The Continental Twist

This flick is an absolute howl! Louis Prima's club scene is being muscled out by a mercenary TWISTING GANG. Yes. The gang is being paid to come to his shows and NOT TWIST. They're paid to sit at the tables and look bored, and are not allowed to buy drinks. What's driving this youth gang to such extremes? They want the money so they can buy matching "Twist Club" jackets. Seriously. You can see how the plot would naturally progress right into international art theft and a United Nations Twist Party at a wealthy socialite ball, with Prima supplying the live band. Having trouble making that leap? Here's what you need to know: Louis Prima is primarily a pop star. He used jazz, big band swing, rock and anything else he could get his paws on to provide entertainment and stay current with the trends in music. The twist craze was being jumped on by everybody at the time, and Prima was a natural. Highlights of this flick are actual live performances done by Prima and the band--lots of them. June Wilkinson as his romantic interest is hot, although she was never actually a Playboy playmate--she just appeared in the magazine several times. Google her images and you'll come across at least two huge reasons to see this film (wink). I love Sam Butera, but his nearly whiteface (yes he's white but you'll see what I mean) rendering of Chantilly Lace is perhaps the most painful musical interlude in film history. I really wish Louis had done a flick with the Bowery Boys in a haunted house setting, because this film suggests the potential of such a pairing. This flick will make you Twist all Night, one way or another. Me? I love this film.