Carlo Cofield vacations to Southern California, where he quickly becomes immersed in the easy-going local culture, getting entangled in two beachside romances.
Cinematography
Philip Lathrop captures Malibu like a neon fever dream you want to live in.
Acting
Sharon Tate's Malibu—barely speaks, utterly iconic, devastating final shot.
Direction
Mackendrick's last film, and he clearly hates every character. Delicious.
Director
Alexander Mackendrick
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mackendrick called it 'the only film I ever made that I actively dislike'—he was recovering from a difficult divorce and later taught it as an example of compromised vision.
This is essentially the beach movie genre eating itself alive; it parodies the Frankie & Annette films while secretly wanting to be them, much like Carlo himself.
US
