How to Stuff a Wild Bikini

Infobox Film
name = How to Stuff a Wild Bikini


image_size =
caption =
director = William Asher
producer = Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson
writer = William Asher Leo Townsend
narrator =
starring = Annette Funicello Dwayne Hickman Brian Donlevy Harvey Lembeck Buster Keaton Beverly Adams
Mickey Rooney
music = Les Baxter
cinematography = Floyd D. Crosby
editing = Eve Newman
distributor = American International Pictures
released = flagicon|USA July 14, 1965
runtime = 90 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by = "Beach Blanket Bingo"
followed_by = "The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini"
website =
amg_id = 1:23699
imdb_id = 0059287

"How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" is a 1965 Beach Party film from American International Pictures. The movie features Mickey Rooney, Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, and Beverly Adams. The film features brief, uncredited appearances by Frankie Avalon and includes Buster Keaton in one of his last roles.

Summary

Although the musical is another installment in the Frankie and Dee Dee beach adventures, Frankie appears only briefly at the beginning and the end of the film.

The story begins with Frankie (Avalon) going to Tahiti on naval reserve duty. While cavorting with local girls, Frankie realizes that Dee Dee (Funicello) might be disloyal to him. When Frankie seeks help from a witch doctor (Buster Keaton), the witch doctor sends a sea beauty, Cassandra (Adams), to lure Ricky (Hickman), an advertising exec, away from Dee Dee. Upon Cassandra's arrival, the beach turns upside down, as all the surfers fall for her, an executive wants to make her a model, and Eric Von Zipper and his gang add to the trouble.

Cast

*Annette Funicello .... Dee Dee
*Dwayne Hickman .... Ricky
*Brian Donlevy .... B. D. (Big Deal) McPherson
*Harvey Lembeck .... Eric Von Zipper
*Beverly Adams .... Cassandra
*John Ashley .... Johnny
*Jody McCrea .... Bonehead
*Marianne Gaba .... Animal
*Len Lesser .... North Dakota Pete
*Irene Tsu .... Native Girl
*Arthur Julian .... Dr. Melamed
*Bobbi Shaw .... Khola Koku
*The Kingsmen .... Themselves
*Alberta Nelson .... Puss

pecial appearances

*Buster Keaton .... Bwana
*Mickey Rooney .... Peachy (J. Peachmont) Keane

Uncredited appearances

*Frankie Avalon .... Frankie
*Michele Carey .... Michele
*Elizabeth Montgomery .... Bwana's daughter

Production

"How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" was the last "Beach Party" film to feature Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Avalon's role was reportedly minimized as a "punishment" after he asked producers Arkoff and Nicholson for more money than they were willing to pay.Fact|date=December 2007 Avalon appears on-screen for about six minutes. Avalon's small role could also be attributed to the fact that he was filming another AIP production, 1965's "Sergeant Dead Head".Fact|date=December 2007

Annette Funicello was pregnant during shooting and was shot mostly from the waist up.cite news|last=Eder| first=Bruce| title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini| publisher = All Movie Guide | url =http://wc05.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:23699~T1 | accessdate =2007-12-19]

The film features the only big screen appearance by The Kingsmen, who performed "Give Her Lovin'".

Elizabeth Montgomery made a cameo appearance as 'The Witches Witch' at the end of the film. Montgomery appeared in a parody of the character she played in "Bewitched", which was also directed by her then-husband, William Asher, who also served as director on the film.

The opening credits were done using clay animation done by Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby.

Reception

"Variety" called it a "lightweight affair lacking the breeziness and substance of earlier entries." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791813.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 1965 Review] from "Variety"]

DVD release

In 2001, "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" was released by MGM on Region 1 DVD. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0792844025 "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" DVD release info] ] Since its initial DVD release, the film has been included in two box sets, "Frankie & Annette MGM Movie Legends Collection" and "Midnite Movies Double Feature", along with selected Beach Party films. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PMFRXS "Frankie & Annette MGM Movie Legends Collection" DVD release info] ] [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007R4T0I "Beach Blanket Bingo/How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (Midnite Movies Double Feature)" DVD release info] ]

References

External links

*imdb title|0059287|How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
*amg movie|id=1:23699|title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
*rotten-tomatoes|id=how_to_stuff_a_wild_bikini|title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini