How to Stuff a Wild Bikini#Soundtrack

{{Infobox film

| name = How to Stuff a Wild Bikini

| image = How to stuff a wild bikini.jpg

| caption =

| producer = {{ubl|Samuel Z. Arkoff|James H. Nicholson}}

| writer = {{ubl|William Asher|Leo Townsend}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{ubl|Annette Funicello|Dwayne Hickman|Brian Donlevy|Buster Keaton|Beverly Adams|Harvey Lembeck|John Ashley|Jody McCrea|Mickey Rooney}}

| music = Les Baxter

| cinematography = Floyd D. Crosby

| editing = Eve Newman

| studio = American International Pictures

| distributor = American International Pictures

| released = {{Film date|1965|7|14}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =$150,000{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/TrashCompactor0205Starbrite/Trash_Compactor_0205_%28Starbrite%29#page/n25/mode/1up/search/%22john+ashley%22|title=The John Ashley Filmography|magazine=Trash Compactor|edition=Volume 2 No. 5|page=26|year=1990|first=John|last=Lamont}}}}

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini is a 1965 Pathécolor beach party film from American International Pictures. The sixth entry in a seven-film series, the movie was directed by William Asher and features Mickey Rooney, Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, and Beverly Adams.{{Cite web |title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/19570-HOW-TOSTUFFAWILDBIKINI |access-date=26 October 2024 |website=American Film Institute Catalog}} It was written by Asher and Leo Townsend. The film features a brief appearance by Frankie Avalon{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|title=The movie stardom of Frankie Avalon|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-movie-stardom-of-frankie-avalon/|date=28 December 2024|access-date=28 December 2024}} and includes Buster Keaton in one of his last roles.

Plot

Frankie goes to Tahiti on naval reserve duty. While cavorting with local girls, Frankie realizes that Dee Dee might be unfaithful to him. When Frankie seeks help from a witch doctor, the witch doctor sends a sea beauty, Cassandra, to lure Ricky, an advertising executive, 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 motorcycle gang add to the trouble.

Cast

Annette Funicello as Dee Dee
Dwayne Hickman as Ricky
Brian Donlevy as B. D. (Big Deal) McPherson
Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper
Beverly Adams as Cassandra
John Ashley as Johnny
Jody McCrea as Bonehead
Marianne Gaba as Animal
Len Lesser as North Dakota Pete
Irene Tsu as Native Girl
Arthur Julian as Dr. Melamed
Bobbi Shaw as Khola Koku
The Kingsmen as themselves
Alberta Nelson as Puss
Buster Keaton as Bwana
Mickey Rooney as Peachy (J. Peachmont) Keane
Frankie Avalon as Frankie
Michele Carey as Michele
Elizabeth Montgomery as Bwana's daughter

Production

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini was the last "beach party" film to feature Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Avalon appeared on-screen for about six minutes and interacted only very briefly with Funicello. His small role was attributed to the fact that he was filming another AIP production, 1965's Sergeant Deadhead.Lisanti, Thomas Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959–1969 McFarland

Dwayne Hickman played the male lead, a man trying to woo Funicello's character away from her absent boyfriend. Tommy Kirk was originally announced as the male lead,{{Cite news|author=Betty Martin|title=MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'ROUGE' HEADS FOR BROADWAY|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Apr 10, 1965|page=19}} but shortly before filming, he was arrested for possession of marijuana, so he was dropped and replaced by Hickman. Mickey Rooney agreed to play a supporting role at $5,000 for one week's work to pay off some tax debts.{{cite news|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20608/how-to-stuff-a-wild-bikini#articles-reviews|author=Richard Harland Smith|title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini|work=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=3 January 2013|archive-date=17 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317170847/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20608/How-to-Stuff-a-Wild-Bikini/articles.html|url-status=live}}

