In 2024, the long-thought-lost 16mm reels of Cameron Crowe’s first film ‘Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party’ . His directorial debut, has been unearthed from the archives, restored, and is getting a theatrical rerelease on October 17 & 20 at theatres across the country.
Now more than 40 years later, this cult classic, era-defining documentary has been fully restored and will make its debut on the big screen. Follow Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers in their ‘80s golden era of completing and touring ‘Long After Dark’, including the filming of the iconic “You Got Lucky” music video.
The documentary, which surrounded the making and release of the band’s 1982 album “Long After Dark”, only aired once on MTV. “Heartbreakers Beach Party” occupies a special place in my heart,” says Crowe. “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers leaned into the making of the film with a kind of hilarious music-filled honesty that still feels fresh forty years later. It was also my first experience as a director. Thanks to Adria Petty and the Petty Estate, along with our co-filmmakers Danny Bramson, Phil Savenick, Doug Dowdle and Greg Mariotti, I’m so happy we’re bringing it back in all its reckless glory. The fact that it was yanked from MTV after only one airing at 2:00 a.m. just shows that it was indeed an outlandish feast for fans in all the best ways.
The restored version of “Heartbreakers Beach Party features footage of Petty and the band which didn’t make the original cut.
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