Back to 1976: LIFEGUARD
by Heath Holland 1970s Sam Elliott is every girl’s summer dream. In the iconic stoner comedy Dazed and Confused , we meet a character named David Wooderson, played by Matthew McConaughey. Wooderson is in his early twenties but still socializes and dates high school students. Even though he should be moving into another phase of his life, he can’t let go of his former glories and face the reality of stepping into adulthood. Have you ever wondered where Wooderson might have been ten years later? In a weird sort of way, 1976’s Lifeguard gives us the answer. Sam Elliott ( Frogs, Road House ), a serious contender for the most macho man ever award, plays Rick, a man in his thirties who spends his days as a lifeguard at a southern California beach. He’s not just any lifeguard, though; he’s the best of the best, saving lives, solving problems, and serving as a proto-Hasselhoff ideal. He’s seen and done it all and is now a veteran of the scene, commanding the respect of the sun bathers and