How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (American International Pictures) (1965)

“HOW TO STUFF A WILD BIKINI" PROVES FILM FUN INFECTIOUS Proof that “having fun” is infectious is the success of American International’s “young-at-heart”’ musical comedies, the latest of which is “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,” according to director William Asher. “It’s easy to understand why movie audiences have so much fun at showings of this and previous AIP musical comedies when the entire cast — the young stars, the featured players, and the veteran character comedians who star in the films — have such a good time during production of these films,” he says. “In ‘How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,’ everyone played their parts, imbuing each scene with a catching enthusiasm and the spirit of ‘having a ball.’ This includes stars Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Buster Keaton, Harvey Lembeck, Beverly Adams, John Ashley, Jody McCrea, and guest star Mickey Rooney on through the youngsters and featured players like Patti Chandler, Bobbi Shaw, Mary Hughes, Salli Sachse, Luree Holmes, Jo Collins, Sue Hamilton, Ed Garner, and Mike Nader. “A perfect example of this exhuberance is the exciting ‘king of the mountain’ scene on the beach at Malibu when the young people in the cast lined up, girls atop the boys’ shoulders, trying to knock one another off their perches. The ensuing melee comes off as a memorable laugh-filled scene, with the gang having as much fun personally as they seem to have on screen. “The game was played with such enthusiasm and spirit that although bumps and bruises were sustained, the game continued between takes as long as the company stayed at the beach. “The same spirit held the entire cast during many dance numbers and the thrilling motorcycle chase sequences. All took part as though on their own vacation, producing a spontaneity that wouldn’t come across if they were just ‘acting.’ “T’ve found that the word on AIP’s fun movies has gotton around Hollywood and the film capital’s young actors and ac ACTOR JOHN ASHLEY MAKES DEBUT AS SINGER Young acting star, John Ashley, makes his singing debut in American International’s ‘How to Stuff.a Wild Bikini” to reveal an exciting new film musical talent. Heretofore confined to romantic and dramatic roles, Ashley got a chance to use his fine baritone when he volunteered to do the solo part of the number, “After The Party,” which features the film’s cast of young actors and actresses in a gay musical interlude. tresses swamp me with requests for bit roles — ‘imagine getting paid for having such a good time’ — and it shows when the pictures BOY WATCHERS AT WORK — Mic are finally screened. The audience catches the spirit of fun every time. “As a matter of fact,” Asher admits, “I’ve had such a good time myself directing these films, that I look forward to each new one.” key Rooney joins Annette Funi cello and group of eye-popping beauties as they watch boy friends in scene from American International’s ‘‘How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,”’ opening _................--.----- er U atthe: os ae Theatre. Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Buster Keaton and Beverly Adams also star in the musical comedy. 2 COL. SCENE MAT 2-B Mickey Is “Jack Of All Trades” In Show World One of the most multi-talented people active today in the entertainment world is Mickey Rooney who stars in American International’s “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.” In addition to being an excellent actor, comedian and entertainer, he also is a talented musician and plays almost every instrument in the band. Mickey also is a composer of note and has written not only popular songs but also a symphony. Rooney sings and dances and is a respected director, writer, and producer of motion pictures and plays. In the field of sports, he is an expert golfer, swimmer and tennis player. In the new AIP musical comedy, which also stars Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Harvey Lemback and Buster Keaton, Rooney draws laughs as a zany ad man and sings two numbers — one with a bevy of beach beauties and the other with Donlevy. ‘| BRIAN DONLEY DOUBLES AS TOP FILM, TV WRITER Famed veteran character actor, Brian Donlevy, who stars in Ameriacn International’s “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,” revealed during production of the new musical comedy that he has been leading a double life for many years unknown to the general public. Donlevy’s secret is that he has been a highly respected writer, for both films and television, over the last twenty years. His television scripts, for many top shows, have been done under a nom de plume, while he also has used other names for his film screenplays. He disclosed that his latest writing effort is the motion picture, “The Single Spur,’ which starts production in Acapulco, Mexico this summer. Keaton Says Few Comics Are "Good" “A comedian does or says funny things!” “A GOOD comedian does thing's funny!” So does the acknowledged master comedian of motion pictures, the one and only Buster Keaton, look at his fellow comedians past and present. Keaton, now experiencing a comeback in movies at the age of 69, is being introduced for the first time this year and last to new generations of movie-goers who have never seen his hilarious and famous silent film roles. He currently is appearing in his fourth feature film starring role as the zany witch doctor in American International’s “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,” after more than thirty years of near obscurity during which he appeared only in occasional cameo roles and in television commercials. In his classification of “good” comedians, Keaton honors only one current star — Dick Van Dyke. He credits most others as being top entertainers, but reserves his unique “good” only to the young and talented Van Dyke. Today, as the oldest living entertainment star from point of years in show business, Keaton seems as