Filming started April 12, 1965, and took 15 days.{{Cite news|title=An Article on 2 April says Kirk was still cast at that date – MOVIE CALL SHEET: Tony Franciosa Set for Suspense Film|author=Martin, Betty|date=Apr 17, 1965|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B9}} It was the only film in the series where John Ashley sang lead male vocals.{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://diaboliquemagazine.com/the-nine-lives-of-john-ashley/url=https://diaboliquemagazine.com/the-nine-lives-of-john-ashley/|magazine=Diabolique Magazine|title=A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley|date=December 2019}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Funicello was pregnant during shooting and was shot mostly wearing blousy tunics or with a prop in front of her (e.g., a bowl of popcorn, a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken).{{cite news| last=Eder| first=Bruce| title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini| publisher=AllMovie| url=http://wc05.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:23699~T1| access-date=2007-12-19}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She wrote in her memoirs that her pregnancy and Avalon's absence made this one of her least-favorite beach-party movies.{{cite book|title=A dream is a wish your heart makes: my story|last1=Funicello|first1= Annette|last2= Bashe|first2= Patricia Romanowski|year=1994 |publisher=Hyperion|page=143}} The film featured the only big-screen appearance by The Kingsmen, who performed "Give Her Lovin{{'"}}.

Len Lesser was cast as North Dakota Pete. He recalled, "I just threw caution to the wind with the role. I went crazy — kind of like I was acting in high school. It wasn’t serious stuff and Bill [Asher] insisted we have fun with it. Mickey Rooney and the great Buster Keaton were also in the movie, which was an added bonus. All of us had a blast, sitting on the beach, watching pretty girls in bikinis — singing and dancing. And we got paid very well."{{cite book|page=90|title= Wheres The Watch And Other Tales A Memoir From Seinfelds Uncle Leo|year=2011|first=Leon|last=Lesser}}

Elizabeth Montgomery, who at the time was married to the film's director, William Asher, made a cameo appearance in the closing scenes as the witch doctor's daughter, a woman with her own magical powers. Montgomery was instantly recognizable during this period as the star of the hit TV sitcom Bewitched, also directed by Asher, so this small film role was a parody of her TV role.

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."{{Cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/varietyfilmrevie0011unse/page/n229/mode/1up?|title=1965 Review|work=Variety|access-date=2020-06-27|archive-date=2009-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423124023/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791813.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|url-status=live}}

The critic from the Los Angeles Times called the movie a "breezy number".{{cite news|title='Bikini' a Breezy Number Scott|author=John L.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Aug 6, 1965|page=C10}} The New York Times said it was "the answer to a moron's prayer."{{Cite news|title=The Screen: 'Wild Bikini' Appearing in Neighborhoods|work=New York Times|date=Jan 12, 1967|page=48}} Filmink argued the movie " has become legendary in its way, mostly due to its title, some hilariously obvious KFC product placement, and the fact that Annette Funicello is so clearly pregnant."{{cite magazine|date=13 December 2024|access-date=13 December 2024|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/beach-party-movies-part-three-over-exposure/|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Beach Party Movies Part Three: Over exposure}}

In December 1965, Sam Arkoff said, "the bikini beach style has had it. We've had some real bombs lately."{{cite news|newspaper=The Times-Transcript|date=11 December 1965|page=15|title=Beach pictures are out}}

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = How To Stuff A Wild Bikini

| type = Soundtrack

| artist =

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 14 July 1965

| recorded = 1965

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Beach party

| length = 23:58

| label = Wand 671

| producer = American International

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-to-stuff-a-wild-bikini-original-soundtrack-mw0000844826|title=How To Stuff A Wild Bikini|work=AllMusic|access-date=February 17, 2014|archive-date=January 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123015821/http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-to-stuff-a-wild-bikini-original-soundtrack-mw0000844826|url-status=live}}

}}

How To Stuff A Wild Bikini, the soundtrack for the film, was released in 1965. Most of the songs are performed by various cast members, with two numbers by The Kingsmen.The LP was issued with a blue or yellow sticker at the top of the record jacket with text "The Kingsmen in Their First Motion Picture Soundtrack Album". The album was released in both mono (WDM 671) and stereo (WDS 671) versions, with the latter being very scarce. The stereo release was reissued on CD by Real Gone Music in July 2014.

