Under the Boardwalk (1989)
Starring Keith Coogan, Danielle von Zerneck, Richard Joseph Paul, Steve Monarque, Roxana Zal, Hunter von Leer, Brian Wimmer, Stuart Fratkin, Brett Marx, Christopher Rydell, Wally Ward, Greta Blackburn, Tracey Walter, Corky Carroll, Sonny Bono, Dick Miller, Brian Avery and the Surf Punks. Directed by Fritz Kiersch. From New World Pictures.
It is 20 years in the future – 2008 – and a group of surfers sitting in the line-up are talking story. They are bringing to mind the legends of their beach and when one of them – known as Rudder – mentions Nick Rainwood, Rudder’s buddy, Skeeg, admits he has never heard of him. Rudder is shocked and proceeds to tell the story. It is 103 minutes with titles.
Back in SoCal in the late Eighties – before the big one – there lived a surfer named Nick Rainwood (Paul). He worked at a surf shop owned by Midas (von Leer), not only boss but friend and mentor to Nick. It is Nick’s last day of work as he is heading off to study liberal arts at Stanford. Midas is sorry to see him go and gifts him with his prized possession; one of the original surfboards used in Apocalypse Now.
The Yorpins live in a raspy little beach house. Mrs. Yorpin (Blackburn) is fully spun, kinda Sixties but cool for a mom. Her son, Reef (Monarque), is one unpredictable mother, a champion surfer but ruthless. His sister Allie (von Zerneck) is fully smart and a rad artist – she is the polar opposite of Reef. Allie and Reef’s cousin, Andy (Coogan), is a registered knob touristing from the farm land. He is 17, a sheltered hick who is planning to join the Navy. Allie – though not into surfing or partying – agrees to take Andy to the big beach party always held the night before the “compo” – the big annual surf competition – begins. Nick and his friends are in town for the compo and, at the beach party, Allie and Nick dance and get interested in each other but there’s only one problem. Nick and his buddies are from the other side of the hill. They are from the valley – they are “Vals”. The Yorpins and Reef’s friends are locals – “Locs” – and these two groups do not get along, they don’t mix. Reef is enraged to see his sister with a Val and a major brawl breaks out but somehow only the innocent bystanders get thrown in jail. Andy finds himself in the slammer with hot local surfer girl, “Gitch” – so named because she is half girl, half bitch. Gitch don’t mess and she is as tough as any guy.
Andy and Gitch are still in jail – bonding – when the compo begins the next day. The big sponsor of the event is Ocean Floor clothing headed by former champ, Hap Jordan (Avery), who zeroes in on Rainwood, hoping he will sign with the company. Nick does well on the first day but one of his buddies, Marone (Marx), is intentionally hurt by one of Reef’s crew, Backwash (Ward). While Nick’s buds Cage (Wimmer) and Lapps (Fratkin) are livid and sense a showdown coming, Nick and Allie are off on a date getting to know each other. That night at an Ocean Floor-sponsored party featuring the Surf Punks, Nick is pressured more by Jordan and learns that Marone has been hurt. Nick is told there will be a fight in the parking garage and he reluctantly goes hoping to broker peace. Allie comes on the scene in time to see Nick pummelling her brother and she storms off, realizing that Nick is just like all the other surfers she loathes.
As Finals Day begins, Andy is cheering as Gitch hits the water and gives the boys a run for their money. Nick is heavily favoured to win but he is dealing with Reef’s shenanigans in the water, Jordan pressuring him to be the best and Allie challenging him to be a mensch. Not to mention the impending doom of leaving this life behind to educate himself in the east – a decision he is no longer certain of.
I wish I could pinpoint the moment I discovered Under the Boardwalk though I feel like I stumbled on it on TV when I was a teenager. I also think I recall taping it off television but I know for sure that I was 20 or 21 when I found it on VHS. At that time, I was living on my own in Apartment Zero and working two part time jobs; one was at McDonalds, a time I chronicled here, and the other was at Eaton’s, a venerable Canadian department store. I was on a break from my job selling lamps and rugs at Eaton’s and cruising through the movies when I found this tape. Might not have been a real find then but I’m happy to still own this today as it would likely be hard to find on VHS now.
My parents moved away from the city I came of age in when I was 20. They said I was welcome to come with them – to continue to live with them – but that would’ve meant leaving my jobs, my friends, my life. I decided to stay in town and began living in a bachelor apartment in a small building. The number on my door was “0” – my Apartment Zero Days had begun. My friends and I were always old school in many ways, one was that we were fans of the Beach Boys and of the surfing lifestyle. One-room Apartment Zero became our beach shack and we got up to much, the difference from other “party places” being that – while the drinks were still flowing – it was the local oldies station that was blasting on the hi-fi.
