The 1979 Iconic Movie, Famous for Exposing the Horrors of the Vietnam War, Also Had an Enormous Impact on the Surfing Culture

Published 06/23/2023, 3:30 PM EDT

Exactly 44 years ago, a movie was made by one of the prime auteurs of Hollywood that changed the face of many aspects of America. The impact of the movie starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, and not least of all Robert Duvall, is felt even to this day, with fans quoting lines like ‘I love the smell of Napalm in the morning’ and ‘Charlie don’t surf’. Of both the lines spoken by Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore, the latter is the one which invoked surfing, and it made a huge impact in the sport, both in and out of the US.

In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola, riding high on the success of The Godfather, made a movie called ‘Apocalypse Now’. The movie is set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, where a US Army captain is tasked with carrying out the summary execution of a rogue Colonel. However, a surfing scene in the middle of the film is where several symbolisms are drawn.

How Apocalypse Now left an everlasting impact on everyone

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When Apocalypse Now was released in 1979, it definitely made a huge impact on cinema-loving audiences. The cast and crew have talked about how many people joined the military and how many left seeing the horrors of it. Therefore, it made a wave on both sides. Another scene that made a wave, was when Lieutenant Kilgore, played by Robert Duvall, lands on a remote Vietnamese island and rounds up the area as part of the command chain. Later, he and other officers also go surfing in the waters.

“Charlie don’t surf”, said Colonel Kilgore, and later, surfboards were being loaded into the helicopter when they realized they had to flee the place. But the small scene was enough to enamor a whole generation of surfers. As per Surfer Today magazine, it also stood for a nice juxtaposition, as a helicopter gunned down and destroyed a village and Kilgore ordered his men to surf the local waves.

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But the movie didn’t just have an impact on surfing for its onscreen scenes. Since the movie was almost entirely shot in the Philippines, which doubled up as Vietnam in the film, it created a huge boost in Filipino surfing after it was released.

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The movie unwittingly revolutionized surfing

Baler is a little fishing municipality in the Philippines, which is located 144 miles away from Manila. Owing to its coastal regions, tropical climate, and lush jungles, it served as the perfect location to recreate Vietnam. Several Filipino people, who were kids then, watched the shooting in an encapsulating manner. However, what truly engrossed them was watching several actors surfing in the middle of the shoot. As the crew left their surfboards behind after the shoot, these kids picked them up and started surfing.

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With one person teaching the other and so on and so forth, it soon started a wave of surfing culture in the Philippines. Charlie’s Point in Baler became a tourist spot, and 44 years down the line, surfing became the heart of the region, thanks to Apocalypse Now. Among its other legacies, Brando’s character inspired Nicholas Cage, besides Michael Jordan, who also inspired him to take a bold step in his career.

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Written by:

Tanmay Roy is a sports writer at EssentiallySports specializing in his coverage of the Olympics and other major American sporting events. His passion for sports was ignited by the early achievements of Michael Phelps, Pete Sampras, and John McEnroe. As a writer for EssentiallySports, Tanmay's articles have been recognized as Editor's Picks, showcasing his ability to craft engaging and thought-provoking stories.

Edited by:

Brandon Gabriel

The 1979 Iconic Movie, Famous for Exposing the Horrors of the Vietnam War, Also Had an Enormous Impact on the Surfing Culture

How Apocalypse Now left an everlasting impact on everyone

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The movie unwittingly revolutionized surfing