Sixties City - Bringing on back the good times

All 5 were produced by William Asher and starred Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello supported by an ever-changing cast, sprinkled with famous guest appearances and cameo roles with the backing of the 'West Coast sound' from artists like Dick Dale and The Deltones, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, The Surfaris, The Hondells and many other classic surf groups of the 60s. There were many similarly styled movies and a lot of them starred Annette Funicello, which probably gives her the title 'Queen of the Beach Movies'. Some have become cult films in their own right, but this series with Frankie and DeeDee remain the definitive examples of the genre and are 'The Beach Movies'

	"Beach Party" 1963 American International Pictures (AIP) Producer: James H. Nicholson Screenplay: Lou Rusoff 101 minutes colour ( Warner ) Directed by William Asher Cast: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Robert Cummings, Dorothy Malone Vincent Price, Harvey Lembeck, Morey Amsterdam, Jody McCrea Eva Six, John Ashley, Candy Johnson, Dick Dale and The Deltones Songs include: Beach Party, Treat Him Nicely, Promise Me Anything, Don't Stop Now Surfin' And A-Swingin', Secret Surfin' Spot Storyline: Frankie sets up a moonlight beach session with DeeDee only to find that the whole crowd turns up for a party. An anthropologist who is writing a book about the tribalism and mating habits of the Californian surf-dwellers takes to spying on them for new material. The story is punctuated by ho-daddy Eric Von Zipper doing his best to create havoc amongst the surfing pals
	"Muscle Beach Party" 1964 American International Pictures (AIP) Producers: James H. Nicholson and Robert Dillon Screenplay: Robert Dillon and William Asher 94 minutes colour ( HBO ) Directed by William Asher 'When 10,000 biceps go around 5,000 bikinis you know what's gonna happen' Cast: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Luciana Paluzzi, John Ashley Don Rickles, Candy Johnson, Dolores Wells, Donna Loren, Peter Lupus Jody McCrea, Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett, Rock Stevens, Peter Lorre Dick Dale and The Deltones, Little Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Gary Usher, Roger Christian Songs include: Muscle Beach Party, Happy Street, Surfers Holiday, Runnin' Wild A Boy Needs A Girl, A Girl Needs A Boy, Muscle Bustle, My First Love Storyline: A visiting Italian Countess gets a crush on Frankie and things get complicated when her boyfriend, the highly muscled 'Mr. Galaxy' arrives on the scene. During the film Candy Johnson introduces a new dance, the Ebb'n'Flow, and Little Stevie Wonder does a gig at Cappy's Surf Club. All's well that ends well and Frankie and DeeDee are once again happily entwined by the end of the show film poster
	*"Bikini Beach"* 1964 American International Pictures (AIP) Producers: James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff Screenplay: William Asher, Leo Townsend, Robert Dillon 99 minutes colour ( Embassy ) Directed by William Asher Cast: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Martha Hyer, Don Rickles, Harvey Lembeck, Keenan Wynn Jody McCrea, Candy Johnson, Donna Loren, John Ashley, Boris Karloff, Meredith McRae Danielle Aubrey, Paul Smith, James Westerfield, Dolores Wells, Little Stevie Wonder The Exciters, The Pyramids Songs include: Fingertips, Bikini Beach, Midnight Run, Because You're You This Time It's Love, How About That, Secret Weapon, Gimme Your Love Storyline: A property speculator is planning to develop the haunt of the surfing buddies and they enlist the help of 'Potato Bug', an English, pop-singing drag-racer ( also played by Avalon ) to thwart his nasty little scheme film poster
	*"How To Stuff A Wild Bikini"* 1965 American International Pictures (AIP) Producers: James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff Screenplay: William Asher and Leo Townsend 92 minutes colour ( Warner ) Directed by William Asher 'Thrills and spills in the wildest motorcycle race ever run' Cast: Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Harvey Lembeck Beverly Adams, John Ashley, Jody McCrea, Marianne Guba, Len Lesse Irene Tsu, Elizabeth Montgomery, Bobbi Shaw, Buster Keaton Mickey Rooney, Timothy Carey, Arthur Julian, The Kingsmen Brian Wilson, Frankie Avalon Songs include: How To Stuff A Wild Bikini, Better Be Ready, Give Her Lovin' The Perfect Boy, After The Party Storyline: Frankie is called up for Naval Reserve duty ( n.b. he was actually busy filming 'Ski Party' ) and hires the services of a witch doctor to keep an eye on DeeDee while he is away. The 'motorcycle race' in the tagline is actually held on the beach itself film poster
	*"Beach Blanket Bingo"* 1965 American International Pictures (AIP) Producers: James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff Screenplay: William Asher and Leo Townsend 98 minutes colour ( HBO ) Directed by William Asher Cast: Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley, Harvey Lembeck, Jody McCrea, Donna Loren Marta Kristen, Linda Evans, Donna Michelle, Earl Wilson, Darlene Lucht, John Ashley, Buster Keaton Stephanie Nader, Paul Lynde, Timothy Carey, Don Rickles, Bobbi Shaw, The Hondells Songs include: Beach Blanket Bingo, The Cycle Set, You'll Never Change Him, I Think You Think These Are The Good Times, Fly Boy, New Love, It Only Hurts When I Cry, I Am My Ideal Storyline: Deadhead loses his heart to a life-saving mermaid and Frankie is led astray by Sugar Kane, played by Linda Evans. The crowd enjoy some sky-diving into the surf and there are more than the usual number of featured songs before the traditionally happy ending