Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)

Back when I first saw that Buster had been in a string of teen beach-party movies in the ‘60s, this film is a little more along the lines of what I’d figured that would look like.  With only mild fantastical elements, it’s a lot less crazy than the others.  Does that mean it’s a more standard teen movie from that era, or a “square” anomaly with only a single mermaid in a relatively minor role (seriously)?  That’s for one wiser than me to say.

When pop star Sugar Kane “skydives” into the ocean – in truth, a faked publicity stunt in which she pulls a switcheroo after the real skydiver hits the water – she’s assisted back to the beach by surfer Frankie (Frankie Avalon.)  The event gets him his picture in the paper, and Sugar’s manager is eager to keep up the good publicity by continuing the acquaintance, but Frankie’s girlfriend Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) isn’t thrilled about Frankie spending so much time with a beautiful celebrity.  The two begin a game of chicken trying to provoke jealousy in one another, a game that takes them from the beach to the dance floor and all the way up to the sky.

Other than the aforementioned mermaid (who woos one of the supporting players,) this is a pretty straightforward teen romcom.  On the whole, it’s lightweight but harmless.  The plot is fluffy, the leads are charming, and there are more bikinis than you can shake a stick at – exactly what it says on the tin.

Buster plays “Buster,” a guy who hangs out adjacent to the teen crowd and conducts minor slapstick in the background.  I believe he works at the airport where the gang tries their hand at skydiving, but he’s never really part of the plot.  He just pops up now and again in a suit and his trademark hat, usually chasing a buxom Scandinavian girl who only ever says, “Ja, ja!”

As usual for these films, there’s not too much of note, though I should mention that he appears in short scenes throughout the movie – not a lot of screentime overall, but he doesn’t disappear partway through like in Sergeant Dead Head.  Highlights include a scene where he’s painting on the beach and does a faceplant into his easel, and a scene where he punches himself in the face while attempting to dance like the kids do nowadays.  Probably not too many guys pushing 70 who can somersault backwards off the edge of a table!

Warnings

Suggestiveness and some corny violence.