| Sam Melville | ... |
Bear
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| Darrell Fetty | ... |
Waxer
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| Gerry Lopez | ... |
Gerry Lopez
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| Hank Worden | ... |
Shopping Cart
(as Hank Warden)
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| Joe Spinell | ... |
Psychologist
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| Steve Kanaly | ... |
Sally's Husband
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| Barbara Hale | ... |
Mrs. Barlow
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| Fran Ryan | ... |
Lucy
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| Dennis Aaberg | ... |
Slick
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| Reb Brown | ... |
Enforcer
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| Robert Englund | ... |
Fly
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Keith Davis | ... |
Ostrich
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Johnny Fain | ... |
Breathman
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| Rick Dano | ... |
Panhead
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| Michael Talbott | ... |
Hog
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Geoff Parks | ... |
Crusher
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Ivar Arai | ... |
Boogie
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Titus Napoleon | ... |
Chubby
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| Frank McRae | ... |
Sergeant
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| Perry Lang | ... |
Tall Kid
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Michael Raden | ... |
Denny
(as Mike Raden)
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Pat Beckwith | ... |
Flea
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Kathy McCullen | ... |
Party Girl
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| Charlene Tilton | ... |
Party Girl
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Terry Bolo | ... |
Party Girl
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Kevan Dignam | ... |
Party Girl
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Sherry Lee Marks | ... |
Party Girl
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Cindy Daly | ... |
Party Girl
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| Lynn Theel | ... |
Party Girl
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| Janet Julian | ... |
Party Girl
(as Janet Johnson)
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Lorie Busk | ... |
Melissa (1973)
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Jack Bernardi | ... |
Tailor
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Gray Frederickson | ... |
Doctor
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| Arthur Rosenberg | ... |
Official
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| Stephen Mendillo | ... |
Orderly
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Aesop Aquarian | ... |
Hippie
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Guy Larry Finley | ... |
Surfer
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Richard O'Bryan | ... |
Surfer
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| Todd Lookinland | ... |
Surfer
(as Todd Lookingland)
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Gary Boyle | ... |
Surfer
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Sascha Jensen | ... |
Surfer
(as Sasha Jensen)
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| Robert S. Woods | ... |
Lifeguard
(as Christopher Woods)
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Jimmy Bracken | ... |
Kid Surfer
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Kevin Schultz | ... |
Surfer
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| Stacy Keach Sr. | ... |
Old Man
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Iris Korn | ... |
Old Woman
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| Ollie O'Toole | ... |
Minister
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| Celia Milius | ... |
Bride of the Bear
(as Celia Kaye)
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Brain Damage Vincent | ... |
Matt's Dog
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Benjie Bancroft | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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| Laurie Bates | ... |
Party Girl (uncredited)
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Barry Fisher | ... |
Theatergoer (uncredited)
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Gordon Haight | ... |
Draft inductee (uncredited)
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| George Holmes | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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| Terry Leonard | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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| John Milius | ... |
Marijuana Dealer in Tijuana (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Paul Morgan | ... |
Inductee (uncredited)
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| Monty O'Grady | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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Richard O'Neal | ... |
Veteran Surfer (uncredited)
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Joel Shultz | ... |
Onlooker on Beach (uncredited)
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| Lora Marie Taylor | ... |
Party Girl (uncredited)
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| Marty Thomas | ... |
Pipeline Seth (uncredited)
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Dorinda Townsend | ... |
Party Girl (uncredited)
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Dana Winseman | ... |
Induction Ctr. Elevator Operator (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Milius | ||
Written by
| John Milius | ... | (written by) & |
| Dennis Aaberg | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Tamara Asseyev | ... | executive producer |
| Buzz Feitshans | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Greg MacGillivray | ... | produced by: surfing sequences |
| Alexandra Rose | ... | executive producer (as Alex Rose) |
Music by
| Basil Poledouris | ||
Cinematography by
| Bruce Surtees | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Carroll Timothy O'Meara | ... | (as Tim O'Meara) |
| Robert L. Wolfe | ||
Editorial Department
| Arthur W. Forney | ... | assistant film editor |
