ComedyDramaRomance

California Dreaming

- A state somewhere between fantasy and reality.

Young T.T. comes from Chicago to spend the summer in California. He slowly becomes "California-ized," while learning about love and life in the Golden State.

Release Date : 1979-04-01

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Cinema 77Taft OrganizationAmerican International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : T.T.

Original Name : Dennis Christopher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corky

Original Name : Glynnis O'Connor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Duke Slusarski

Original Name : Seymour Cassel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fay

Original Name : Dorothy Tristan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Rick

Original Name : John Calvin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jordy Banks

Original Name : Todd Susman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stephanie

Original Name : Tanya Roberts

Gender : Female

Character Name : Corrine

Original Name : Alice Playten

Gender : Female

Character Name : Earl Fescue

Original Name : Ned Wynn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mike

Original Name : James Van Patten

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marsha

Original Name : Stacey Nelkin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tenner

Original Name : Johnny Fain

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dan

Original Name : Tom McFadden

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Booke

Original Name : Tom Rosqui

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ruben

Original Name : Marshall Efron

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jerry

Original Name : Barton Heyman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Karen

Original Name : Kirsten Baker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Missy

Original Name : Shannon Terhune

Gender : Female

Character Name : Alma

Original Name : Vivian Bonnell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Airline Officer

Original Name : James Staley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Melinda Booke

Original Name : Bonnie Bartlett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lynn Neighbors

Original Name : Carol O'Leary

Gender : Female

Character Name : Geezer

Original Name : Ernest Misko

Gender : Male

Character Name : Newsman

Original Name : Buddy Kling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bunny

Original Name : Rene Lea

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bunny #2

Original Name : Becky Nelson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bunny #3

Original Name : Cheri Capps

Gender : Female

Character Name : Theatre Patron

Original Name : Walt Schlim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Charles Graffeo

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2024-07-22

**_The Southern California beach scene in the late 70s_** A nerdy guy from Chicago (Dennis Christopher) moves to the coast of SoCal where he makes friends with the owner of a local hangout (Seymour Cassel) and gets to stay at his house, but this annoys his college-age daughter (Glynnis O’Connor). In the meantime, the youth tries to fit in with the ‘hip’ surfers (John Calvin, John Fain and Jimmy Van Patten). Shot in October, 1977, but not released until early 1979, "California Dreaming" is a coming-of-age dramedy that takes Sam Elliott’s “Lifeguard” from a few years earlier and adds comedic touches. I wouldn’t relate this to those goofy 60’s beach flicks because it’s more realistic. People forget that the originator of the “beach party film” genre was 1959’s “Gidget” (the movie with Sandra Dee, not the TV series with Sally Field), which was a beach drama with moving depth and not zany at all. Sure, this one features a little amusing goofiness, but it’s mostly a believable story. Dorothy Tristan has a significant role as Duke’s ex-wife, Fay. She was director John Hancock’s wife from 1975 until her death in 2023. Speaking of John, he helmed the artistic “Let's Scare Jessica to Death” from the early 70s, so he wasn’t exactly a slouch. This obviously influenced one of the greatest coming-of-age flicks, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” released a few years later. It’s not as good, but not far off either. It’s superior to the overrated “Back to the Beach” (1987). While the movie has a warm, amusing heart underneath it all, there’s some top nudity and sexual talk/situations corresponding to the milieu. So stay away if that offends you. It runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot at Avila Beach, California, which is 195 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Other nearby locations include: Morro Bay to the north and the theater in San Luis Obispo, which is just southeast of Morro Bay; meanwhile studio work was done in Los Angeles. GRADE: B-/B