spry as ever and just as funny as when he started to make people laugh. That goes way back to 1899 when he appeared on stage with his parents in the Keaton-Houdini Medicine Shows. His father’s partner was the famed magician Harry Houdini, and he has been a working star comedian ever since — 66 years in all. e Derby Delights Dwayne e WwW e@ eye eoFF e@ in “Wild Bikini” Musical Many a person has nursed a secret if inconsequential ambition since childhood. A case in point is comedy star Dwayne Hickman who admits he always has wanted to wear a derby hat, but never had the nerve or chance to do so. His wish was fulfilled quite unexpectedly this year when for his starring role in American International’s “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” he had to wear the headgear. His role as dudish womanchaser Ricky, opposite Annette Funicello in the color and Panavision musical, called for the longthwarted Dwayne to don the derby. “Never again,” said Dwayne after seeing himself in the hat, “Now I wonder why I ever nursed that ambition but, then again, anything like that always comes as an anti-climax when you’ve waited so long.” LEMBECK MAKES FILM ROLE WEAPON AGAINST DELINQUENCY Show business comedy acting veteran Harvey Lembeck is proud of the new fame he has gained during the last two years as the “world’s oldest juvenile delinquent,” Eric Von Ripper, in American International’s “young-at-heart”’ musical comedies. His latest recreation of the bumbling leatherjacketed villain is in AIP’s “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,” which also stars Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Buster Keaton, Beverly Adams, John Ashley, Jody McCrea and guest star Mickey Rooney. “What I’m proudest of is the ‘large and steady flow of mail I receive from young people all over the nation. They tell me that they understand and appreciate what Eric Von Zipper means in terms of satirization of the tough-sounding but really weak bully who is common to all neighborhoods,” Lembeck says. “These young movie fans also show that they’re ‘hep’ by their organization of ‘Eric Von Zipper Clubs’ in almost every state of the union. That is their way of making: effective and devastating fun of those among them who might try to cover up their weaknesses by bullying other kids in much the same way as the adult bullies among us operate. “Tt’s a tribute to our American youth that they see Von Zipper as a weapon against juvenile delinquency as I intended him to be the first time he appeared way back in ‘Beach Party.’ Like reallife bullies, he can only be a loser despite his false bravado. His Comic villains extraordinaire Eric Von Zipper and South Dakota Slim welcome a new and worthy addition to their sad ranks in American International’s ““How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.” The new evil character, every bit as menacing and every bit as fumbling and ill-fated as his other film cohorts, is dubbed “‘‘North Dakota Pete” and portrayed by well-known Hollywood character actor, Len Lesser. In the new AIP musical comedy, Lesser teams with Harvey Lembeck to fictionally pair Pete and Von Zipper in a wild and hilarious series of mishaps. These start in the Rat Pack pool hall and climax in one of the most exciting and funniest cross-country motorcycle races ever seen on the screen. basic cowardice makes for a combination of hearty laughter and better understanding of his real weakness.” In “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,”’ Lembeck portrays Von Zip per for the fifth and most hilarious time as the cyclist and his “rat pack” gang meet their just desserts after an exciting and very funny cross-country motorcycle race. It’s a new and gratifying turn in the movie career of an actor who has previously mostly played very funny armed forces characters. RATS AND MICE GO FORMAL — Harvey Lembeck as chief Rat Eric Von Zipper leads his Rats and Mice in comedy song number as they doff customary leather jackets for formal wear in scene from American International’s ‘‘How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.”” Others, from left, are Andy Romano, Alberta Nelson, John Macchia and Myrna Ross in musical comedy opening ......................---------at the pha fy oh ted Do een ose ea dee et are Theatre. A, New Film Villain. Lesser, who has been brought to justice over two hundred times in “heavy” roles, also has played every other type of character role in his long and colorful career. He started at the age of fifteen in his native New York City in “Of Mice and Men” and has since appeared in many top Broadway plays, on radio, and on the West Coast in recent years in leading television series, in legitimate theater, and in motion pictures. His over three hundred television appearances include regular comedy assignments on the “Red Skelton Show.” Lesser’s many film credits include ‘Birdman of Alcatraz” and “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” prior to his creation of North Dakota Pete in “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini.” BX we 2 COL. SCENE MAT 2-E Rooney Learns “Bikini Songs in Amazing Time Motion picture technicians and work crews are notoriously stoic about the talents and accomplishments of the many fine actors they see daily. However, once in a while they are stirred to cheer or comment about something special as in their acknowledged wonderment of the amazing Mickey Rooney. The spur to this rare reaction occurred during the filming of American International’s ‘How to Stuff a Wild Bikini” in which Rooney stars with Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, Buster Keaton, Harvey Lembeck, Beverly Adams, John Ashley, and Jody McCrea. Mickey has two songs to perform in the musical comedy and he drew gasps «when he received the sheets and learned both numbers, words and music, in exactly thirty-five minutes. With a display of typical Rooney confidence, he then ran through the songs and recorded them perfectly, all in less than an hour to the applause and admiration of everyone on the set.