Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile Backdrop Blur
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile Poster

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile

"Plus: Brian Wilson Presents Smile Live!"

This film tells (using modern day interviews and archival footage and sound tapes) the story of how in 1967, while his band The Beach Boys triumphantly toured abroad, Brian Wilson was trying to push the boundaries of conventional pop music with a new follow-up to the Beach Boys' cutting-edge mega-hit, Pet Sounds. The new album was to be called "SMiLE". SMiLE pushed the envelope both musically and lyrically, and was supposed to out-do the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper record. But Brian wasn't able to sell the project to his band-mates when they returned. The project was shelved and Wilson's well-documented decline into depression, drug abuse, recluseness, and obesity had begun. Thirty-odd years later, Wilson announced that in 2004, SMiLE would be performed live in its entirety in London. This film tells the story of a damaged but healing artist bringing his greatest work to light.

Top Cast

  • Brian Wilson

    Brian Wilson

    Self

  • David Anderle

    David Anderle

    Self

  • Hal Blaine

    Hal Blaine

    Self

  • Jeff Bridges

    Jeff Bridges

    Self

  • Elvis Costello

    Elvis Costello

    Self

  • Carol Kaye

    Carol Kaye

    Self

  • George Martin

    George Martin

    Self

  • Van Dyke Parks

    Van Dyke Parks

    Self

  • Sylvie Simmons

    Sylvie Simmons

    Self

Overview

This film tells (using modern day interviews and archival footage and sound tapes) the story of how in 1967, while his band The Beach Boys triumphantly toured abroad, Brian Wilson was trying to push the boundaries of conventional pop music with a new follow-up to the Beach Boys' cutting-edge mega-hit, Pet Sounds. The new album was to be called "SMiLE". SMiLE pushed the envelope both musically and lyrically, and was supposed to out-do the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper record. But Brian wasn't able to sell the project to his band-mates when they returned. The project was shelved and Wilson's well-documented decline into depression, drug abuse, recluseness, and obesity had begun. Thirty-odd years later, Wilson announced that in 2004, SMiLE would be performed live in its entirety in London. This film tells the story of a damaged but healing artist bringing his greatest work to light.

Rating

7.0 / 10
9 Reviews
0 Popular

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