"Sunset Beach" (1997) TV series 1997-1999

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Creators:

Josh Griffith
Robert Guza Jr.
Charles Pratt Jr.

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

6 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Having discovered her fiancé Tim Truman kissing another woman, Meg Cummings leaves her home in Kansas...

Plot Keywords:

Beach | Revenge | Lifeguard | Pier | Masked Killer

Awards:

3 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Susan Ward	...	Meg Cummings (414 episodes, 1997-1999)
Clive Robertson	...	Ben Evans / ... (398 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sarah Buxton	...	Annie Douglas / ... (372 episodes, 1997-1999)
Eddie Cibrian	...	Cole Deschanel / ... (369 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sam Behrens	...	Gregory Richards (368 episodes, 1997-1999)
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Olivia Richards (348 episodes, 1997-1999)
Hank Cheyne	...	Ricardo Torres (304 episodes, 1997-1999)
Timothy Adams	...	Casey Mitchum (275 episodes, 1997-1999)
Vanessa Dorman	...	Caitlin Richards / ... (266 episodes, 1997-1998)
Randy Spelling	...	Sean Richards (264 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jason Winston George	...	Michael Bourne (263 episodes, 1997-1999)
Priscilla Garita	...	Gabi Martinez / ... (258 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sherri Saum	...	Vanessa Hart (255 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kathleen Noone	...	Bette Katzenkazrahi (234 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dax Griffin	...	Tim Truman (227 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dominique Jennings	...	Virginia Harrison (204 episodes, 1997-1999)

Runtime:

60 min (751 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Lesley-Anne Down's character was originally going to be named Sheila, but Down explained to Aaron Spelling that Sheila is a derogatory Australian slang term for a woman and might cause problems with overseas sales. She suggested Olivia or Stephanie as alternatives, so the character became Olivia Harrow Richards.

Quotes:

Gregory Richards: I had forgotten what it feels like
[to parent a helpless infant]
Gregory Richards: . Sean and Caitlin aren't helpless anymore.
Annie Douglas: Well, Sean isn't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 16th Annual Soap Opera Awards (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

We Belong

A most enjoyable escapism

Upon viewing Sunset Beach for the first time, I like most others viewing this show will be instantly thrown by the garish, bright colours allowed by the particular camera lens used.

Add to this the masses of fantastically healthy-appearing, bronzed characters with their all too perfectly sculpted facial and bodily features and I would defy anyone not to be hypnotized by this show.

Having seen "The Bold and the Beautiful", "The Young and the Restless", and "Melrose Place", after initially having been hypnotized for a brief 5 minutes or so I began to see this programme with my active-mind. Rational thought took over and the bad memories of the aforementioned soaps began to taint Sunset Beach. However, upon viewing only one episode, it was clearly apparent to me that this was special.

For me what makes this such effective, enjoyable escapism is the acting performances from most of the cast. Sure, the acting can be "Over The Top" (meaning unnecessary) at times most of the cast are actually very good. One of the most impressive of the cast in my own opinion is Peter Barton as the bad Police officer Eddie Connors. Barton's manipulative, devious yet likable delivery gives this role fantastic credence. Barton is followed closely by fellow Police officer (actually detective, hem hem) Hank Cheyne as Ricardo Torres. Ricardo is the heroic sort who you find it difficult to dislike. Cheyne symbolises truth and honesty, however there is a great deal of emotion beneath this.

Most impressive of all however - and directly opposed to the Torres character in the sense that there is almost no emotion shown - is Sam Behrens portrayal of successful business man, meddling father and often sinister Gregory Richards. Behrens's delivery of the debonair, amazingly practical, driven and successful Richards is almost always utterly captivating. In fact the entire Richards family have the bulk of the best story lines in the first year of Sunset Beach, each one is fantastically delivered by Behrens.

If ever there is a moment coming where you feel that Richards will have to show some emotion, chances are he will not. When a rare moment of emotion, other than the slightly frequent anger/impatience/intolerance is displayed by Behrens it is quite something to behold.

Therefore, as the characters are so well represented, the story lines deserve a lot of credit.

In my opinion the first 10 months of Sunset Beach was most enjoyable. However that fantastic scenery of the beautiful beach and its surrounding domestic habitat's, coupled with the bold story lines and mainly great characters elevates Sunset Beach above any other daytime soap EVER.