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Big Wednesday
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Big Wednesday (1978) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   2,052 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Milius
Writers:
John Milius (written by) &
Dennis Aaberg (written by)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Big Wednesday on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
May 1978 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama more
Tagline:
Three friends. Twelve Turbulent Years. And One Day We All Must Face. more
Plot:
The lives of some California surfers from the early '60s to the '70s. | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Busey And Conaway Bust-Up On Rehab Show
 (From WENN. 19 November 2008, 3:57 AM, PST)

Busey Snorted Cocaine Off His Dog
 (From WENN. 22 October 2008, 12:14 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Schmaltzy, beautifully shot coming of age drama with the ever watchable Gary Busey. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jan-Michael Vincent ... Matt Johnson
William Katt ... Jack Barlow

Gary Busey ... Leroy Smith

Patti D'Arbanville ... Sally Jacobson

Lee Purcell ... Peggy Gordon

Sam Melville ... Bear
Darrell Fetty ... Jim 'Waxer' King
Gerry Lopez ... Himself

Hank Worden ... Shopping Cart Fisherman (as Hank Warden)
Joe Spinell ... Army Psychologist
Steve Kanaly ... Jacobson - Sally's Husband
Barbara Hale ... Mrs. Barlow
Fran Ryan ... Lucy
Dennis Aaberg ... Slick

Reb Brown ... Enforcer
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Summer of Innocence
more
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Company:
A-Team more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The role of the "Enforcer" was loosely based on longtime Malibu icon and waterman Ray Kunze who looked out for John Milus (director) and Dennis Aaberg (co-writer) in the late 50's. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: Right after the scene where Matt is talking to Bear on the pier the night before 'Big Wednesday', they show the sunrise of the next morning, with the sun just coming up over the horizon. The horizon, however, is the Pacific ocean, and if the sun was in that position, it would be setting, not rising. more
Quotes:
Narrator, Fly: Stay casual, Barlow. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "High Chaparall: (#2.5)" (2004) more
Soundtrack:
Three Friends Theme more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
11 out of 12 people found the following comment useful:-
Schmaltzy, beautifully shot coming of age drama with the ever watchable Gary Busey., 3 March 2001
8/10
Author: Andrew Morris (moz-1) from Southampton, England.

Gary Busey's career high as the insane "Masochist" with the irrisistable quote "More Beer!". Okay, this is a little patchy, but it's beautifully shot and has that old fashioned innocence that most modern teen films lack. The surfing rules and the leading trio is well played. Oh and I forgot to mention, the entire narration is by none other than Elm street's Fred Kreuger, a.k.a Robert Englund, which just makes it uber-cool in my minds eye; but I am biased. A great feel-good movie from when movies still felt pretty good.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Big Wednesday (1978)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fight Scene nightpike11
El Verano de Mi Juventud (Latin America Title) w_saenz_zanca
Why were Waxers parents so cold to Matt? bigislander72
surfing actors???? mister_figgins
a great INTERVIEW with 'WAXER' (darrell fetty) cultfilmfreak
Big Wednesday filming location... garygray46
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