Ski Party (1965)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Alan Rafkin

Writer:

Robert Kaufman (writer)

Release Date:

30 June 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

The COOLEST way to keep warm at 20 degrees below!

Plot:

On a college ski weekend, Todd and Craig pretend to be Jane and Nora, a pair of English girls. Their reasons...

Plot Keywords:

Skiing | Cross Dressing | Ski Resort | Independent Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Frankie Avalon	...	Todd Armstrong
Dwayne Hickman	...	Craig Gamble
Deborah Walley	...	Linda Hughes
Yvonne Craig	...	Barbara Norris
Robert Q. Lewis	...	Mr. Pevney
Bobbi Shaw	...	Nita Elksberg
Aron Kincaid	...	Freddie Carter
Steven Rogers	...	Gene (as Steve Rogers)
Patti Chandler	...	Janet
Michael Nader	...	Bobby (as Mike Nader)
Salli Sachse	...	Indian
John Boyer	...	John
Mikki Jamison	...	Mikki
Mickey Dora	...	Mickey
Mary Hughes	...	Mary

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Idaho, USA

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

Frequently referred to as an entry in the "Beach Party" movie series, lead actor Frankie Avalon, producing studio American-International, and a similar style plot targeting the same young target audience are all that this film has in common with the others. Avalon's character has a completely different name (Todd Armstrong instead of Frankie with no last name, not even in How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), which had the character serving in the military), working against the connection. Series leading lady Annette Funicello does have an uncredited cameo, but clearly not in her regular role of Dolores/Dee Dee.

Movie Connections:

Follows Bikini Beach (1964)

Soundtrack:

Paintin' the Town

Come Like It's Hot

Oddly witless, and ultimately wretched attempt to transfer American International's successful "Beach Party" franchise to the slopes. Despite the setting, there are plenty of swimsuit scenes. The most interesting story development is bosom buddies Dwayne Hickman (as Nora) and Frankie Avalon (as Jane) assuming "drag" roles, as a couple of mannish English women. The shtick might have worked if the duo were assumed to be transvestites, instead.

The highlight occurs near the beginning, when the great Lesley Gore performs her hit "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows" on the bus; it's excellent, as a stand-alone video. The great James Brown performs "I Got You (I Feel Good)" later on; his dancing is exceptional, but the song is a re-production. Watch for one of the Famous Flames to pull an article of clothing out of the way, as Mr. Brown dances around. Annette Funicello has an amusing cameo, as a sex education instructor. The woman directly left of your screen, during Robert Q. Lewis' "I'm a Girl" scene, looks like Doris Day. Dick Miller drives a cab.

"We're pinned," declares Mr. Hickman after a date (off-screen) with hunky blond Aron Kincaid (as Freddie). "A pretty mean thing to do," indeed. The writers should have considered asking Ms. Gore for creative input on the resolution of that storyline.