Muscle Beach Party (1964)

Local beach-goers find that their beach has been taken over by a businessman training a stable of body builders.

Director:

William Asher

Writers:

William Asher (story), Robert Dillon (screenplay)

Stars:

Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Self
Candy Johnson	...	Candy
Peter Lupus	...	Flex Martian (as Rock Stevens)
Valora Noland	...	Animal
Delores Wells	...	Sniffles
Donna Loren	...	Donna
Morey Amsterdam	...	Cappy
Stevie Wonder	...	Self (as Little Stevie Wonder)

Storyline

Julie, a wealthy contessa managed by S.Z. Matts, wants muscle-man Flex Martin, trained by Jack Fanny, for her own - until she meets Frankie. Frankie's girl Dee Dee gets rightfully jealous and plans to avenge the Frankie-stealing contessa. Mr. Strangdour appears briefly as the king of the strongmen.

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Plot Keywords:

1960s | teensploitation | psychotronic film | camp | campy | 

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Taglines:

Hear 8 new swim hits!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only film in the Beach Party series not to feature Eric Von Zipper and his motorcycle gang, the Rats.

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Goofs

A helicopter is hovering over the beach. It is shown equipped with pontoons but its shadow clearly and repeatedly shows a helicopter with metal rails for landing gear.

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Quotes

Johnny: You better listen to me and listen to me good. You want to play in the big time? That's great. But, don't pull us in. Don't do us any favors; because, those waves are too big. You get wiped out, you swallow a lot of salt water.
Frankie: Not me, Johnny. Not me. I can ride it on top the whole way.
Johnny: That's cool. But, count us out. You ride it alone, huh. Solid gold surf boards don't float to well.

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Crazy Credits

The producers extend special thanks to Mr. Peter Lorre for his contribution to this film as "Mr. Strangdour" soon to be seen in "BIKINI BEACH"

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Connections

Referenced in WKRP in Cincinnati: Filthy Pictures: Part 1 (1980)

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Soundtracks

Happy Street
Lyrics and Music by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner
Performed by Stevie Wonder

User Reviews

If there were only three movies ever made -- say, "Muscle Beach Party," "Problem Child," and "Teen Wolf 2" -- this film would definitely be the greatest film of all time.

Perhaps unappreciated in its time, William Asher's 1964 saga about the tribulations of living jobless and care-free on California's sunny coast, surfing whenever "Surf's up," and dancing for no apparent reason at all (whether it be on the beach or in some restaurant), really captures teen angst during the sixties. Frankie Avalon shines as "Frankie," the glossy-haired, young, ambitious, and maybe a little naive, leader of the beach gang. His counterpart, "Dee Dee," played by Annette Funicello, gave an Oscar-caliber performance. Through a heartbreaking scene that opens with Frankie surfing at night, Dee Dee loses Frankie to an older, richer woman. During the entire film, when I wasn't laughing hysterically at the shear absurdity or chuckling over the image of a producer actually signing on to such golden garbage, I was cheering for Annette. Why Frankie ever decided to ditch his one true love is a mystery. Also noteworthy is Don Rickles' performance as a man-breeder, Buddy Hackett's role as the sensible accountant, and an introductory appearance by "Little" Stevie Wonder. This film comes highly recommended.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Muscle Beach Party

Filming Locations:

Mae West's beach house, Paradise Cove

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alta Vista Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1