Bikini Beach
Bikini Beach
NR | 22 July 1964 (USA)
Bikini Beach Trailers

A millionaire sets out to prove his theory that his pet chimpanzee is as intelligent as the teenagers who hang out on the local beach, where he is intending to build a retirement home.

Reviews
Inadvands Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess
Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
mraculeated The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
Bill Carter I like these movies especially The Rats after all the actor who played Von Zipper had a comedy school. In all the movies the Motorcycle gang steals the show. I don't know if it's just me but Avalon's 2nd character seems to be possibly an influence on Austin Powers. That was my first impression of this film. And he is good at the role and it is quite funny. I also think this movie is an influence on Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way but Loose movie. One would have to see both movies to see my point I enjoy watching these films again I have 4 of them. To see them 50 years later of course has a different perspective which is itself enjoyable. It is good to be 15 again.
Uriah43 This third film in the series (after "Beach Party" and "Muscle Beach Party") has "Frankie" (Frankie Avalon), "Dee Dee" (Annette Funicello) and the rest of the surfer gang headed back to the beach to enjoy some sun, waves and music. When they get there they meet a millionaire named "Harvey Huntington Honeywagon III" (Keenan Wynn) who seeks to rid the beach of the surfers so that he can construct a senior citizens home on it. To help him in that regard is a pet chimpanzee named "Clyde" (played by Janos Prohaska) who drives, surfs and dances the Watusi better than anybody there. Another visitor to the beach is a famous British rock star by the name of "Potato Bug" (also played by Frankie Avalon) who has all of the young ladies squealing with delight whenever he sings. Throw in a bar and drag strip owner named "Big Drag" (Don Rickles), a beautiful defender of the surfers by the name of "Vivien Clements" (Martha Hyer), a motorcycle gang known as "the Ratz" led by "Eric Von Zipper" (Harvey Lembeck) and a bevy of attractive young women and the result is a film that is light on substance but fun never the less. What was probably most interesting was the way this movie managed to assimilate the relatively new "surf music" with the brand new sound characterized by the "First British Invasion". On the other hand, while I appreciated the scenery provided by Annette Funicello, Martha Hyer, Meredith MacRae (as "Animal") and a host of other young ladies, I didn't especially care for the amount of time devoted to Clyde or "Candy" (Candy Johnson). Neither did I feel that Don Rickles was given an adequate script to showcase his comedic talent. But that's just my opinion. In short, this wasn't a bad movie but it wasn't that great either. Accordingly, I rate it as average.
TxMike Watched it on Netflix streaming movies. Bikini Beach is just one of the silly, beach movies featuring young teen idols of the 1960s. This one with Frankie Avalon, who was actually a pretty decent singer, and Annette Funicello who wasn't much of a singer, couldn't act much, but was cure as a bug.These movies strike a particular chord with me, as I was a college freshman in 1963/1964. I remember the Beatle invasion quite well, and this movie, 'Bikini Beach' has a character that is a parody of the Beatles, the 'Potato Bug', a wealthy and popular young British pop star with a mop of a haircut and wire rim glasses. Interestingly Frankie Avalon plays him as well as 'Frankie' the suitor of Funicello's character.By today's standards this would rate as a fairly poor movie, but for those of us who were teenagers in the 1960s, it brings back good memories of a simpler time. There is a thread of a story here, the teens just want to hang out at the beach near Los Angeles, but a wealthy businessman and developer wants to give them bad press as part of his attempt to buy up some beachfront land. There is also a motorcycle gang, seemingly for no good reason, and some drag racing. Much of the "humor" is slapstick, inspired by the Three Stooges I'd imagine.Frankie Avalon plays Frankie and, in a wig and gap teeth, the Potato Bug. Annette Funicello plays Dee Dee. My favorite was Martha Hyer, pushing 40 in 1964, but lovely as Vivien Clements who takes the side of the teens. A relatively young (35-ish) Don Rickles is Big Drag , who builds drag racing 'rails'. Harvey Lembeck is Eric Von Zipper, the outlandish motorcycle gang boss. Plus assorted cute girls in bikinis. Of note is a cameo appearance by Stevie Wonder , still known as 'Little Stevie Wonder' at about 13. He sings one song as the movie is ending. Just plain 1960s fun, that's all.
oliver church I think Avalon's duel role was played nicely but Funicello could have been played better in her role to show to differences in their perception of each other.Someone said Avalon was one of the hottest singers in America but I think that's not the case as not many people have heard of him these days.Bikini Beach seems to be like a beach party turned into a film and is really one of the inspirations of future beach parties. I honestly believe this film made way for future generations. It's a shame they don't do classic entertainment and humour like this anymore.Ms. Funicello's solo was very entertaining though! I noticed that a lot of the bikinis in this film look familiar to that Talinda range I saw over at buybikini.org I wonder if they based their designs on this movie. I agree with another reviewer that Candy Johnson was past her prime here but I would still date her given the chance. Oh well I can keep dreaming, all in all I give this an eight and think it's worth watching if you have a couple of hours to burn.