Beach Party (1963)

"Nothin' is greater than the sand, surf n' salt air,
Unrack our boards just as soon as we get there!
Stack 'em in the sand while they're breaking just right,
Yeah, we're surfin' all day and we're swingin' all night!
Vacation is here! Beach Party tonight!"

The Story: 

Frankie's (Frankie Avalon) got it all planned out: even his prudish brunette sweetheart Dolores (Annette Funicello) can't say no when he's got her all to himself after some fun in the sun at a romantic beach house. A foolproof plan, indeed... until he carries her across the threshold into their little hideaway and trips on a pile of tired, partied-out teenage guys. A step ahead of him once again, Dolores has invited all their friends to the beach for some surf, sun and maybe a little s-e-x for everyone except poor Frankie. A playful jealousy arises between the two lovebirds and they begin using their attractions for other guys and gals against the other, with Frankie falling for the horny, Hungarian hostess, Ava (Eva Six) and Dolores taking a shine to the much older Professor Sutwell (Robert Cummings). Sutwell is an anthropologist studying developmental biology, in lame man's terms, he's basically studying the mating rites of sixties California girls and boys. Will Frankie and Dee-Dee go their separate ways or will Frankie finally say those three big words that every girl weeps to hear and every guy weeps to say?

The Review:

Beach Party is the prodigious teen film that started them all, taking themes from 1959's Gidget and making the beach the hootin' place to be. Such a modest production by drive-in deity American International Pictures turned silver screens upside down as people flocked to theatres to watch a lovers quarrel so light-hearted that one never believes for a microsecond that Frankie & Annette's characters will ever part ways. The quirky conundrum of it all is that it is Frankie who seemingly loves Dolores even more than she loves him. Frankie's use of Ava's flaunting sexuality to dig at Dolores is nothing compared to the genuine liking she takes to the professor who she admits to in her own bubble gum way that she's ready to get down in the sand in any way he'd like. Her relationship with the spying, picture snapping Sutwell is kind of awkward to watch at best - we know Sutwell isn't going to go there, but the guy's creepy by association. Especially since he's got a hot little assistant, Marianne (Dorothy Malone) whose advances have fallen on def ears for years.

Surf and song scenes keep the action flowing between the melodrama, with the film's theme song being the best of the bunch. For those weary of musicals, fear not as the songs aren't overbearing and the surf rock itself is always catchy. True to form, with the fast rock soundtrack comes a lot of shakin' hips and bouncin' boobies as bikini clad women are always eager to send the boys into fits. Roaring laughs aren't aplenty (there are a handful), but a smile never leaves your face. The goal seems to be keeping the viewer in time with the overall tone; which is to make everything fun without ever missing a beat and without trying too hard. Between excellent cinematography, cool sunsets, Dick Dale tunes, Wild One parody and good-natured teen love, one doesn't really mind the fact that plot is so cookie cutter and outcome so predictable. In a strange way, we want it to be predictable. Don't worry, be happy and be innocent - but not really. That's Beach Party in a nutshell.

My favorite scene in the film has to be when Frankie trips on a friend on the way into the beach house and is incensed at all his boys that have made the trip, only to do a complete 180 when he seconds later stumbles through a sheet dividing the room and into Heaven - a dozen pajama clad girls beating him with pillows. It's so simple. American International promotes itself in the picture, including when Sutwell's assistant tells him the controversial subject matter of his book will never be released, but to keep hold of the picture rights, which AIP is sure to snap up. Closing off the film is a memorable, hammy cameo that will have hardcore AIP fans in hysterics. It seems like everyone is falling in love in Beach Party, including myself. Frankie loves Dolores, Marianne loves Sutwell and I love Ava! Sorry, Annette, but I like my women foreign, platinum blond and with a few miles on them. (Brett H.)

Tale of the Tape:

7 out of a possible 10 inches.

Image Gallery: 

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