Muscle Beach Party

Muscle Beach Party
Alta Vista / American International Pictures, 1964, Color, 94 minutes, **½
Released March, 1964

Surf's up! Frankie and Annette sure have their hands full in this one, what with gym owner Don Rickles and his musclemen trying to take over the beach, lovesick heiress Luciana Paluzzi trying to snare Frankie, and Little Stevie Wonder stopping by to perform "Happy Street." With Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett.

OK, it may not be one of the best movies around, but it's fun and entertaining. How often do you get to see Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Morey Amsterdam and Peter Lorre in the same movie? Not to mention Little Stevie Wonder in his first feature film appearance. Even the muscle men are funny. Light fare, but entertaining.
Produced by: James H. Nicholson and Robert Dillon
Executive Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff
Production Supervisor: Joe Wonder
Directed by: William Asher
Assistant Director: Clark Paylow
Screenplay by: Robert Dillon
Story by: Robert Dillon and William Asher
Music by: Les Baxter
Songs: "Muscle Beach Party," "Runnin' Wild," "Muscle Bustle," "My First Love," "Surfin' Woodie," "Surfer's Holiday" by Roger Christian, Gary Usher, Brian Wilson
Songs: "Happy Street," "A Girl Needs a Boy" by Guy Hemric, Jerry Styner
Muscle Mao Mao Dance Sequence Choreographed by John Monte, National Dance Director, Fred Astaire Studios
Music Coordinator: Al Simms
Art Director: Lucius Croxton
Set Decorator: Harry Reif
Costumes by: Marjorie Corso
Swim Suits: Rose Marie Reid
Makeup: Ted Coodley
Hairdresser: Betty Pedretti
Sound: Don Rush
Photographed by: Harold Wellman
Special Effects: Pat Dinga
Filmed in Panavision, Pathecolor
Film Editors: Eve Newman, Fred Feitshans

Cast: Frankie Avalon [Frankie], Annette Funicello [Dee Dee], Luciana Paluzzi [Julie], John Ashley [Johnny], Don Rickles [Jack Fanny], Peter Turgeon [Theodore], Jody McCrea [Deadhead], Dick Dale and The Del Tones [Themselves], Candy Johnson [Candy], Rock Stevens [Flex Martian], Valora Noland [Animal], Dolores Wells [Sniffles], Donna Loren [Donna], Bob Seven, Larry Scott, Steve Merjanian, Chester Yorton, Dan Haggerty, Gene Shuey, Gordon Case [Muscle Men], Alberta Nelson, Amedee Chabot [Muscle Girls], Duane Ament, Gary Usher, Guy Hemric, Roger Christian [Beach Boys], Luree Holmes, Laura Lynn, Lorie Summers, Darlene Lucht, Maureen O'Connor [Beach Girls], Mike Diffenderfer, Mike Nader, Ed Garner, Charles Hasley, Mickey Dora, John Fain, Bill Graham, Larry Shaw, Duane King, Butch Van Artsdalen [Surfer Boys], Linda Opie, Salli Sachse, Patricia Rane, Kathy Kessler, Mary Hughes, Linda Benson [Surfer Girls], Morey Amsterdam [Cappy], Little Stevie Wonder [Himself], Buddy Hackett [The Rich Business Manager], Peter Lorre [Mr. Strangdour]

Musical Program: [0:00] unidentified instrumental (comical music played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] Surfer's Holiday (sung by Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello with Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [0:36] A Girl Needs a Boy (sung by Annette Funicello); [0:41] A Girl Needs a Boy (sung by Frankie Avalon); [0:52] My First Love (sung and played by Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [0:54] Muscle Beach Party (sung and played by Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [0:56] unidentified instrumental (danced by Candy Johnson); [0:59] Runnin' Wild (sung by Frankie Avalon with Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [1:07] Muscle Bustle (sung by Donna Loren with Dick Dale and The Del Tones, danced by the surfer kids); [1:10] Surfin' Woodie (short excerpt sung by the Beach Kids); [1:16] Happy Street (sung by Little Stevie Wonder with Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [1:29] Runnin' Wild (reprised by Surfer Kids with Dick Dale and The Del Tones); [1:30] A Girl Needs a Boy (reprised by Annette Funicello); [1:31] Muscle Bustle (reprised by Donna Loren with Dick Dale and The Del Tones, danced by the surfer kids); [1:32] Happy Street (sung by Little Stevie Wonder, danced by Stevie and Candy Johnson behind end credits)