Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile 20 years old

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.

Credits

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile Cast

Name Character
Elvis Costello He was 50, now 70 years old
Jeff Bridges He was 54, now 74 years old
Paul McCartney He was 62, now 82 years old
David Anderle He was 67, 77 years old when he died
George Martin He was 78, 84 years old when he died
Van Dyke Parks He was 61, now 81 years old
Brian Wilson He was 62, now 82 years old as Himself
Natalie Imbruglia She was 29, now 49 years old
Hal Blaine He was 75, 90 years old when he died
The Who was 40, now 60 years old as Himself

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile Crew

Name Department
David Leaf as Director. He was 52 (now 72) years old Directing
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile poster
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile (20 years)

Plus: Brian Wilson Presents Smile Live!

  • Release day: Tuesday, October 05, 2004
  • Runtime: 109 minutes