Starring Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Don Rickles, and Luciana Paluzzi
Directed by William Asher
Music and Lyrics by various
We head back to the beach with Frankie and Annette for some more fun in the spring sun. This was the second official Beach Party movie, and the first to give Frankie and Annette their names for the rest of the series, Frankie and Dee Dee. So, how do the duo deal with their favorite beach being invaded by muscle-bound bodybuilders and a wealthy Italian countess with her eye on Frankie? Let's begin with the kids' heading to the beach in their ancient jalopies and find out...
The Story: The kids are not amused when their usual spot is overrun by grouchy Jack Fanny (Rickles) and his muscle-bound jocks. He's pushing them to get ready for the big Mr. Galaxy contest. Meanwhile, Dee Dee wishes Frankie would do something more with his life besides surfing...but she didn't think "something more" would come in the form of wealthy, beautiful Countess Juliana Giotto-Borgini (Paluzzi). Julie initially sets her sights on hulking Flex Martian (Rock Stevens), but eventually becomes enamored with Frankie. He's excited that she wants to make him a star, until the other kids turn their backs on him. And then there's her manager S.Z Matts (Buddy Hackett) making deals with Fanny...
The Song and Dance: These movies are so strange, but just so much fun, you kind of end up rolling with the weirdness. This movie has a woman whose gyrations are so overwhelming to men, they get flung aside every time she shakes her hips. Harry Von Zipper and his crew are about the only thing they don't throw in here. They're replaced with the muscle-bound lunkheads who are more interested in their bodies than sharing the beach, including real-life bodybuilder Stevens (later known as Peter Lupus). Rickles has a great time in his first of four Beach Party appearances as the grouchy coach who just wants his boys to make a good showing. There's also Hackett and Paluzzi as the rich duo whose boredom causes a lot of the trouble in the first place and Peter Lorre in a short but hilarious cameo in the finale.
Favorite Number: We open with "Surfer's Holiday" as the kids, some of them hanging off a station wagon, drive down to their favorite beach, singing about their upcoming vacation all the way. Dick Dale and the Del-Tones get "My First Love" and the title song at Cappy's Place, the replacement for their original hangout (complete with Morey Amsterdam managing it again). Donna Loren joins Dale for the "Muscle Bustle," the kids' big chorus dance routine outside of Cappy's that's intended as a joke on the bodybuilders.
Avalon performs "Runnin' Wild" with the kids later at Cappy's...and it's this song that convinces Julia that he has star potential. (He's also heard singing it over the credits.) Frustrated Funicello sings "A Girl Needs a Boy" after she argues with him over his layabout tendencies. He responds later with his own version, "A Boy Needs a Girl." A very young and thin Stevie Wonder comes on to give the second half of the movie a lift with his adorably upbeat "Happy Street."
Trivia: Peter Lorre's last film. He was supposed to have appeared in the next movie, Bikini Beach, but passed away before filming began. Boris Karloff replaced him.
Donna Loren's first film.
Yes, this is the only Beach Party movie to not feature Harry Von Zipper and his motorcycling Rats.
What I Don't Like: This is a goofy surf comedy musical from the early 60's. You know what you're getting into. It's not high art, and a lot of it either doesn't make sense or is too weird for words (like everyone's reactions to Candy's dancing). This is a little slower-paced than some of the later movies in the series, and perhaps more time could be spent on the beach and less on everyone talking.
The Big Finale: Not one of the best movies in the series, but still recommended for fans of the stars, the time period, Stevie Wonder, or surf rock.
Home Media: Easy to find in all formats.
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