Crystal Voyager

After the commercial success of Morning Of The Earth for which he was the producer, Elfick came up with more-or-less of the same with this documentary following board-riding American cameraman, George Greenough, as he lives the paradigmatic 70s Californian lifestyle of sun, surf and freedom. Probably mostly of appeal to those who have been there and done that, Elfick mixes footage of George and his buddies, Richie West and legendary surf champion, Nat Young, surfing with him and building his own boat. Had he been born 30 years later George would have been diagnosed with AHDD and probably rehabilitated, but in the 60s he grew up into a sand-groper with an impressive ability for D-I-Y, including barbering. All this is of limited interest for most but for those into it, the final 20 minutes of surf-riding to the accompaniment of Pink Floyd's Echoes may provide the pay-off.

DVD Extras: For once the extras are more entertaining than the film they accompany. Gliding With George gives us a more direct encounter with our subject as he is today, older and more opinionated but otherwise unchanged and still evidently cutting his own hair; an interview with Elfick who describes the genesis of the film; Hot To Trot, a Yellow Submarine-ish animated short starring a popular cartoon character from the hippie scene of the day, Captain Goodvibes; biographies; a picture and original posters gallery. Comes with digitally re-mastered 5.1 surround sound.

Available from: Umbrella Entertainment

 

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