Muscle Beach Party *** (1964, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett) – Classic Movie Review 6217

When a new gym opens up near their stretch of sand, it is back to the beach with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello for director William Asher’s hasty 1964 follow-up to their smash hit Beach Party (1963). It may not be cinematic art but it sure is a lot of nostalgic entertainment.

In the sequel to Beach Party (1963), there is more simple Sixties all-American fun with Funicello and Avalon, as the kids’ surfin’ beach comes in for a takeover by bodybuilders exploited by a greedy entrepreneur.

Heiress Julie (Luciana Paluzzi) fancies muscleman Flex Martian (Peter Lupus, billed as Rock Stevens), but then upsets Dee Dee (Funicello) by transferring her lust to Frankie (Avalon). It is as camp – and as quickly over – as Christmas. Funicello and Avalon are as cute as a button and the silly comedy from Don Rickles (coach) and Buddy Hackett (Paluzzi’s business manager) helps keep the party going.

The songs are spectacularly forgettable. It is sad to see a ravaged-looking Peter Lorre here, aged 60, in the year he died, playing Mr Strangdour.

Stevie Wonder appears as himself, billed as Little Stevie Wonder with an ‘introducing’ credit, and The Del-Tones also appear as themselves. Also in the cast are John Ashley, Peter Turgeon, Jody McCrea as Deadhead, Dick Dale, Candy Johnson, Valora Noland, Delores Wells, Donna Loren, Morey Amsterdam and Michael Nader.

It is written by William Asher and Robert Dillon, shot by Harold E Wellman, produced by Samuel Z Arkoff, James H Nicholson and Robert Dillon, scored by Les Baxter, and designed by Lucius O Croxton.

It is followed by Bikini Beach (1964), Pajama Party (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), Ski Party (1965), How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966) and Back to the Beach (1987).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6217

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