This Blu-ray release from Olive Films (www.olivefilms.com – www.facebook.com/olivefilms) will be available for purchase on June 25th, 2019.
Anyone out there remember those beach party movies of the 60s? Well, they were breezy, laid back little low-budget comedy excursions from American International Pictures that attempted to capitalize on the growing youth movement and popularity of surfing and beach culture.
The appropriately named Beach Party (1963) marked the first effort in the franchise, beginning a series that ran until 1966. Despite the features actually being incredibly clean-cut and campy (in which the kids didn’t do much more than hug, dance and compete in various challenges), they were tremendous successes and became a major fad. This week, Olive Films is giving How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) the Blu-ray treatment.
This title was actually the 6th in the AIP series and begins with Frankie (Frankie Avalon) now a member of the Navy Reserve. Stationed on the Goona-Goona Islands, he pines over his true love Dee Dee (Annette Funicello), living far away on the beaches of California. Actually, pining may not be the appropriate term, as the character appears to be romancing several locals near his post. Despite Frankie’s friendliness with others, he is something of the jealous type and panics about his girl back home finding a new beau.
Frankie ventures out to see local witch doctor Bwana (Buster Keaton), who employs various magic tricks to help keep tabs on Dee Dee. One of which is a spying pelican, along with a floating bikini. Soon, the garment is filled with Cassandra (Beverly Adams), a red-headed magical figure who uses her charms to distract local men. However, this new arrival also draws the attention of two advertising executives named Ricky (Dwayne Hickman) and Peachy Keane (Mickey Rooney). They quickly determine that they want to use the photogenic lady in a big advertising campaign. In the process, Ricky begins spending time with Dee Dee on the beach and begins to fall for her.
It’s a pretty ridiculous story (with for than a few elements will look, well, very out-of-date and politically incorrect to modern audiences). In fact, the plot actually makes some Elvis Presley titles from the same era seem complex in comparison. The minimal structure simply provides a framework for a series of musical numbers, some sketches involving Dee Dee and Ricky’s burgeoning relationship, gags featuring a less-than-threatening gang of bikers working for the sinister Peachy Keane, a big motorcycle race, and a handful of very, very awkward gags involving Bwana, Frankie and the islanders.
The occasional stunt and bizarre line does raise a smile, although the movie hardly qualifies as great cinema… or even one of the best chapters in the film series. It does, however, provide some value for its cheeseball qualities. Some of the attitudes on display and blunt jokes delivered will cause guffaws for unintended reasons. But at least Funicello makes for a likable lead, and stand-in Hickman actually fares better than expected as the Avalon substitute, especially given the underwhelming material given. For music enthusiasts, this title also marks the onscreen debut of the band The Kingsmen (“Louie Louie”). Here they perform an amusing number with Funicello unlikely to make it onto any of their Greatest Hits collections.
There are also plenty of oddities to enjoy when one knows background information about the shoot. According to reports, Avalon was unavailable to co-star due to work on another project for the studio called Sergeant Dead Head (1965). He’s barely in this feature, forcing most of the attention on Funicello. However, she was pregnant during the production, which added a few issues for the filmmakers. This situation wouldn’t necessarily seem like a big deal, but the clothing choices are notably peculiar. The character is often placed out in the blazing sun covered from head to toe in shirts and slacks, while everyone else on the beach runs around in swimwear. It is also entertaining to see just how often objects are put in front of the star to try and hide her baby bump.
As for the other performers, it has been noted in several articles that the great Buster Keaton didn’t feel very appreciated by the crew and likely wasn’t giving it his all. Additionally, Rooney had something of a bad attitude and was intensely disliked by the cast; he and onscreen compatriot Hickman barely spoke to each other between takes. One can spend plenty of time looking for friction between the cast. At least the movie does boast an impressive cameo at its close when Bwana introduces his daughter, who is played by Elizabeth Montgomery (of the TV series Bewitched). How did this happen? Well, at the time she was married to director William Asher.
While the film itself may be less than stellar, the Blu-ray picture quality is quite exceptional (the stills I’ve posted for this article don’t do it justice). Having seen some of these titles previously on the TV screen, it makes a big difference to see the movie in its widescreen format with a notably cleaned up picture. The image is incredibly sharp and the bright colors really are striking. These vibrant hues certainly adds some much needed punch to the proceedings. In fact, it’s so crisp that it also makes it apparent just how much rear-projection was utilized. There’s a hilarious looking nighttime stroll between Dee Dee and Ricky on the beach; the two are very clearly just walking on their marks in the studio, while a scenic background plays behind them.
I suppose all of this adds to its campy appeal. Sadly, this was the last time that Funicello and Avalon shared the screen in a beach-related comedy. Fans would have to wait more than two decades to see them together once again in Back to the Beach (1987). And if memory serves, their return to the big screen was quite entertaining (distributors might want to see about releasing that one on Blu-ray too). Until that happens, the impressive-looking Blu-ray of How to Stuff a Wild Bikini should satisfy most Beach Party enthusiasts.
NOTE: The Blu-ray disc also includes a theatrical trailer.