BEACH PARTY

Beach Party
American International Pictures (AIP), 1963, Color, 98 minutes, **½
Premiere release July, 1963
General release August, 1963

The first entry in AIP's beach comedy series stars Bob Cummings as an anthropologist studying teenage mating habits who picks Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as his subjects. With Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper.

The "Beach" movies of the early-mid 1960s are not exactly what one might refer to as great movies, but they are often kinda fun, and they usually feature some songs, singers and actors that you don't get to see very often otherwise. Watch them for the performers and the music that has been all but forgotten!

Produced by: James H. Nicholson and Lou Rusoff
Executive Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff
Associate Producer: Robert Dillon
Production Supervisor: Bartlett A. Carré
Directed by: William Asher
Written by: Lou Rusoff
Music Coordinator: Al Simms
Music Score by: Les Baxter
Songs: "Beach Party," "Swingin' and a-Surfin'," "Secret Surfin' Spot"
by Gary Usher and Roger Christian
"Promise Me Anything (Give Me Love)," "Treat Him Nicely"
by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner
"Don't Stop Now" by Bob Marcucci and Russ Faith
Art Director: Daniel Haller
Set Decorator: Harry Reif
Costumes: Marjorie Corso
Makeup: Carlie Taylor
Hairdresser: Scotty Rackin
Sound: Don Rush
Photographed by: Kay Norton
Filmed in Panavision and Pathecolor
Film Editor: Homer Powell

Cast: Bob Cummings [Professor Sutwell], Dorothy Malone [Marianne], Frankie Avalon [Frankie], Annette Funicello [Dolores], Morey Amsterdam [Cappy], Harvey Lembeck [Eric Von Zipper], Eva Six [Ava], John Ashley [Ken], Jody McCrea [Deadhead], Dick Dale and the Del Tones [Themselves], Andy Romano (J.D.), Jerry Brutsche, Bob Harvey, John Macchia, Alberta Nelson, Linda Rogers [The Ratz and The Mice], David Landfield [Ed], Valora Noland [Rhonda], Bobby Payne [Tom], Dolores Wells [Sue], Roger Bacon [Tour Guide], Pam Colbert, Meredith MacRae, Lorie Summers, Luree Nicholson (aka Luree Holmes), Donna Russell, Laura Nicholson [Beach Girls], John Fain, Michael Nader, John Beach, Eddie Garner, Mickey Dora [Beach Boys], Vincent Price [Big Daddy], and introducing Candy Johnson ["Miss Perpetual Motion" Dancer], Duane Ament [Big Boy], Yvette Vickers, Sharon Garrett [Yoga Girls]

Musical Program: [0:01] Beach Party (sung by Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon with Dick Dale and The Del Tones offscreen); [0:13] Secret Surfin' Spot (sung by Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [0:19] Swingin' and a-Surfin' (sung by Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [0:26] Don't Stop Now (sung by Frankie Avalon with Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, danced by Frankie Avalon, Candy Johnson, Eva Six and the Beach Girls); [0:56] Treat Him Nicely (sung by Annette Funicello); [1:00] Swingin' and a-Surfin' (reprised by the Beach Girls and the Beach Boys); [1:05] Promise Me Anything (Give Me Love) (sung by Dorothy Malone along with Annette Funicello on record player); [1:33] Don't Stop Now (reprised by Frankie Avalon with Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, danced by Frankie Avalon, Eva Six and the Beach Girls); [1:34] Treat Him Nicely (reprised by Annette Funicello); [1:34] Swingin' and a-Surfin' (reprised by Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [1:35] Beach Party (sung by Frankie Avalon with Dick Dale and The Del Tones offscreen, danced by Candy Johnson onscreen behind end credits)