Beach Blanket Bingo

4/14/19651h 38m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ It's the game that separates the girls and the boys...into groups of two! ~

Overview:

In the fourth of the highly successful Frankie and Annette beach party movies, a motorcycle gang led by Eric Von Zipper kidnaps singing star Sugar Kane managed by Bullets, who hires sky-diving surfers Steve and Bonnie from Big Drop for a publicity stunt. With the usual gang of kids and a mermaid named Lorelei.

Director:

William Asher

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

musical

Cast

Frankie Avalon

~ as ~

Frankie

Annette Funicello

~ as ~

Dee Dee

Deborah Walley

~ as ~

Bonnie Graham

Harvey Lembeck

~ as ~

Eric Von Zipper

John Ashley

~ as ~

Steve Gordon

Jody McCrea

~ as ~

Bonehead

Donna Loren

~ as ~

Donna

Marta Kristen

~ as ~

Lorelei

Linda Evans

~ as ~

Sugar Kane

Timothy Carey

~ as ~

South Dakota Slim

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Wuchak
Written 3 year(s) ago
6
Silly 60’s amusement on the beaches of Malibu

Frankie, Dee Dee (Frankie Avalon & Annette Funicello) and their gang encounter an up-and-coming singer (Linda Evans) and her sly promoter (Paul Lynde), which inspires them to try their hand at skydiving. Don Rickles plays the school’s manager with Deborah Walley on hand as one of the instructors. Meanwhile Harvey Lembeck leads the “menacing” black-clad motorcycle gang.

"Beach Blanket Bingo” (1965) is the fifth beach party film by American International Pictures that released a whopping twelve such movies in less than four years from 1963-1967. I’ve only seen one other, “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine” (1965) featuring Vincent Price, and didn’t like it. This one’s more entertaining if you’re in the mood for some innocuous 60’s beach-oriented fun that’s silly with a capital ‘S.’

The best parts are Lynde’s droll humor, the touching subplot featuring Bonehead and a mermaid (Jody McCrea & Marta Kristen), the scenic Malibu locations and the attractive female cast, highlighted by Bobbie Shaw Chance as the lass in a fur bikini and Donna Michelle as ‘Animal.’

For the real deal in SoCal beach flicks, check out the original “Gidget,” released in 1959 (I’m not talking about the two sequels or the TV series with Sally Field). “Gidget” is worthy of its iconic status as the first beach flick with surprising mindfood and no goofiness. No kidding.

The film runs 1 hour, 38 minutes, and was shot in Malibu at Surfrider Beach, Paradise Cove and Leo Carrillo State Beach.

GRADE: B-