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Beach Party

Play trailer Poster for Beach Party Released Jul 14, 1963 1h 41m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Dolores (Annette Funicello) and Frankie (Frankie Avalon), attractive young surfers in Southern California, are just out for a good time. Their relaxed lifestyle fascinates Professor Sutwell (Bob Cummings), an anthropologist who decides to study the social lives of teens. A series of beach-themed films would follow the blueprint set by this one, which hinges on romantic rivalries, rugged motorcyclists, an attempted crime and plenty of handsome people.
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Beach Party

Critics Reviews

View All (8) Critics Reviews
Vincent Canby Variety Beach Party is a bouncy bit of lightweight fluff, attractively cast, beautifully set (Malibu Beach), and scored throughout with a big twist beat. It has a kind of direct, simple-minded cheeriness. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Renee Schonfeld Common Sense Media Silly '60s surf musical with stereotypes, sexual situations. Rated: 2/5 Jan 13, 2015 Full Review David Cornelius Popcornworld a barrage of live-action cartoon madness aimed at the in-the-moment entertainment atmosphere of, well, a party. Mar 25, 2013 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 7, 2005 Full Review Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) Rated: 4/5 Aug 11, 2002 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) First of the long-running series. Not that bad and good nostalgia Rated: 3/5 Aug 7, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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alan g Very cute and dated. Was risque at the time. Now even toddlers can watch. Very attractive cast. Nice scenery Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/26/24 Full Review David D Sludge that got thicker and more robust with the passing of decades. . Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/21/24 Full Review joel h As a movie, Beach Party is fairly ridiculous. As a time capsule for youth culture of the early 60s, however, it's pretty fascinating. I felt like Professor Sutwell as I watched it, trying to understand why the "kids" acted the way they did. Coincidentally, I also found Sutwell to be one of the most entertaining characters in this picture. As strange and simple as it is, I can see why Beach Party launched a franchise. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review dave s Beach Party was the first and probably the best, which isn't really saying much, of American International's beach movies from the early to mid-60s. The threadbare story, which involves anthropologist Professor Sutwell's (Bob Cummings) investigation into the mating habits of American teens, serves only as a device to show off scantily clad young ones as they surf, dance, sing, throw pies, and make out. All of the regulars, including Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, are along for the ride. For the most part, it lacks the consistent silliness of the later efforts in the series, but it's still pretty mindless. On the bright side, Cummings has some decent lines and, considering the overacting surrounding him, gives a surprisingly subdued performance. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The odd thing about the Beach Party movies with Frankie and Annette is that none of them are perfect films. They ALL have their many flaws. Yet, for some weird reason, I keep watching them. I especially enjoy watching them when the weather gets COLD. What makes me want to enjoy a beach movie when it's snowing outside? I don't know. Anyway, these movies are corny, no doubt about it. Sometimes they are VERY corny. But if you're like me and think Gilligan's Island is a fun TV show, then you might forgive the corniness here. You might even start to enjoy it! It's like Frankie and Annette's characters live in some alternate universe. They not only succeed in making me nostalgic for a time when I wasn't even born yet; but they make me long for a time that never even existed! That's quite an achievement. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Matthew D The kind of movie where when someone says "You can say that agian", the first character will repeat his previous statement. My kinda movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/17/21 Full Review Read all reviews
Beach Party

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Dolores (Annette Funicello) and Frankie (Frankie Avalon), attractive young surfers in Southern California, are just out for a good time. Their relaxed lifestyle fascinates Professor Sutwell (Bob Cummings), an anthropologist who decides to study the social lives of teens. A series of beach-themed films would follow the blueprint set by this one, which hinges on romantic rivalries, rugged motorcyclists, an attempted crime and plenty of handsome people.
Director
William Asher
Producer
James H. Nicholson, Lou Rusoff
Screenwriter
Lou Rusoff
Production Co
American International Pictures (AIP), Alta Films Productions
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 14, 1963, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 41m
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