SF DocFest 2024: The Donn of Tiki

OPENING NIGHT FILM

Filmmakers in attendance

The life of Donn Beach has been re-written, embellished, and at times flat-out fabricated. But that is what happens with legends; their lore is always better. The same is true of the humble Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, maybe born in Texas, maybe born in Louisiana, but born nonetheless to become the man who brought Tiki culture to the states. The Donn of Tiki attempts to separate fact from fabrication with the help of modern Tiki legends like Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and Smuggler’s Cove owner Martin Cate, people who knew him, historians, and recently resurfaced audio recordings of Donn himself, as we explore the legacy he left behind. Mixing fun retro-style animation and live action interviews, the film reveals the man behind the myth, all the while exploring the side alleys of Donn’s life that included affairs, mob connections, and all sorts of nefarious activities. Thanks to Don the Beachcomber café, drinks like The Zombie became a standard for modern cocktail culture. Watching this movie is like listening to a Jimmy Buffett song… but instead of a “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” it is a “Fruity Drink That Will Get You Wasted.”