Beach Blanket Bingo

USA 1965
produced by
James H. Nicholson, Samuel Z. Arkoff for AIP
directed by William Asher
starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Harvey Lembeck, Deborah Walley, John Ashley, Jody McCrea, Marta Kristen, Paul Lynde, Linda Evans, Timothy Carey, Don Rickles, Earl Wilson, Donna Loren, Donna Michelle, Michael Nader, Patti Chandler, Buster Keaton, Earl Wilson, Bobby Shaw, Alberta Nelson, Myrna Ross, Andy Romano, Allen Fife, Jerry Brutsche, Joe Macchia, Bob Harvey
written by William Asher, Leo Townsend, music by Les Baxter, songs by Roger Christian, Jerry Styner, Guy Asher

Frankie & Annette Beach Party movies, Eric von Zipper

review by
Mike Haberfelner

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Surf's up again in this film, but this time Frankie (Frankie Avalon), Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) and the gang are less interested in surfuing than in sky-diving - but somehow, skydiving instructor Bonny (Deborah Whalley) has laid an eye on Frankie, much to the dismay of Dee Dee of course, and Bonnie's boyfriend and fellow instructor Steve (John Ashley), who decides to teach Frankie a lesson.

It all ends happily though for both Frankie & Dee Dee and Steve & Bonnie.

Another subplot concerns Bonehead (Jody McCrea), the only one who does not join in the skydiving craze and who falls in love with mermaid Lorelei (Marta Kristen), but after a romantic night together (not what you think, the whole film's just clean and family friendly fun), she breaks up with him because it wouldn't work.

Yet another subplot concerns singer Sugar Kane (Linda Evans) and her manager Bullets (Paul Lynde), who puts her through a series of more and more daring publicity stunts ... until she catches the eye of evil but dim-witted biker Eric von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck), who abducts her, but somehow she seems to like him.

But then Eric's poolhall friend South Dakota Slim (Timothy Carey) decides to have her for himself, abducts her from Eric and tries to saw her in half at the old sawmill.

In a finale to which several characters refer to as "like right out of Perils of Pauline", the beach kids and Eric and his biker gang, the Ratz, join up (for the first time ever), free Sugar Kane and teach South Dakota Sling a lesson. Only Eric ends up sawed in half. And wouldn't you know it, in the end, Bonehead gets the girl - Sugar Kane that is.

Fourth in the series of Frankie & Annette Beach Party movies, and, despite a silly and muddled screenplay, one of the better entries. Mainly it's because this time around, Harvey Lembeck's comedy is really funny (he even sings a hilarious song, Follow Your Leader), and because of all the subplots the main plot - Frankie meets another woman, Dee dee gets jealous and tries to get back at him, and in the end they get together again - doesn't get quite as boring quite as soon as in the earlier pics. Also there are virtually no extended surf-scenes used as filler material in this one.

Only thing, aged silent star and slapstick genius is badly wasted in this one, where he isn't used for more than doing a few unimpressive routines and doesn't really have any effect on the story.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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