beach ball (1965)

"My board!"
The Wigglers are a bunch of surfer dudes, who have to dig up some bread to pay for their musically instruments before they get repossessed by Mr Wolf (James Wellman). Songwritter and leader of the gang, Dick (Edd Byrnes), comes up with the idea of conning the money out of the college, but the four girls running the loans system instead decide to make the boys their pet project and get them back to school.
A breezy, if slow witted, beach comedy, that forutunately has a nice sideline in bands such as The Righteous Brothers, The Walker Brothers, The Hondells and The Supreme's.

the fat spy (1966)

"I'd like to be a rose in your garden, but I'm just a thorn in your side."
An island is invaded by some teens looking for some fun, but the islands owner (Brian Donlevy) doesn't like them being there and sets his daughter, Junior (Jayne Mansfield), and Irving (Jack E. Leonard) the task of getting rid of them. Further trouble come from Irving's twin brother, Herman (Jack E. Leonard), and Camille Salamander (Phyllis Diller), who are also on the island, looking for the fountain of youth.
A troubled production, saddled with a director who could not direct, a mess of a script and actors who if they could act, just could not be bothered to try. Some things were just not meant to be seen, but on the plus side, it does feature some interesting music by the Wild Ones, of Lord Love A Duck fame.

the ghost in the invisible bikini (1966)

"I can think of three reasons, 38, 24, 36."
A corpse (Boris Karloff) is given the chance to return to earth, but only if he can do a good deed within 24 hours. Thus he enlists his dead girlfriend (Susan Hart) to help stop lawyer, Reginald Ripper (Basil Rathbone) from doing his heirs, Chuck (Tommy Kirk), Lili (Deborah Walley), and Myrtle (Patsy Kelly), out of their rightful part of his estate.
AIP mix the two genre's that were making money for them, the gothic horror and the Beach party film. Unfortunately this results in a lackluster version of both, but it does feature Nancy Sinatra and the Bobby Fuller Four, so things ain't all bad.

the beach girls and the monster (1965)

aka Monster From The Surf.
"Do you think those beach tramps will help your career."
A beach bunny is killed on Malibu beach, starting lots of speculation. Professor Otto Lindsay (Jon Hall) suspects that it is a fish mutation, but his son Richard (Arnold Lessing), has a different theory, believing it to be the work of a madman with a grudge against him and his surfing buddies.
Where the beach party movie meets the monster flick. An ineptly fun film, rubber suited monsters, bad acting
and bikini clad go-go dancers.

beach party (1963)

"What does she see in old beaver puss anyway?"
An anthropology Professor (Robert Cummings) and his secretary Marianne (Dorothy Malone) arrive at the beach to study teenagers and their love lives. They find Frankie (Frankie Avalon) and Dolores (Annette Funicello), who spend their lives singing and surfing. Stopping only for the occasional bout of fighting with the local hoodlums the rats, led by chief rat Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck).
Fun drive-in flick that features Dick Dale, and Vincent Price, as well as an ensemble cast, who reappear in the four sequels. Get ready for hot rods, and hot girls whilst Frankie and Dee Dee try to make each other jealous.

i'll take sweden (1965)

"Daddy, I think I found Mister right!"
Bob Holcomb (Bob Hope) is an executive with a problem. His young daughter JoJo (Tuesday Weld) has fallen for a beach bum with no prospects called Kenny (Frankie Avalon). A solution arises when the company he works for an executive to move to Stockholm. Bob volunteers and moves to Sweden, but soon realises that his young and charming manager Erik (Jeremy Slate) may for his clean cut look, actually be worse than Kenny. Could it be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire?
A light-hearted romp, with Frankie reviving his beach party persona and bashing out a couple of tunes along the way. Don't expect too much, and you won't be disappointed.

bikini beach (1964)

