Beach Party
Seen it?1963 | 101 min | Comedy, Music
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It made about 13 times its budget, but middling reviews (43% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved This Is Spinal Tap or Work It, start here.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1963: an older pace and style.
Anthropology Professor Robert Orwell Sutwell and his secretary Marianne are studying the sex habits of teenagers. The surfing teens led by Frankie and Dee Dee don't have much sex but they sing, battle the motorcycle rats and mice led by Eric Von Zipper and dance to Dick Dale and the Del Tones.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
43% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$4 million worldwide on a $300K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 44K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by William Asher
- Robert CummingsProfessor Sutwell
- Dorothy MaloneMarianne
- Frankie AvalonFrankie
- Annette FunicelloDolores
- Morey AmsterdamCappy
- Harvey LembeckEric Von Zipper
- Eva SixAva
- John AshleyKen
- Jody McCreaDeadhead
- Dick DaleHimself