The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s.
Director:
John Milius
From metacritic.com
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Title: Big Wednesday (1978)
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2 nominations.
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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 | ... | Gerry Lopez | |
| Hank Worden | ... | Shopping Cart (as Hank Warden) | |
| Joe Spinell | ... | Psychologist | |
| Steve Kanaly | ... | Sally's Husband | |
| Barbara Hale | ... | Mrs. Barlow | |
| Fran Ryan | ... | Lucy | |
 |
Dennis Aaberg | ... | Slick |
| Reb Brown | ... | Enforcer | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
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 <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Taglines:
Could the big breaker break them up? See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
26 May 1978 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Summer of Innocence See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$11,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.39:1
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Peggy Gordon: Thank you. You too.
Girl at Party: Is that a padded bra?
Peggy Gordon: No, this is all me.
Girl at Party: God.
Peggy Gordon: You should try a padded bra.
Girl at Party: I have one on.
See more »
(uncredited)
Written by Bob Gaudio
Performed by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent) and Peggy's (Lee Purcell) daughter was played by Jan-Michael Vincent's real-life daughter, Amber. See more »Goofs
During the party scene a girl screams "Waxer, no!" when another character, Crusher, not Waxer, attacks her. See more »Quotes
Girl at Party: You've got a great figure.Peggy Gordon: Thank you. You too.
Girl at Party: Is that a padded bra?
Peggy Gordon: No, this is all me.
Girl at Party: God.
Peggy Gordon: You should try a padded bra.
Girl at Party: I have one on.
See more »
Alternate Versions
ABC edited 31 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere. See more »Soundtracks
Sherry(uncredited)
Written by Bob Gaudio
Performed by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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This is a great film. I won't say that everyone would like it, because there is always someone who will hate it. But I love this movie and cannot imagine hating it. I watch it again and again, mostly for Jack who is wonderful in his personality and development. I can't rate this highly enough. The surfing scenes are spectacular, and watching the characters slowly mature and try to cope with life as an adult is always worth watching. Seeing Matt in particular struggle with his unwanted hero status and seeing his friends grow up, move away or die is really something to see. What he would have done without the capable, beautiful, indefatigable Peggy is anyone's guess. However, I must say that you either get it or you don't.