Friday nights, we were regulars at Kelsey’s Roadhouse. Long after midnight, many of us would convene back at Apartment Zero and there was a time when we would flop on the floor and put in Under the Boardwalk. It became a staple of our lives, at least for a time. It was in this manner, then, that this movie became what it remains – one of my Top 25 favourite films. But more than just this personal connection, I think there is much to recommend this hidden, Eighties coming-of-age “beach party” movie.
Where do we start? Once again, with the great Roger Corman who makes yet another appearance in my life. Seems only proper that Corman’s New World Pictures – founded in 1970 with his brother, Gene – is the company behind Under the Boardwalk. Corman sold New World in 1983 but retained the film library. Our script is by Robert King who later, with his wife, would create the series The Good Wife that ran on CBS from 2009 to 2016. The director is Fritz Kiersch, who today is best known – if at all – for directing The Children of the Corn (1984), his first feature. Notably, he also directed Tuff Turf, a teen drama starring James Spader and Robert Downey, Jr., in 1985. This movie, also from New World, is paired with Under the Boardwalk on DVD.
Keith Coogan is the grandson of Jackie Coogan. Previous to our film, he had been seen with Elisabeth Shue in Adventures in Babysitting and in Hiding Out (1987) with Jon Cryer. Later he appeared in Book of Love (1990), Toy Soldiers (1991) and, also from ’91, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead (“Dishes are done, man!”) with Christina Applegate. This last film I saw at the drive-in on a triple feature with Richard Grieco’s “star” turn If Looks Could Kill and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. As of late, Coogan has been active on social media – where he scores points for not being adverse to acknowledging us common folk – and a fixture on the Comic-Con circuit owing to his notable turns in his two cult classics, the most iconic babysitting pictures of the Eighties and Nineties.
Danielle von Zerneck is fresh-faced and pretty as Allie. She is notable in my world for her appearance in two of my all-time favourites – this film and La Bamba, a year before this one. Get the skinny on Danielle here. Richard Joseph Paul is well cast as the legend Rainwood. Born in Arizona in 1962, Paul had appeared in but two television episodes and the sequel to Revenge of the Nerds when he got the chance to star in Under the Boardwalk. Immediately after our film he landed a prime gig – a guest spot on Miami Vice. In 1994, he starred again in a feature film. Oblivion is a “space western” that claims today to be a “cult classic” and also features my man, Isaac Hayes, George Takei and Julie Newmar. Remarkably, a sequel was filmed at the same time and released in ’96. I was thrilled one night back in 1998 to see RJP show up on Beverly Hills, 90210. Oblivion is what Richard Jospeh Paul remains most “known for”. But stardom – even visibility – has proved elusive.
Richard Paul is a superstar compared to Steve Monarque. Steve has one up on Richard in that he scored a regular gig on a series, Friday the 13th: The Series from ’89 to ’90. Roxana Zal is cool as Gitch. Today, Zal remains – at 14 – the youngest ever winner of a Primetime Emmy Award. She won for Supporting Actress when she starred in 1984 in Something About Amelia, a controversial story about incest that starred Ted Danson and Glenn Close. The TV film won three Emmys and two Golden Globes. After years of TV movies, Roxana turned to fashion design. Based in Silver Lake, she runs Gold Dust Dresses, dresses made from 100% vintage Indian fabric that are “inspired by the gypsy spirit of Stevie Nicks”. Hunter Von Leer plays the mentor, Midas. Von Leer was in The Stone Killer (1973) with Bronson and The Missouri Breaks (1976) with Brando and Nicholson.
Substantial Brian Wimmer bears the boss name “Cage Phillips” well. Utah’s Wimmer was working as a production assistant on Footloose (1984) when he landed a small role in the film. Regular work came with a further iteration of Flipper. Wimmer played Dr. Keith Ricks, supposed son of the Porter Ricks of the original series (his two sons in that series were Sandy and Bud), returning to Florida to study dolphins. Brian lasted one season and was jettisoned when the show was retooled – adding Jessica Alba – to look more like Baywatch. Stuart Fratkin appeared in Ski School (1990) with Dean Cameron and the two would later “star” in the series They Came from Outer Space, lasting one season. Brett Marx is the grandson of Gummo. He played Jimmy Feldman in all three 1970s Bad News Bears movies. He has a brother or cousin, Gregg Marx, who is an Emmy-winning soap opera actor. Under the Boardwalk was Brett’s last film.
