Tab Hunter

Fabian and Shelley Fabares are among the '60s stars surfing their way to paradise along the famous beaches on Hawaii's North Shore. A group of friends go to Hawaii in order to practice surfing, their favorite sport. But this is not all they do there - they also find love... —Volker Boehm Many of the best surfers head to Hawaii for the two weeks around Christmas as it is considered the time of the biggest waves on the islands, especially at Waimea Bay. Among those that have descended here this year, which promises to have even bigger waves than usual due to an approaching storm, are Malibu based friends Jody Wallis, Chase Colton and Ralph "Steamer" Lane, who know they will be challenged by the Hawaiian surf, let alone those at Waimea Bay. Before the big surf hits Waimea, they meet up with other surfers at nearby beaches. They find that there is competitive mentality among the surfers, not only on who is the best surfer, but who has the greatest overall bravado. The competition is sometimes friendly and sometimes not so friendly. The biggest competition is to become king of Waimea, which requires not only surfing skill but moxie. Although they didn't come in search of it, they also find romance. Steamer, for who surfing is only a casual past-time while he works his way through life, is attracted to Lily Kilua, an islander. They have to hide the fact of him being a surfer from her protective mother, who believes surfers are nothing but trouble, much like Lily's absent father. Wealthy Chase, who always takes the most traditional path, hooks up with Augusta Poole, a mainlander visiting for Christmas. Their relationship is despite their less than friendly initial meeting. Augie's adventurous mentality is the exact opposite of Chase's, the two who will have to find the right balance. And Jody, the best surfer of the three who considers himself a full time surfer in part because he is running away from everything else in life, hooks up with Augie's friend, the staid Brie Matthews. Brie tries to instill a sense of responsibility into Jody's life path. —Huggo Surfers Steamer Lane (Tab Hunter), Jody Wallis (Fabian), and Chase Colton (Peter Brown) come to Oahu Island, Hawaii to ride the world's biggest waves and compete against surfers from all over the world. Steamer falls in love with Lily Kilua (Susan Hart), whose mother objects to the romance because she considers surfers to be "beach bums." Jody falls in love with Brie Matthews (Shelley Fabares) who convinces him that he can be more than a surf bum if he wishes. The stuffy Chase falls in love with fun-loving Augie Poole (Barbara Eden), who teaches him to enjoy life. Jody continues the sport despite his mounting fear after he is nearly killed while surfing. To make a Hawaiian legend connected with bringing in the big waves come true, Chase makes a dangerous 80-foot dive into a rocky pool. The big waves come and the competition begins.

An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommend soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916. After a cavalry charge during the 1916 U.S. "war against Pancho Villa," unheroic awards officer Tom Thorn (who is obsessed with the nature of courage) recommends 4 men for the Medal of Honor. He is ordered back to Cordura with them...and prisoner Adelaide Geary, gringo who sheltered the enemy. On the arduous journey, Thorn's heroes show a different face, and Thorn may have one last chance to prove he's no coward. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu> In 1916, the American Army is hunting Pancho Villa down in Mexico. The awards officer Major Thomas Thorn is assigned as observer in the battlefield to seek out heroes in the regiment of veteran Colonel Rogers during the attack to Ojos Azules villa to be nominated to the Medal of Honor with Pvt. Andrew Hetherington that is riding with him. The villa is owned by the American Adelaide Geary, who welcomes Pancho Villa's men after their raids. However, Colonel Rogers commands the attack and defeats them in Ojos Azules. Thorn identifies acts of heroism by Lt. Fowler, Sgt. Chawk, Cpl. Trubee and Pvt. Renziehausen during the charge. When Colonel Rogers learns that was not nominated by Thorn for the Medal of Honor, he is furious with Thorn. Rogers unsuccessfully tries to change his position reminding Thorn that he was protected by him from an investigation of cowardice in respect to his father. Thorn rides with the five soldiers and Geary, who is accused of giving hospitality to Pancho Villa's men to Candura. Along the difficulties of their journey, Thorn researches the feelings of the men during their heroic acts and learns that one heroic act does not turn men into heroes. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Around the turn of the 20th century, during a harsh northern California winter, members of a ranching family are squabbling among themselves while the two oldest sons go hunting for a panther that is killing their livestock. A family saga: In a stunning mountain valley ranch setting near Aspen, complex and dangerous family dynamics play out against the backdrop of the first big snowstorm of winter and an enormous panther with seemingly mythical qualities which is killing cattle. An arrogant, pitiless son (Robert Mitchum) and a rigid pharisaic mother side against a moral eldest son and and a defeated alcoholic father while the youngest son tries to lay low, hoping against hope to persuade his family to allow him to marry a girl he has brought to visit. The girl however draws venomous condemnation and the two elder brothers set out in the midst of a violent snowstorm on a dangerous mission to kill the deadly panther. —Jasha While Curt Bridges tracks down the panther that killed his brother Arthur, his family argues and bickers over whether younger brother Harold should marry a much-despised neighbor girl. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>