Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Frankie Avalon | ... | Dave Owens | |
Annette Funicello | ... | Jane Harris | |
Fabian | ... | Sonny Leander | |
Chill Wills | ... | Big Jaw Harris | |
Harvey Lembeck | ... | Charlie Bigg | |
Julie Parrish | ... | Martha | |
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Douglas Henderson | ... | Agent Hastings (as Doug Henderson) |
Baynes Barron | ... | Agent Bronson | |
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Sandy Reed | ... | The Announcer |
Mary Hughes | ... | Leander Fan | |
Salli Sachse | ... | Leander Fan | |
Patti Chandler | ... | Leander Fan | |
Jo Collins | ... | Leander Fan | |
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Karla Conway | ... | Leander Fan |
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Maria McBane | ... | Leander Fan (as Marie McBane) |
Stock car racer Dave Owens plays into the hands of whiskey runners by agreeing to drive in a cross-country road race. He is assisted by Jane Harris and Sonny Leander Fox. Soon Dave and Sonny begin a friendly rivalry for Jane. Track action filmed at the Ascot and Saugus Raceways near Los Angeles, local color shot in Charlotte, North Carolina. Written by alfiehitchie
"Beach Party" leads Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, and Harvey Lembeck do what they can with C-minus material involving an ace stockcar racer who gets involved with moonshiners; the Internal Revenue wants him to work both sides, but he's more interested in finding out who's thwarting the midnight runs by playing chicken with the drivers. Barely involving 'grown up' effort from American International, not as good as their later stockcar comedy-drama "Thunder Alley", however Avalon and Annette both get to sing (his number, "My Way" is one of the best tunes Avalon ever got in an AIP film). There's a pretty good brawl between Frankie and Harvey Lembeck, but Fabian, as Frankie's nemesis, is under-used, as is Annette. Good photography by Floyd Crosby, cute opening Claymation segment by Clokey Films, but the story is so muddled we never know where we stand with these one-dimensional characters. *1/2 from ****