Christopher Rydell plays Tripper, another great name from this film. Rydell is actor/producer Mark Rydell’s son. Wally Ward has tried to hide from me all these years, by growing old gracefully and by reverting to his birth name, Wallace Langham. Wally was able to find regular work on a handful of TV series including The Larry Sanders Show (as Phil), Veronica’s Closet (playing Josh Blair) and, most notably, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation on which he appeared as David Hodges for over 200 episodes. I spotted him one night when my wife was watching; “Hey, it’s Backwash!”, I cried, getting the look from her I so often do. Good for Wally. He also played Don Kirshner in Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story (TV, 2000) and was a regular on the HBO series Perry Mason. Greta Blackburn plays fully spun Mrs. Yorpin. Blackburn was a Victoria’s Secret model and founded Ms. Fitness magazine. She is now a singer/songwriter, “longevity expert” and a “fitness OG”. See her in 48 Hrs. (1982), Chained Heat (1983) and V: The Final Battle (TV, 1984).
You all know Tracey Walter. Born in Jersey City in ’47, Walter pops up in some stellar films with impressive company – Serpico (Pacino, 1973), Annie Hall (Woody Allen, 1977), Goin’ South (Nicholson, 1978), The Hunter (McQueen, 1980), Honkytonk Man (Clint, 1982), Rumble Fish (Coppola et al., 1983), Conan the Destroyer (Arnie, 1984), Batman (1989), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), City Slickers (1991), Erin Brockovich (2000) and on and on and on; close to 200 credits.
Like Walter’s, some other familiar faces pop up in Under the Boardwalk. Corky Carroll (born 1947) is today considered the first “real professional surfer”. He was a prolific champion of the sport who also was a recording artist, rubbing professional and personal elbows with the likes of Dennis Wilson and Mike Nesmith. We all know who Sonny Bono is and he shows up appropriately cast as an “ancient”; an old school surfer. Dick Miller’s mug is welcome in any film. The charter member of the Roger Corman Players shows up here like it does in many deep cut cult classics. It took me years to connect Brian Avery as Hap Jordan with Avery as Carl Smith, the robust personage Elaine Robinson marries in The Graduate. The Surf Punks are a great guilty pleasure for me. They were formed in ’76 by two dudes from Malibu. Dennis Dragon was the son of symphony conductor Carmen and brother of Daryl – the captain of Captain & Tennille – and had played drums with the Byrds and the Beach Boys and Drew Steele was Gavin MacLeod’s stepson. The band were part of the punk explosion of Los Angeles in the late 1970s but they featured goofy lyrics depicting the lives of teenage surfers. Their originals – like “The Surf Instructor” and “Klo-rene” – and covers – including “Come on-a My House”, “Da Medley” and others – are bonkers and will bring a chuckle. On stage at the Ocean Floor party, they are up to their usual tricks; playing a classic song once through straight and then running it down again in speed-punk fashion. And Drew Steele’s skateboard guitar – with wheels on the bottom – is awesome. Sadly, both Dragon and Steele have passed, Dennis in 2017 and Drew in 2021.
Speaking of music, this film boasts a pretty good soundtrack. The Drifters‘ original recording of “Under the Boardwalk” is wisely used as is an energetic cover by the Untouchables. The Surf Punks contribute their takes on “Ballroom Blitz” and “Our Day Will Come” and their brethren the Surf MCs are a favourite of Reef Yorpin’s. But the highlight by far is “She’s the Lion” by the Bonedaddys. Around the time I was watching this film regularly, I stumbled on this world beat band’s debut album on Chameleon Records, A-koo-de-a! (1988), on cassette. “She’s the Lion” is on it but I was also thrilled to find that I loved the whole record. I still have the cassette and I will hold on to it as their album – like the band itself – is one of my deepest cuts. As is the Under the Boardwalk soundtrack.
Running through the cast of Under the Boardwalk, we run into a phenomenon I can always appreciate – the obscurity of the actors means that you connect them to no other property and they therefore become these characters. To me, Richard Joseph Paul is Nick Rainwood. Full stop. A film with a cast you don’t recognize can almost make you believe that you are watching some sort of documentary or reality programming. It’s thrilling in the case of Under the Boardwalk to watch these players get up to their various shenanigans.
