美国国家公共电台 NPR The Legacy Of Surfer And Filmmaker Bruce Brown

 

KELLY MCEVERS, HOST:

Now we are going to remember the filmmaker who first showed us what it is like to set off in search of the perfect wave.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY¹, "THE ENDLESS SUMMER")

BRUCE BROWN: Many surfers ride summer and winter, but the ultimate thing for most of us would be to have an endless summer - the warm water and the waves without the summer crowds of California. The only way to do this is by traveling around the world, following the summer season as it moves around the world.

MCEVERS: The film of course was "The Endless Summer." It came out in 1966. It followed two California surfers on their adventure from beach to beach around the world. The filmmaker was Bruce Brown. He died earlier this week at the age of 80. And to talk about him, we have Matt Holzman, who is the host of member station KCRW's podcast The Document. Hey, Matt.

MATT HOLZMAN, BYLINE²: Hey. We got to talk about this later. That clip³ made me want to go watch the movie again.

MCEVERS: (Laughter) But you have seen it a hundred - you've actually seen this film a hundred times.

HOLZMAN: I think that is probably true.

MCEVERS: No, really, seriously, though, explain why you've seen this film so many times.

HOLZMAN: Well, you know, I grew up in Long Beach, which is actually where Bruce Brown grew up. And I was not a surfer, and I was around a lot of surfers. And I thought they were incredibly cool. And this was my entree⁴ into their world, which seemed totally inaccessible⁵ to me. And it's the same reason that I think the movie ended up being so incredibly popular - was a lot of people wanted to be part of that world. It seemed so idyllic⁶. It seemed so carefree. And you know, I lived it by watching this movie over and over again.

MCEVERS: You know, it's funny. It's not actually that great of a documentary.

HOLZMAN: Well, it's not really a documentary at all. I mean, most of it is kind of made up. But there is, as they say in the documentary world, an essential truth about it. And all the surfing was absolutely real. And these two young guys were traveling around the world. They were surfing in places that maybe, you know, nobody had ever surfed before. And remember; this was at a time when most people didn't get on a plane and go to Africa...

MCEVERS: Right.

HOLZMAN: ...Let alone then leave the hotel and surf having no idea what was waiting for them.

MCEVERS: Yeah.

HOLZMAN: So in that respect, it's very true.

MCEVERS: Right. It's just an adventure.

HOLZMAN: It's an incredible⁷ adventure, yeah.

MCEVERS: The crew did not use sound equipment on the road, so it's actually a silent film that Bruce Brown then narrates⁸. And in that way, he kind of becomes a character in this.

HOLZMAN: Well, he - yeah, he's very funny. He also is very passionate⁹ about it. And he brings a kind of accessibility to it.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "THE ENDLESS SUMMER")

BROWN: For us, it's the sport of surfing - the thrill and the fun of the sport of surfing.

MCEVERS: I mean, Bruce Brown was a surfer himself, yeah?

HOLZMAN: Oh, yeah.

MCEVERS: Yeah.

HOLZMAN: He was definitely a surfer, and he started making movies. The idea was, you would get a camera. You know, you'd put the movie together, and you'd show it to some people in the local high school or auditorium¹⁰ just to make enough money to make the next movie. And this movie, "Endless Summer," was actually a very big production. It was like, you know, hey, we're going to go around the world.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "THE ENDLESS SUMMER")

BROWN: On the plane heading for Africa, Robert wondered what was in store for them. Would they find surf? Would they catch malaria¹¹?

HOLZMAN: You know, they did. They traveled all around the world, and they made this incredible movie.

MCEVERS: Yeah. The people who liked this film weren't just people who, like, lived in beach communities or were into surfing. Like, this was popular all over the country. What was it about this movie that people liked so much?

HOLZMAN: It was a very difficult time. This is the Vietnam era. It was a time when people really wanted to escape, and they wanted to find a simpler time. And you know, if you see the movie now, obviously it's very dated. It was - came out a long, long time ago. But there still is something so magical about this idea of just these kids going on this trip, being one with the outdoors. And you can see how especially somebody who didn't live near the beach might have found it appealing.

MCEVERS: KCRW's Matt Holzman on "The Endless Summer" and filmmaker Bruce Brown, who died Sunday at the age of 80 - thanks so much, Matt.

HOLZMAN: Hang 10.

MCEVERS: (Laughter) Matt Holzman hosts the KCRW podcast The Document, which is a mash-up of documentaries¹² and radio.

(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "THE ENDLESS SUMMER")

BROWN: With enough time and enough money, you could spend the rest of your life following the summer around the world. But for now, the endless summer must end. This is Bruce Brown. Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed my film.

1 documentary   

adj.文献的；n.纪录片

参考例句：

• This case lacked documentary proof.本案缺少书面证据。
• I watched a documentary on the Civil War.我看了一部关于内战的纪录片。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 clip   

n.夹子，别针，弹夹，片断；vt.夹住，修剪

参考例句：

• May I clip out the report on my performance?我能把报道我的文章剪下来吗？
• She fastened the papers together with a paper clip.她用曲别针把文件别在一起。

4 entree   

n.入场权，进入权

参考例句：

• She made a graceful entree into the ballroom.她进入舞厅时显示非常优雅。
• Her wealth and reputation gave her entree into upper-class circles.她的财富和声望使她得以进入上层社会。

5 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

6 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

7 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

8 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

9 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

10 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

11 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

12 documentaries   

n.纪录片( documentary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• As for 'documentaries', these too are not altogether new. 至于“资料性文学”那也并不完全是新鲜事。 来自辞典例句
• These are not just animations live-action films, comedies, dramas and documentaries. 这些不仅仅是动画片，还包括表演摄制影片，喜剧，戏剧以及纪录片。 来自互联网