| Carol Ann Jackson | ... | assistant film editor |
Casting By
| Karen Rea | ... | (as Karen Rea Grossman) |
Production Design by
| Charles Rosen | ||
Art Direction by
| Dean Edward Mitzner | ... | (as Dean Mitzner) |
Set Decoration by
| Ira Bates | ||
Makeup Department
| Bette Iverson | ... | hair stylist |
| Jack H. Young | ... | makeup artist (as Jack Young) |
| Marlene D. Williams | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| John G. Wilson | ... | unit production manager |
| Joel Chernoff | ... | executive in charge of production (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Richard Hashimoto | ... | assistant director |
| Victor Hsu | ... | second assistant director |
| Terry Leonard | ... | second unit director: land |
| Bill Scott | ... | second assistant director |
| Don-Martin Nielsen | ... | second assistant director trainee (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Edward Aiona | ... | property master (as Eddie Aiona) |
| Harold Broner | ... | construction coordinator |
| Danny Rogers | ... | graphic designer |
| John Alvin | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
| Paul De Santis | ... | assistant property master (uncredited) |
| George Eckert | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Bob Lawless | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Herb Panzer | ... | leadman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Marvin I. Kosberg | ... | sound effects editor |
| Harlan Riggs | ... | sound mixer |
| Ross Taylor | ... | additional sound editor |
| Josef von Stroheim | ... | sound effects editor (as Joe von Stroheim) |
| Donald Wolfe | ... | dialogue editor |
| Jack Night | ... | mikeman (uncredited) |
| Tony Romero | ... | cableman (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Joseph A. Unsinn | ... | special effects (as Joe Unsinn) |
Visual Effects by
| Harrison Ellenshaw | ... | matte artist (as P.S. Ellenshaw) |
Stunts
| Vaughn Allen | ... | Surfer at the wall |
| Steve Boyum | ... | stunts |
| Ian Cairns | ... | surfing double |
| Jackie Dunn | ... | surfing double |
| Richard Epper | ... | stunt performer |
| Ken Ferguson | ... | stunt performer |
| Bill Hamilton | ... | surfing double |
| Bruce Raymond | ... | stunt performer |
| J. Riddle | ... | surfing double |
| Peter Townend | ... | surfing double |
| Denny Arnold | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Diamond Farnsworth | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Terry Leonard | ... | stairs fall double for Geoff Parks (uncredited) / stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
| Thomas Rosales Jr. | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kenneth Adams | ... | key grip (as Ken Adams) |
| Mike Chevalier | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Thomas Del Ruth | ... | camera operator (as Tom Del Ruth) |
| Buzz Feitshans IV | ... | camera assistant (as Fred Feitshans) |
| George Greenough | ... | camera operator: special water photography |
| Ron Grover | ... | still photographer |
| Charles Holmes | ... | gaffer (as Chuck Holmes) |
| Gemma La Mana | ... | still photographer |
| Bradford May | ... | camera assistant (as Brad May) |
| Dan Merkel | ... | camera operator: special water photography |
| Michael Simpson | ... | assistant camera |
| Robert E. Stuard | ... | camera assistant (as Bob Stuard) |
| Ty Suehiro | ... | grip |
| Jack Kennedy | ... | best boy electric (uncredited) |
| Tony Ledger | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| David Macdonald | ... | best boy grip (uncredited) |
| Edward Morey III | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Henry Polito | ... | dolly grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ann Gray Lambert | ... | wardrobe supervisor: women (as Ann Lambert) |
| Bill Milton | ... | wardrobe supervisor: men (as Bill Minton Jr.) |
| Lynette Bernay | ... | costume supervisor (uncredited) |
| Mary Lou Reinbold | ... | wardrobe supervisor (uncredited) |
| Joseph Watts | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Paul Pav | ... | locations |
| Marsha Ross | ... | locations |
Music Department
| Kapono Beamer | ... | musician: slack key guitar |
| Keola Beamer | ... | musician: slack key guitar |
| Eugene Marks | ... | music editor (as Gene Marks) |
| Greig McRitchie | ... | orchestrator |
| Dan Wallin | ... | music scoring mixer (as Danny Wallin) |
| John Audino | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Israel Baker | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Chuck Berghofer | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Harry Bluestone | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Thomas R. Buffum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Larry Bunker | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Herman Clebanoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Gary Coleman | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Don Cristlieb | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Isabelle Daskoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Douglas Davis | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| James Decker | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Harold Dicterow | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Assa Drori | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Duke | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Earl Dumler | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Arni Egilsson | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Michael Englander | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Alan Estes | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Gene Estes | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Clare Fischer | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Pamela Goldsmith | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Mickey Gravine | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Clayton Haslop | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Norman Herzburg | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Judith Johnson | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Nathan Kaproff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Ezra Kliger | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Bernard Kundell | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Michael Lang | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Roger Lebow | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Kathleen Lenski | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Charlie Loper | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Arthur Maebe | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Virginia Majewski | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| William Mays | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet soloist (uncredited) |