And that is the appeal of this film. The characters spring to life and the script is legitimately comical. But it is not without a poignancy as it does deal with the pivot point of life. For laughs, you can’t beat the many funny lines, lines that my friends and I adopted and many that I still use today; “Times are fully changin’, brah”, “Hey! That’s a Country Squire wagon, dude. A classic”, “My friends are coming over here soon and they don’t take to knobs the way I do”, when the guys get a closer look at some girls on the street they are declared “good from far but far from good”, and with girls the guys are not serious about it is “one boff and they’re off”, “If you can manage to drop your Loc wench, meet us in the garage, dude”, “Y’know what I think, brah? I think you got about an o-z of poo on the brain, dude”, “Later days, man”, “A lot of water. And that’s just what’s on top” and we had memorized Marone’s description of his dream about surfing in bowling alleys – “And, dude, you were bald in my dream, man! You were the Kojak surfer in my dream, buddy”. That’s good comedy.
Conversely, I give the script some props for striking some deeper notes. In the early going, Midas warns Nick against losing his soul as a surfer; to simply carve the waves up for compo points, for his sponsors and to get his picture in the surf mags. He describes soul surfing without naming it, saying that surfing is all about “the moment” when it is just you and the wave. While real surfers are unlikely to accept this film or any Hollywood surf film that is not Big Wednesday or maybe Chasing Mavericks, the sport is not crassly exploited in Under the Boardwalk.
And the coming-of-age angle is handled well, too. The night before the compo, Nick and his friends invite some girls to their “penthouse”. Rainwood, though, is brooding alone. Cage asks if he is really going to leave this lifestyle and enroll in school back east. Cage is given lines of some significance that were much appreciated by those still awake on the floor of Apartment Zero; “Man, I don’t understand you at all. You like the beach, right? You live to surf. You don’t got beach and surf in college, do you? You got books and teachers. Is that the trade off you wanna make? I don’t think so”. And Allie challenges Nick, as well but from a different perspective – “Surf all your life”, she says, “just don’t be a ‘surfer’ all your life”. Boom. This carries weight. It even borrows slightly from the gravitas of the John Milius script for the aforementioned classic Big Wednesday. That film – and to perhaps a lesser extent, Under the Boardwalk – feature characters facing the moment in which they must decide if what they have to this point dedicated their life doing has inherent value. Is it something they can continue to do? Or is it something they must leave behind? Or can there be a compromise?
Personally, I named the cat I owned when I lived in Apartment Zero “Reef” and I loved Tripper’s outfit the night before the compo. He sports only an Eisenhower jacket and baggy pants. One night of my youth, I was thrown into a pool. I had to change out of my wet clothes and channeled Tripper when I later walked into Kelsey’s wearing nothing but my Eisenhower – what we called a “gas station attendant” jacket – and my friend’s baggy jeans. And the mechanical surfboard at the Ocean Floor party?! Come on! How cool is that? We would say that we should have one at Apartment Zero.
I give major points to a film that can provide lots of laughs but also some food for thought. The lifestyle is depicted so well in Under the Boardwalk and that is what my friends and I loved and what we tried to emulate back in the day. We loved the many and varied groups of surfers who gather on the beach every night. The punks party hard and live to fight. One of them rages against a metal “No Fires on the Beach” sign by throwing it into the large fire that is blazing on the beach. The Surfers for Christ are chill and spend time in prayer. But it was the Ancients we really loved and wanted so badly to be. Sonny Bono and Corky Carroll live a dream life. They sit in a group on the beach talking story and recalling the old days. They have burgers cooking on a grill and – most gloriously – have a small portable television going on which they watch The New Gidget.
And that is not the only reference in this film. Midas owns one of the surfboards – “Death From Above” – that was used in Apocalypse Now, a film written by John Milius, Nick favours Jack Kerouac and paintings of Elvis Presley on black velvet and once again Milius’ surf film is referenced when Nick’s friends accept the outcome of the competition and go home to watch Big Wednesday – it’s as if they go home and lay around watching that film like my friends and I did Under the Boardwalk. And lastly, I must mention how happy I am to see so many goofy footers in this movie!
I should add that there are a couple of fine shots accomplished by director Fritz Kiersch to go along with the funny lines, the strong female characters, the camaraderie and the beach living depicted on screen. The story employs a nice framing technique that makes use of the charming story that develops between Andy and Gitch. It all adds up to one of my faves and a great time that I can highly recommend for your summer viewing schedule.
Under the Boardwalk is currently on Tubi, a service that is a Friend of SoulRide
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