The sporting, documentary genre of Surf Films started in the 1940's and was popularised by Bruce Brown and John Severson in the late 1950's and early 1960's.
Bruce Brown was an American documentary film director, known as an early pioneer of the surf film. His films include Slippery When Wet (1958), Surf Crazy (1959), Barefoot Adventure (1960), Surfing Hollow Days (1961), Waterlogged (1962) and his best known film, The Endless Summer (1964), which received nationwide theatrical release in 1966.
John Severson, well known as the creator of the internationally acclaimed SURFER Magazine, grew up surfing the off the beaches of Southern California and began his career as a painter. In 1958, Severson began to use his art, photography, and surfing passion to create a popular surf movie series. His films included Surf Safari (1959), Surf Fever (1960), Big Wednesday (1961) and Angry Sea (1963).
The genre in itself has been defined by surfers travelling with their friends and documenting the experience on film. In the 'heyday' of Brown and Severson, films were projected for rambunctious fans in music halls, civic centres and high school auditoriums. The films of this era have now become cult classics and the original movie posters have become highly desirable, collectors pieces.
