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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
MGM Drops the "Beach" Ball on this One!, June 18, 2001
This review is from: Beach Blanket Bingo (DVD)
Serious collectors hoping for the "definitive" version of this beach classic, please be forewarned: MGM has inexplicably released the "edited for television" version rather than the original theatrical version! What a disappointment! It seems that years ago when "Beach Blanket Bingo" was shown on ABC, the network cut out a solo sung by Annette titled "I'll Never Change Him" to allow for more commercial time. When HBO released its VHS version, it was also the edited version and in fact, subsequent reissues by Goodtimes Video and Video Treasures apparently used the same print. It wasn't until a couple of years ago when the movie started showing on cable networks such as Cinemax and American Movie Classics that the restored theatrical version finally was seen and for those of us who weren't lucky enough to see it on the big screen, it was quite a surprise that we had been watching an edited version all these years. The song is a bouncy upbeat tune and in my opinion, it's Annette's best song in the series. In fact, it was even recycled later the same year in "Ski Party" with the title and lyrics slightly changed to "We'll Never Change 'em" and this time warbled by Deborah Walley. On the upside, the transfer is crisp and the colors breathtaking in this widescreen edition. But if you want to see the original theatrical version, you'll just have to be content to tape it the next time it plays on AMC's American Pop series.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Of The Beach, January 17, 2000
Beach Blanket Bingo is the best of AIP's Beach Party films. Unlike the other films in the series, there are actual attempts at some clever tongue and cheek writing here, Annette finally displays some of here phenomenal body, Frankie actually has a tan, and the supporting cast is much better this time around. Here we have Harvey Lembeck as Erick Von Zipper (what a great character!), Linda Evans, Marta Kristen, John Ashley, Buster Keaton, Don Rickles and the great, demented, Timothy Carey. Director William Asher had Roger Corman's Poe movie cinematographer Floyd Crosby on this film, making it the best looking of the series. The color is rich, the compositions dynamic and the camera more mobile than usual, giving the film a greater sense of excitement. Finally, series composer Les Baxter also had a bigger hand in writing and arranging the songs this time around, and they are much better than usual for this series -- the title tune is a standout. If you have a taste for American-International's Beach Party pictures, this is the best, and if you've never seen one before, this is the one to start with... Loads of fun!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
actually more enjoyable than the ORIGINAL "Beach Party"!, September 27, 2002
This review is from: Beach Blanket Bingo (DVD)
BEACH BLANKET BINGO is considered by many as their favorite "Beach Party" movie. In order, my three favorites are BEACH BLANKET BINGO, PAJAMA PARTY and BEACH PARTY. In this sequel, Dee Dee (Annette Funicello) and Frankie (Frankie Avalon) decide to take skydiving lessons from the hard-nosed pilot John Ashley and the late Deborah Walley. Things get complicated when up-and-coming pop singer Sugar Kane (Linda Evans) ends up in Frankie's arms - literally - and the ... Deborah decides to make Frankie an afterschool sweetheart! Dumb-as-stumps Deadhead (Jody McCrea) falls in love with an elusive mermaid (Marta Kristen) and the always-annoying Eric Von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) and his "Rats" show up to kidnap the lovely Sugar Kane... Featuring a memorable title song as well as great musical turns by Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello and Donna Loren. There are also great cameo roles from Earl Wilson, Don Rickles, Paul Lynde, Buster Keaton and Bobbi Shaw (reprising her role as Keaton's dizzy sidekick). The DVD includes the trailer. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).
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