"Baby, I think we associate with a very unstable group."
The teens easy life on the beach is interrupted by the arrival of the English pop star The Potato Bug (played by Frankie Avalon). Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) obviously falls for the Bugs charms, which leads to the usual spiteful Avalon performance as the attempts to put the Bug down and win Dee Dee back. Meanwhile a millionaire is trying to prove that his chimp Clyde is more intelligent than the teens. Add in some Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) action, Big Drag (Don Rickles) and a brief appearance from Little Stevie Wonder.
Another episode in the beach franchise sees the gang taking on the British pop invasion, modern art and drag racing. An OK addition to the series, but you could see the end in sight - how Frankie has the nerve to call the Potato Bug square, whilst holding onto the greaser look is a bit pot calling the kettle black!

gidget (1959)

Tomboy Frances Lawrence (Sandra Dee) goes to the beach with her friends, but they ditch her as being 17 but looking more like 12 hinders their manhunting! Whilst there she's rescued by Moondoggie (James Darren) and meets his surfer buddies. She takes a fancy to him, but his indifferent and the rest of them laughing at her, makes her determined to get their attention. So she decides to learn to surf. Eventually she becomes a part of the gang, led by beach bum The Kahuna (Cliff Robertson) and is christened 'Gidget', a mix of girl and midget. But will Gidget get her man?
A fine example of the beach movie, that spawned a number of sequels and a tv series, with charming performances from all the leads. Makes following a girl with the usual teenage angst actually entertaining.

beach blanket bingo (1965)

There's trouble in teen paradise when Frankie (Frankie Avalon) and Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) clash over his friendship with singer Sugar Kane (Linda Evans). Meanwhile while the rest of the gang are off learning to skydive, Bonehead (Jody McCrea) meets a mermaid and becomes infatuated, with everyone thinking he's finally lost it. Frankie comes up with a plan to snap him out of it by teaming him up with Sugar, but then Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) and his Rat Pack kidnap Sugar.
The fourth beach party in the series sees the gang having the most fun with their parts and their most demanding of plots. Some nice comic turns by Paul Lynde as Sugar's manipulating manager and Don Rickles gets to insult the oldest teenagers on the beach! The songs are nothing outstanding with various characters getting to sing this time. No groups get to appear, other than the Hondells.

muscle beach party (1964)

The 'kids' find their beach invaded by a troop of bodybuilders, led by coach Jack Fanny (Don Rickles). Complications then arise when a wealthy Italian Contessa (Luciana Paluzzi), turns up. She takes a shine to top muscleman Mr Galaxy, but then ditches him for Frankie (Frankie Avalon), causing Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) to become jealous and plot revenge.
The second beach party movie sees the gang do their thing on the beach, which consists of lounging, larking around, singing and the tiniest amount of surfing. They also manage to fit in some bands into their tightly packed schedules, including Dick Dale and Stevie Wonder. Otherwise its the usual hi-jinx.

a swingin' summer (1965)

A typical 60's beach party movie featuring a 'we'll put it on right here' plot. Some clean cut American teens open up a nightclub by a lakeside summer vacation spot and put on some groups for the kids. Includes performances by the Righteous Brothers, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Jody Miller, Donnie Brooks, The Rip Chords and introducing Raquel Welch, in her film debut, playing a glasses wearing bookworm who learns to loosen up and sings "Ready to Groove" in her own inimitable style!
A great example of the genre, with some fab 60's sounds topped off by Raquel Welsh. What more could a red blooded teen in the 60's want, entertaining fluff and well stuffed bikini's go-go dancing to surf music!

ride the wild surf (1964)

Ride The Wild Surf is a fun 60's beach movie featuring teen idols Fabian and Tab Hunter, with James Mitchum, (Robert's boy - looking just like his dad), as the menacing heavy and Barbara Eden & Shelley Fabare among the love interests.
Three friends head to Hawaii to catch the big wave and find love along the way. Some great surfing footage, beach parties and a memorable title tune, Jan & Dean's "Ride, Ride, Ride The Wild Surf".