=Track listing=

All songs written by Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner except "Give Her Lovin{{'"}} by Lynn Easton. Songs are in slightly different order from the movie.

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Performer

| title1 = How To Stuff A Wild Bikini

| extra1 = Cast

| length1 = 2:04

| title2 = That's What I Call A Healthy Girl

| extra2 = Cast

| length2 = 1:56

| title3 = If It's Gonna Happen

| extra3 = Lou Ann SimmsActually, Lu Ann Simms was a well-known '50s singer and performer on The Arthur Godfrey Show. In the film, "If It's Gonna Happen" is sung by four female cast members with Lu Ann Simms doing voiceover for Irene Tsu. Her original test dub for the song was included on the album instead of the movie version, and was subsequently released as a single on Wand 196 in 1965 with B-side "After The Party", another song from the movie.

| length3 = 2:00

| title4 = How About Us

| extra4 = Mickey Rooney & Girls

| length4 = 2:00

| title5 = The Boy Next Door

| extra5 = Harvey Lembeck & Cast

| length5 = 1:55

| title6 = After The Party

| extra6 = Cast

| length6 = 2:12

| title7 = Better Be Ready

| extra7 = Annette FunicelloThe Kingsmen back up Annette (visually) in the movie. Lynn Easton, the group's lead singer, has a line of dialogue introducing the song.

| length7 = 1:55

| title8 = Follow Your Leader

| extra8 = Harvey Lembeck & CastAnother song, "I Am My Ideal", is performed by Harvey Lembeck and cast in the movie, but is not included on the soundtrack.

| length8 = 1:34

| title9 = The Perfect Boy

| extra9 = Annette & Girls

| length9 = 2:30

| title10 = Madison Avenue

| extra10 = Mickey Rooney & Brian Donlevy

| length10 = 2:15

| title11 = Give Her Lovin'

| extra11 = The KingsmenReleased as a single on Wand 189 in 1965 as a b-side to "Little Annie Fanny".

| length11 = 1:44

| title12 = How To Stuff A Wild Bikini

| extra12 = The KingsmenThis track is not performed in the movie. The song has never been released in any other format other than the original soundtrack release and the 2014 CD reissue.

| length12 = 1:53

}}

=Production credits=

Producer: American International
Publisher: DiJon Music
Liner notes: Joe Bogart and Frank Costa (WMCA Music Department)

Home media

In 2001, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini was released by MGM on Region 1 DVD.{{Cite book |title=How to Stuff a Wild Bikini DVD release info |isbn=0792844025 }} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PMFRXS |title=Frankie & Annette MGM Movie Legends Collection DVD release info |website=Amazon |date=10 July 2007 |access-date=2017-08-31 |archive-date=2021-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526015642/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PMFRXS |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007R4T0I |title=Beach Blanket Bingo/How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (Midnite Movies Double Feature) DVD release info |website=Amazon |date=15 February 2005 |access-date=2017-08-31 |archive-date=2021-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526015658/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007R4T0I |url-status=live }}

Olive Films released a Blu-Ray of How to Stuff a Wild Bikini on June 25, 2019.

References

External links

{{IMDb title|0059287}}
{{TCMDb title|20608}}
{{AFI film|19570}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707221912/http://www.beachpartymoviemusic.com/HowToStuffAWildBikiniOriginalSoundtrack.html Soundtrack album] at Beach Party Movie Music
{{YouTube|MJvlvCy79W4|Trailer}}
[http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/howto.html How to Stuff a Wild Bikini] at Brian's Drive-In Theatre
Record World [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Record-World-IDX/IDX/60s/65/RW-1965-09-04-OCR-Page-0008.pdf album review], September 4, 1965 issue