A Day at the Beach

Here is a film we have been searching out for some time, this almost-forgotten (and once actually thought lost) film by Roman Polanski (writer/co-director) paints a cruel portrait of an alcoholic uncle who takes his niece on an alcohol fuelled day out in a barren beach town during sporadic rain bursts, where, instead of tourists are an abandoned lot of outdoor and indoor cafes or curio shop or liquor stores or pub owners wherein he gets more intoxicated. This was the film Roman Polanski was making in England during the summer of 1969. His duties as director being cut short due to the horrific murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, at the hands of Charlies Manson’s acolytes. The film was completed by first time filmmaker Simon Hesera. A Day at the Beach was practically hidden away, shelved for more than 40 years, too painful a reminder of the tragic outcome of the night of August 9, 1969 at 10066 Cielo Dr, Beverly Hills.