The Beach Boys: An American Family 

This movie re-creates the life stories of the members of the rock group "The Beach Boys". The film focuses primarily on the Wilson brothers and their parents, but also includes stories ... See full summary »

Stars:

Frederick Weller, Matt Letscher, Nick Stabile

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Frederick Weller	...	Brian Wilson 2 episodes, 2000
Matt Letscher	...	Mike Love 2 episodes, 2000
Nick Stabile	...	Dennis Wilson 2 episodes, 2000
Ned Vaughn	...	Al Jardine 2 episodes, 2000
Ryan Northcott	...	Carl Wilson 2 episodes, 2000
Amy Van Horne	...	Marilyn Rovell 2 episodes, 2000
Jad Mager	...	Nik Venet 2 episodes, 2000
Wendy Phillips		2 episodes, 2000
Kurt Fuller	...	Mike Love's Dad 2 episodes, 2000
Alley Mills	...	Audree Wilson 2 episodes, 2000
Kevin Dunn	...	Murry Wilson 2 episodes, 2000
Raegan Kotz	...	Deborah Jameson 2 episodes, 2000
Vanessa Dorman	...	Amy Love 2 episodes, 2000
Eric Matheny	...	Chuck Britz 2 episodes, 2000
Clay Wilcox	...	Tommy Schaeffer 2 episodes, 2000
Anthony Rapp	...	Samuel Pierce 2 episodes, 2000
Claire Rankin	...	Diane Rovell 2 episodes, 2000
David Spielberg	...	Irving Rovell 2 episodes, 2000
Annie Abbott	...	May Rovell 2 episodes, 2000
James Intveld	...	Hal Blaine 2 episodes, 2000
Harris Laskawy	...	Voyle Gilmore 2 episodes, 2000
Denise Faye	...	Nik's Secretary 2 episodes, 2000
Lara Del Arte	...	Groupie 2 episodes, 2000

Storyline

This movie re-creates the life stories of the members of the rock group "The Beach Boys". The film focuses primarily on the Wilson brothers and their parents, but also includes stories about the rest of members of the band. A two-part television movie special.

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Plot Keywords:

surf music | drinking | tv mini series | physical abuse | nervous breakdown | 

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Taglines:

As a band they rose to stardom. As a family they fell from grace.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Beach Boys: An American Family

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia TriStar Television, Storyline Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Brian Wilson, the argument between Dave and Murry, which led to Dave's departure from the band, actually took place inside of a car.

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Goofs

Nik Vinet Was "Nick" when he signed The Beach Boys. However, his desk plate says Nik on the plate. He changed the spelling years later in honor of his grandfather.

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Quotes

Brian Wilson: Where are you going?
Van Dyke Parks: I'm sorry, Brian. I'm splittin'. The Philistines have uttered thier pronouncements, and I am now bound for Golgotha.

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Alternate Versions

A shorter version later aired on ABC. The character representing Van Dyke Parks was renamed.

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Soundtracks

I LIVE FOR THE SUN
Written by Rick Henn
Performed by The Sunrays

User Reviews

The pain of getting Good Vibrations

California in the sixties and the Beach Boys are inseparable; as someone says in the course of this film, originally made as a miniseries, the Beach Boys are an expression of California culture. Yet only one of them, Dennis Wilson, was really a denizen of the beach (and not a serious musician), and the musical genius behind the Beach Boy's distinctive, haunting sound, his older brother Brian, had enough emotional problems to fill an analyst's notebook.

This 4 hour film, the latest of several attempts to put the Beach Boys story down on film, is an easy to watch, straightforward account of their `progress' from suburban garage jam sessions to pop stardom in the mid sixties, to decline in the late sixties and revival in the mid seventies. The later history of the group is not covered.

Three things stand out. The first is the fragile talent of Brian, who, timid and half deaf though he was, managed to inspire and lead the group during its early years both on and off the stage, and who, with Mike Love doing the lyrics, contributed some imperishable songs to the pop lexicon. The second is the father from Hell, Murry Wilson, a frustrated pop musician and control freak, who tried to dominate and exploit the boys and nearly destroyed them. The third is the price of fame. Brian, who had real talent, was exploited by others and nearly went under to drugs. Poor Dennis whose only real facility was seducing women got completely bamboozled and at one stage was dragged into Charles Manson's toxic circle. Carl Wilson was a more level-headed sort and hence his story is less dramatic, while Mike Love, the lead vocalist (a cousin) is portrayed as your usual vain, not over-bright popster who doesn't handle success very well either. As for the women in their lives, being married to a beach boy was almost as bad as being one.

This is a workmanlike account of the story and no better than it ought to be, but there must be a special mention of Kevin Dunne as the manic Murry, all enthusiasm and tunnel vision, a man totally incapable of listening to those he loved or understanding their feelings. It is a tribute to Dunn's acting that we wind up understanding the man rather than hating him. Fred Weller does a good job with Brian, and Nick Stabile is well cast as Dennis, the male bimbo with attitude. The best part about the film (and there aren't enough of them) is the songs. In the end they are what mattered, and many Beach Boys songs will linger on in the minds of those who heard them as teenagers for as long as they live – Good, Good, Good Vibrations!