Bikini Beach
American International Pictures (AIP), 1964, Color, 100 minutes, ***
Released July, 1964
When a wealthy newspaperman wants to turn the local beach into a senior citizen's home, everyone's at arms. What's Annette gonna do -- not just about this situation, but about choosing between a British pop star ("Potato Bug" [in a rather obvious spoof of The Beatles]) and her jealous boyfriend (Frankie Avalon)? Don Rickles, Little Stevie Wonder, The Pyramids, Harvey Lembeck and Keenan Wynn star.
One of the weaker entries in the Beach series movies. But with this kind of cast horsing around, there's bound to be some good moments -- and there are. One bright spot is seeing Little Stevie Wonder in one of his earliest appearances onscreen!
Produced by: James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff
Co-Producer: Anthony Carras
Production Supervisor: Joe Wonder
Directed by: William Asher
Assistant Director: Clark Paylow
Second Unit Director: Anthony Carras
Screenplay by: William Asher & Leo Townsend and Robert Dillon
Music Score by: Les Baxter
Music Coordinator: Al Simms
"Bikini Beach," "Love's a Secret Weapon," "Gimme Your Love, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," "How About That," "Because You're You," "This Time It's Love," "Happy Feelin' Dance and Shout" by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner; "Bikini Drag," "Record Run" by Gary Usher, Roger Christian; "Gotcha Where I Wantcha" by Jack Merrill, Red Gilson
Choreography by: Tom Mahoney
Technical Advisers: Tommy Ivo, Von Deming (West Coast Go-Kart Champion)
Art Direction: Daniel Haller
Set Decoration: Harry Reif
Costumes by: Marjorie Corso
Makeup: Ted Coodley
Hairdresser: Eve Newing
Sound: Don Rush
Photography by: Floyd Crosby
Special Effects by: Roger George, Joe Zonar
Filmed in PanaVision, in Pathecolor
Film Editors: Fred Feitshans, Eve Newman
Cast: Frankie Avalon [Frankie / Potato Bug], Annette Funicello [Dee Dee], Martha Hyer [Vivien Clements], Don Rickles [Big Drag], Harvey Lembeck [Eric Von Zipper], John Ashley [Johnny], Jody McCrea [Deadhead], Candy Johnson [Candy], Danielle Aubrey [Lady Bug], Meredith MacRae [Animal], Dolores Wells [Sniffles], Paul Smith, James Westerfield [Cops in Patrol Car], Donna Loren [Donna], Little Stevie Wonder [Himself], The Pyramids [Themselves], The Exciters Band [Themselves (Candy Johnson's band)], Janos Prohaska [Clyde, the Monkey], Timothy Carey [South Dakota Slim], Val Warren [The Teenage Werewolf Monster], Keenan Wynn [Harvey Huntington Honeywagon], Mary Kovacs, Renie Riano [Old Ladies], Sheila Stephenson, Bonnie Dayton, Alberta Nelson, Linda Rogers, John Macchia, Bob Harvey, Andy Romano, Jerry Brutsche, Allen Fife [Rat Pack], Guy Hemric, Gary Usher, Roger Christian, Frank Alesia, Johnny Fain, Mickey Dora, Duane King, Mike Nader, Ned Wynn, Ed Garner, Bud Kemp, Jay Mullin, Luree Holmes, Darlene Lucht, Mary Hughes, Salli Sachse, Linda Benson, Nancy Long, Linda Bent, Patti Chandler, Julie O'Connor [Surfers], Boris Karloff [Cameo as The Art Dealer]
Musical Program: [0:00] Bikini Beach [sung by the Beach Girls and the Beach Boys]; [0:09] Love's a Secret Weapon (sung by Donna Loren, danced by the Beach Girls and the Beach Boys); [0:18] Gimme Your Love, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (sung by Frankie Avalon as Potato Bug); [0:47] Record Run (sung and played by The Pyramids); [0:51] How About That (sung by Potato Bug with The Pyramids, sung and danced by Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello); [0:56] Gotcha Where I Wantcha (sung and played by The Pyramids, Watusi danced by Candy Johnson and Janos Prohaska); [0:59] Because You're You (sung by Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon as they walk along the beach in the moonlight); [1:14] This Time It's Love (sung by Annette Funicello strolling on the beach in the moonlight); [1:35] Happy Feelin' Dance and Shout (sung by Little Stevie Wonder with The Pyramids); [1:37] Gotcha Where I Wantcha (sung and played by The Pyramids [off-screen], danced by Candy Johnson and Renie Riano (or is it Mary Kovacs?) on-screen behind end credits); There are also two instrumentals used in dance scenes: Penetration (instrumental, excerpt played by The Pyramids); Bikini Drag
Tankinis modern term of bikinis
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