Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)

My Review

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello star in the fifth and most popular of the Beach Party film series “Beach Blanket Bingo.” It includes comedy bits, musical numbers, Funicello parachuting out of an airplane, a mermaid guest star, and more surprises from director William Asher (“Bikini Beach” 1964) who also co-wrote the screenplay with Leo Townsend.

The vast supporting cast behind Frankie and Annette includes Deborah Walley, Marta Kristen, Linda Evans, Don Rickles, Paul Lynde, Buster Keaton, Harvey Lembeck, John Ashley, Jody McCrea (son of Joel McCrea), and columnist Earl Wilson. The watchable “Beach Blanket Bingo” was a big hit at the box office for American International Pictures. Les Baxter was in charge of the bouncy musical score. Malibu, California, was the site of the movie’s filming locations.