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:

It's "Beach Party" all over again...but this time with MUSCLE! The swingin'est surf and sand you ever saw!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the debut of music prodigy "Little" Stevie Wonder, who receives an "introducing" credit.

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Goofs

During the fight scene, one of the surfer dudes manages to knock a muscle guy through a wall in front of a yellow surfboard and red-topped table. When Candy starts dancing, the second guy she "bumps" goes through that same, now undamaged, wall in front of the same yellow surfboard and red-topped table.

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Quotes

Cappy: Now, children of the surf, do you think there are seven wonders of the world? Well, here's the eighth: Little Stevie Wonder.
Little Stevie Wonder: [singing] Everybody come on yeah yeah clap your hands, Ah ha Yeah, Everybody come on yeah yeah yeah yeah clap your hands, Yeah, Come on and clap your hands, Stomp your feet, Get with the rhythm of happy street, 'Cause that's my street, happy street...

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Crazy Credits

Candy does her 'Whammy' on the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Drive-in Movie Memories (2001)

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Soundtracks

Muscle Bustle
Lyrics and Music by Roger Christian, Gary Usher and Brian Wilson
Performed by Donna Loren and Dick Dale

User Reviews

Losing Some of its Zipper

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello witness the invasion of their beach - by a troupe of "Muscle Men" being trained by Don Rickles (as Jack Fanny). Buddy Hackett (as S. Z. Matts) wants "Muscle Man" Peter Lupus (using the name Rock Stevens) for his wealthy client Luciana Paluzzi (as Judy), but she gets a hankerin' for Frankie...

The soundtrack songs are a highlight, appropriately sounding like Brian Wilson's Beach Boys; moreover, Frankie and Annette are joined by Dick Dale and Stevie Wonder. Morey Amsterdam should have been retained as a series regular. The Eric Von Zipper motorcycle gang is missing. The regular players are still fresh, but the elements are not up to par, relatively speaking. It's a fair "Beach Party" film; obviously, it's not as good as the first.

*** Muscle Beach Party (3/25/64) William Asher ~ Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Don Rickles

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