| Ed Meares | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Buell Neidlinger | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| John Neufeld | ... | musician: bass clarinet (uncredited) |
| Irma Neumann | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Newman | ... | music consultant (uncredited) / musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dave Parlato | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Basil Poledouris | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Joe Porcaro | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Tom Raney | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Uan Rasey | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Bill Reichenbach | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Joseph Reilich | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Emil Richards | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Lee Ritenour | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Geraldine Rotella | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Sheldon Sanov | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Frederick Seykora | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Harry Shlutz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Haim Shtrum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Eleanor Slatkin | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sheridon Stokes | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Linn Subotnick | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Robert Sushel | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Tommy Tedesco | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Phillip A. Teele | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Milton Thomas | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Robert Tricarico | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Jerry Williams | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Graham Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Tibor Zelig | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Bob Zimmitti | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Patti Zimmitti | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Judy Redlin | ... | script supervisor |
| Lynn A. Aber | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Tim Hill | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Jim Barbarino | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Tom Battoe | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
| Frank Olmstead | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Dean Quisenberry | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Jeff F. Renfro | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Roger C. Brown | ... | surfing photography consultant (as Roger Brown) |
| Bud Browne | ... | surfing photography consultant |
| Fred Hemmings | ... | liaison: water unit |
| Carolyne McCoy Fetty | ... | secretary to director |
| Elly Mitchell | ... | production secretary |
| Kathy Orloff | ... | unit publicist |
| Jonathan Paskowitz | ... | surf instructor |
| Mary Ellen Trainor | ... | assistant to producer |
| Spyder Wills | ... | surfing photography consultant |
| Don Mink | ... | auditor (uncredited) |
Thanks
| John Severson | ... | special thanks and appreciation |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Distributors (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1978) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1979) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Warner-Columbia Film (1979) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Columbia-Warner Filmes de Portugal (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1985) (United States) (tv) (pan-scan)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Archive Collection (2018) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- MacGillivray Freeman Films (courtesy of: 'Five Summer Stories' Pipeline footage)
- Pacific Title (opticals)
- Rocklen / Metter Productions (main title designed by)
- The Burbank Studios (production services and equipment provided by)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Matt Johnson, Jack Barlow, and Leroy Smith are three young California surfers in the 1960s. At first reveling in the carefree life of beaches, girls, and waves, they eventually must face the fact that the world is changing, becoming more complex, less answerable by simple solutions. Ultimately the Vietnam war interrupts their idyll, leaving them to wonder if they will survive until "Big Wednesday," the mythical day when the greatest, cleanest, most transcendent wave of all will come.
Written by Jim Beaver |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A story of three friends growing up in the sixties; of ten years filled with parties; weddings and uncertainties; and of the day we must all face... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $11,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | George Lucas and Steven Spielberg thought this film would be the American Graffiti (1973) of surfing films - that it was destined to be such a hit that they famously traded profit points on their next two films, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with director John Milius. This trade would earn Milius millions of dollars while his own film would flop at the box office. See more » |
| Goofs | Jack's induction notice says he is to serve in the United States Marine Corps. When he comes home from Vietnam he is an Army Airborne Ranger. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Basil Poledouris: His Life and Music (1997). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Three Friends Theme See more » |
| Quotes |
Matt Johnson:
You know, Mrs. Barlow, there's something I'd like straighten out. Mrs. Barlow: What's that, Matt? Matt Johnson: Well, I did a lot of things around here I'm kind of ashamed of. I tore up your lawn with my '40 Ford... Mrs. Barlow: Many times. Matt Johnson: Took my pants off in front of your friends... Mrs. Barlow: Oh, yes. Matt Johnson: And I even passed out in your closet, but I never, and I don't know who could have if I didn't, but I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron. See more » |