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Don't Make Waves

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Don't Make Waves
original movie poster
Directed byAlexander Mackendrick
Based onMuscle Beach
by Ira Wallach
Produced byJohn Calley
Martin Ransohoff
StarringTony Curtis
Claudia Cardinale
Sharon Tate
Robert Webber
Dave Draper
CinematographyPhilip H. Lathrop
Edited byRita Roland
Thomas Stanford
Music byVic Mizzy
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • June 9, 1967 (1967-06-09)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.25 million (US/ Canada)[1][2]

Don't Make Waves is a 1967 American sex comedy (with elements of the beach party genre) starring Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale, Dave Draper and Sharon Tate. Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and is based on the 1959 novel Muscle Beach, by Ira Wallach, who also wrote the screenplay.

The film depicts a series of romantic triangles between different groupings of the principal cast and supporting players among several backdrops involving Southern California culture (swimming pools, bodybuilding, beach life, fantastic real estate, mudslides, metaphysical gurus, etc.).

Plot

Carlo Cofield, a tourist visiting California's west coast, has not even arranged lodging when his car is smashed by a reckless driver. She is carefree, attractive Italian artist Laura Califatti, who offers her couch for him to sleep that night.

This displeases Rod Prescott, a wealthy swimming-pool builder, because Laura is his mistress. After being kicked out, Carlo tries to sleep on the beach and nearly drowns. He is rescued by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from a gorgeous surfer who goes by the name "Malibu."

Carlo begins a romantic pursuit of the much-younger woman. After renting a house near the ocean, Carlo cons a sweet but naive bodybuilder, Harry, who is Malibu's boyfriend, into believing that having sex is harmful to his body. He also bribes a phony psychic, "Madame Lavinia," who is actually a man, to discourage Harry from seeing Malibu anymore.

Rod decides to give the persistent Carlo a job as a pool salesman. The affair with Laura is discovered by Rod's wife, Diane, who demands a divorce. As a quarrel develops with everyone present, a mudslide caused by a sudden storm makes Carlo's house slide down a cliff. By the time everyone is saved, they pair off with the romantic partners they deserve.

Cast

Actors Characters info
Tony Curtis Carlo Cofield
Claudia Cardinale Laura Califatti
Sharon Tate Malibu
David Draper Harry Hollard
Joanna Barnes Diane Prescott
Robert Webber Rod Prescott
Reg Lewis Monster
Mort Sahl Sam Lingonberry
Edgar Bergen Madame Lavinia
Dub Taylor Electrician
Mary Grace Canfield Seamstress
Holly Haze Myrna
Sarah Selby Ethyl
Julie Payne Helen
Douglas Henderson Henderson
Chester Yorton Ted Gunder
Ann Elder Millie Gunder
Marc London Fred Barker
Paul Barselou Pilot as Paul Barselow
George Tyne Newspaperman
David Fresco Newspaperman
Gilbert Green Newspaperman as Gil Green
Eduardo Tirello Decorator
Jim Backus Himself uncredited
Henny Backus Herself uncredited
China Lee Topless swimmer uncredited
Joanne Hashimoto Female Gymnast uncredited
Bill Kennedy Reporter uncredited; final film

Production notes

The film was based on Ira Wallach's novel Muscle Beach which was published in 1959.[3]

In August 1963 it was announced film rights had been purchased by Martin Ransohoff of Filmways, who had a deal with MGM. Ransohoff and Wallach had collaborated on The Wheeler Dealers.[4] Wallch would do the screenplay and the film would be part of an $18 million slate, coming out in June 1964.[5] Filming was delayed.

Curtis' casting was announced in April 1966.[6] In June it was announced Alexander Mackendrick would direct and Claudia Cardinale would co star.[7]

Sharon Tate told her husband Roman Polanski that her experience working on this film was not particularly enjoyable. The production atmosphere was tense, and it was worsened when an uncredited stuntman drowned when he parachuted into the Pacific Ocean.[8]

Filming took place in August 1966.[9]

The film was Tate's third to be produced, but as it was the first to be released in cinemas, it is generally considered to be her debut. MGM mounted an extensive publicity campaign upon its release that was based largely on Tate and her character, Malibu, and life-sized cardboard cutouts of Tate wearing a bikini were placed in cinema foyers throughout the United States. It was also linked to a widespread advertising campaign by Coppertone which also featured Tate.

Dave Draper, who plays Malibu's boyfriend Harry, was the 1965 IFBB Mr. America and the 1966 NABBA Mr. Universe.

1966 NABBA Mr. Universe bodybuilder Chester Yorton, who plays Ted Gunder, made one other film, 1964's Muscle Beach Party, in which he plays the character called "Hulk."

Music

The score was composed by Vic Mizzy. Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman wrote the title song, "Don't Make Waves," performed by The Byrds over the opening credits.

Reception

Upon its release on June 20, 1967, Don't Make Waves received generally mixed reviews. By the time the film was released, the popularity of beach films and films that related to California beach culture had begun to wane as had the popularity of Tony Curtis as a matinee idol.[2] In American Prince, his 2009 autobiography, Tony Curtis wrote of making Don't Make Waves, "The plot was utterly ridiculous, but I agreed to appear in the film because I got a percentage of the gross."[10] The film would go on to earn $1.25 million at the box office.[2]

Don't Make Waves has more recently received a positive review by film critic Leonard Maltin who describes it as "a gem", and makes note of the "good direction, funny performance by Sharon Tate and a catchy title song...".[11]

DVD

Don't Make Waves was released to DVD by Warner Home Video's Warner Archive on June 27, 2011 as a burn-on-demand Region 1 widescreen DVD.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Big Rental Films of 1967", Variety, 3 January 1968 p 25. Please note these figures refer to rentals accruing to the distributors.
  2. ^ a b c Lisanti, Thomas (2005). Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969. McFarland. p. 324. ISBN 1-476-60142-9.
  3. ^ Narcissists' Lido: MUSCLE BEACH. By Ira Wallach. 236 pp. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. $3.50. Levin, Martin. New York Times 28 June 1959: BR22.
  4. ^ Rita Hayworth Will Return in 'Circus': MGM Stages at Capacity With Seven New Features Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 8 Aug 1963: C11.
  5. ^ Filmways Sets New $18 Million Budget: Dassin 'Man in Middle' of Turkish Jewel Robbery Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 28 Aug 1963: C11.
  6. ^ Tony Curtis Joins 'Waves' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]29 Apr 1966: c19.
  7. ^ Perkins to Star in 'Scandal' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]09 June 1966: e15.
  8. ^ Polanski, Roman (1984). Roman. New York: William Morrow & Company. p. 261. ISBN 0-688-02621-4.
  9. ^ Success Can't Spoil Tony Curtis Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 7 Aug 1966: b8.
  10. ^ Curtis, Tony; Golenbock, Peter (2008). American Prince: A Memoir. Random House LLC. p. 264. ISBN 0-307-44946-7.
  11. ^ Maltin, Leonard (2013). Leonard Maltin's 2014 Movie Guide. Penguin. p. 367. ISBN 1-101-60955-9.
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