| How to Stuff a Wild Bikini | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William Asher |
| Produced by | Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson |
| Written by | William Asher Leo Townsend |
| Starring | Annette Funicello Dwayne Hickman Brian Donlevy Harvey Lembeck Buster Keaton Beverly Adams Mickey Rooney |
| Music by | Les Baxter |
| Cinematography | Floyd D. Crosby |
| Editing by | Eve Newman |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 14, 1965 |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini is a 1965 beach party film from American International Pictures. The sixth entry in a seven-film series, 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.
The other films in this series are Beach Party (1963), Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Pajama Party (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).
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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 motorcycle gang add to the trouble.
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. 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.
Annette 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).[1]
The film features the only big screen appearance by The Kingsmen, who performed "Give Her Lovin'".[1]
Elizabeth Montgomery made a cameo appearance as Bwana's daughter who is known 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.[1]
The opening credits were done using clay animation done by Art Clokey, the creator of Gumby.[1]
Variety called it a "lightweight affair lacking the breeziness and substance of earlier entries."[2]
In 2001, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini was released by MGM on Region 1 DVD.[3] 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.[4][5]
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