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Poster for Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile (2004)

★ 7.0/10 109 min Documentary, Music United States English
Director: David Leaf
Writer: David Leaf
Streaming: Not available
Plus: Brian Wilson Presents Smile Live!

Description

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 Self
Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine Self
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges Self
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello Self
Carol Kaye Self
George Martin
George Martin Self
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks Self

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