Don't Make Waves (1967)

Carlo goes on a vacation to Southern California where he quickly becomes immersed in the easy-going local culture while getting entangled in two beach-side romances.

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

Ira Wallach (screenplay), George Kirgo (screenplay)

Stars:

Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, Robert Webber

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Curtis	...	Carlo Cofield
Claudia Cardinale	...	Laura Califatti
Robert Webber	...	Rod Prescott
Joanna Barnes	...	Diane Prescott
Sharon Tate	...	Malibu
David Draper	...	Harry Hollard
Mort Sahl	...	Sam Lingonberry
Dub Taylor	...	Electrician
Ann Elder	...	Millie Gunder
Chester Yorton	...	Ted Gunder
Reg Lewis	...	Monster
Marc London	...	Fred Barker
Douglas Henderson	...	Henderson
Sarah Selby	...	Ethyl
Mary Grace Canfield	...	Seamstress

Storyline

New York tourist Tony Curtis falls asleep on a Southern California beach on his first night in the West and wakes up to The New Phantasmagoria--catamarans, surfers (including a dog), bodybuilders, acrobats, motorcycle chicken races, a nut fishing in the shallows . . . and Sharon Tate as a skydiver named Malibu who gives Curtis the rapture of artificial respiration when he is conked on the head by a flying surfboard. This is the '60s American Dream: youth and beauty and money and sex in Southern California. Go west, all men.

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Plot Keywords:

hot | sexy | cleavage | big breasts | sexy butt | 

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Taglines:

What the Italians do with a bed... the Americans do with a beach!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sharon Tate's character of Malibu inspired the Malibu Barbie doll.

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Goofs

When Carlo is trying to sell a pool to the Backus', Henny changes positions between shots from being the closest person to the house to being the furthest away.

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Quotes

Laura Califatti: [to Rod] It is because you don't love me. Only a fool could believe it. Only a fool or someone who didn't care. Why have no jealousy for the one you love? He is my lover!
Carlo Cofield: Oh, no, no!
Laura Califatti: He takes me when he pleases!
Carlo Cofield: Oh, no, no.
Laura Califatti: We are mad for each other! Tell him!
Carlo Cofield: I'm not her lover.
Laura Califatti: Ah, grazie, grazie...
Rod Prescott: What is your line there, lover boy? You a dance instructor? A paid escort? A hairdresser?

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Crazy Credits

Amateur Gymnasts appearing in this production are doing so by special permission of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States or of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 4 (1997)

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Soundtracks

Don't Make Waves
Written by Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman
Performed by The Byrds

User Reviews

Waves of strangeness

'Don't Make Waves' was hardly one of those films that was doomed from the outset. Tony Curtis' film career was spotty but he was always appealing enough, and the same can be said for Claudia Cardinale. Sharon Tate in my predictions would have become a bigger star if she hadn't been so brutally murdered in one of the most shocking mass murder sprees in history. Also like to love Alexander Mackendrick's previous work, especially 'Sweet Smell of Success' and 'The Ladykillers'.

While it is watchable enough and has some good things, 'Don't Make Waves' didn't really do much for me regrettably. Curtis' career was, or at least his film choices were, particularly hit and miss at this time of which this was a middling project for him, and as far as Mackendrick's films go 'Don't Make Waves' is a lesser effort of his and not a particular fair representation of him. Actually find it a little sad that a promising director ended his film directing career on what is actually a contender for his worst film.

There are certainly good things here. The film looks great (excepting the more stock moments not always being seamlessly incorporated), very artfully shot without trying to be overly clever and quite vibrant. The music is quite infectious, easy on the ears and doesn't feel tacky or like it belong, while the title song epitomises charm. 'Don't Make Waves' starts off very promisingly, very good-natured and amusing.

It also finishes great, the climactic sliding house sequence is quite thrilling and holds up impressively. The cast do more than gamely, while Curtis is very likeable and Cardinale likewise the one that makes the biggest impression is Tate, who is both sensual and witty.

However, 'Don't Make Waves' is pretty all over the place when it comes to the story. The mishmash of genres, some meandering aimlessness and quite muddled structure gave off a weirdly wacky feel and rather suggestive of the film never being sure what it wanted to be. The pace can suffer too, it starts off great and it picks up in the climactic moments but in between the energy sags. Some of the pace is fine, some of it is dull, while there are still amusing moments between the start and climax in some places the strangeness gets a bit over the top.

Also felt that Mackendrick's direction was disappointing pedestrian and only workmanlike in its best moments. There are some good-natured and witty moments in the script, but too much of it falls on the wrong side of cheesy. The rest of the cast other than the mentioned three never rise above just getting the job done level.

Summing up, not bad but not particularly good. 5/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1967 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Don't Make Waves

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmways Pictures, Reynard Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1