Sorority beach babes in Balboa, CA have to raise $10,000 to save their order, eventually resorting to desperate measures such as entering a cooking contest, a beauty contest and trying to get The Beatles to perform at the local hot spot. Charmingly dim-witted surf-sand-&-sexy girls opus, obviously a knock-off of the "Beach Party" cycle--and better produced--but not as charismatic. The flick spotlights a bevy of energetic ladies, guest stars The Beach Boys and also Lesley Gore (it's unclear if Gore is visiting royalty or if she's just one of the gals). Though it isn't fresh, it is noodle-headed fun given a fast pace and a good soundtrack. ** from ****
12 Reviews
Paramount's Entry into the Beach Movie Scene
Uriah4326 April 2019
Faced with a deadline of one week to come up $10,000 to save their sorority, the president of "Alpha-Beta" named "Selma" (Noreen Corcoran) and her companions come up with several different plans to raise the funds. Unfortunately, not all of their plans come to fruition so as a last resort they plead with some local boys to petition the English group known as the Beatles to come and put on a small concert. What they don't know is that these guys have fabricated their connection to the singing group in order to date these girls and with time running short the chances of keeping their house becomes even more seriously jeopardized. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a solid "beach movie" produced by Paramount which compared favorably (more or less) with the American International films at the time. Of particular note was the presence of the Beach Boys and Leslie Gore who lip-synced a number of songs. Likewise, having several attractive actresses like Ahna Capri (as "Arlene"), Gail Gilmore ("Georgia") and the aformentioned Noreen Corcoran certainly didn't hurt the film in any way either. That being said, while this was not a great film by any means, I still found it to be entertaining to a certain degree and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Not much different from any other beach picture.
Hermit C-221 September 1999
American International Pictures wasn't the only studio that tried to cash in on the short-lived "beach movie" semi-craze. To this film's credit it does not exactly follow the formula of AIP's pictures. But the result isn't much different--or much better.
It's ironic that the plot revolves around the (completely absent) Beatles, since that group and the others in the "British invasion" of 1964 pretty much killed off the scene depicted in this movie. Practically before it got rolling the beach movie was old hat and dead as a genre.
This may be the only beach movie to actually feature the Beach Boys, whose musical influence permeates all of the films of this type. The title song is not one of their better numbers but it does reflect their sound at a time when Brian Wilson was in complete creative control. More effective are Wilson's ballad "The Lonely Sea" and "Little Honda." During the latter song's performance it's amusing to watch Dennis Wilson, the noted hedonist, who is mightily distracted by the nearby dancing girls. As far as the other musical names in the film go, I never much cared for Lesley Gore and the Crickets without Buddy Holly are just...the Crickets.
It's ironic that the plot revolves around the (completely absent) Beatles, since that group and the others in the "British invasion" of 1964 pretty much killed off the scene depicted in this movie. Practically before it got rolling the beach movie was old hat and dead as a genre.
This may be the only beach movie to actually feature the Beach Boys, whose musical influence permeates all of the films of this type. The title song is not one of their better numbers but it does reflect their sound at a time when Brian Wilson was in complete creative control. More effective are Wilson's ballad "The Lonely Sea" and "Little Honda." During the latter song's performance it's amusing to watch Dennis Wilson, the noted hedonist, who is mightily distracted by the nearby dancing girls. As far as the other musical names in the film go, I never much cared for Lesley Gore and the Crickets without Buddy Holly are just...the Crickets.
Beach-Party clone is notable for being told from the female point-of-view.
bella-62 February 1999
This inoffensive little film, made as a clone of AIP's beach-party films, is less affected than some entries in the official series and is notable for being told from the female's point of view for a change.
The plot is forgettable fluff, but the film features more beautiful actresses on one beach than AIP could ever muster. The cast includes several familiar faces from television, including a grown-up Noreen Corcoran (from "Bachelor Father") and Lori Saunders (here billed as Linda Saunders and soon bound for "Petticoat Junction").
Music fans are also in for a treat: the film features the most extensive Beach Boys performance in any feature film, as well as appearances by Lesley Gore and the post-Buddy Holly Crickets.
The plot is forgettable fluff, but the film features more beautiful actresses on one beach than AIP could ever muster. The cast includes several familiar faces from television, including a grown-up Noreen Corcoran (from "Bachelor Father") and Lori Saunders (here billed as Linda Saunders and soon bound for "Petticoat Junction").
Music fans are also in for a treat: the film features the most extensive Beach Boys performance in any feature film, as well as appearances by Lesley Gore and the post-Buddy Holly Crickets.
A poor attempt to combine a beach party and Beatles movie
LOLA-113 January 1999
This is not only a very bad "beach party" type movie, it attempts to cash in on the Beatles craze at the same time in the plotline. Silly, gyrating girls in swimsuits think they are going to raise money by getting Beatles to play at their benefit held at the beach. This was 1965 folks, teens were not wearing bouffant, ratted hairdos anymore, the clothing was outdated (high heels and a demure frock? - I think not). The girls are silly and prudish (except for their gyrating when they dance) and the boys are typical on the make studs in sports jackets, short haircuts- this is not 1965. Only bright spot is Lesley Gore's singing. This movie is too awful to even be considered good camp.
More of a drag than "Beach Ball", in more ways than one!
mark.waltz26 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
You could fit the plot of this movie inside the smallest beach shell and still have room for the music. Like "Beach Ball", it starts off promising, with an appearance of the Beach Boys (as opposed to the Four Seasons in "Beach Ball") and goes downhill from there. The minutte plotline involves a group of college girls who find out that their den mother (veteran actress Sheila Bromley) has absconded with money raised for their sorority house, so they must put on a show to get the money back. Thanks to one of their idiot boyfriends, the girls are sure that they've gotten the Beatles no less to appear at their benefit, and of course that's not true.
Tossed into the mix is Lesley Gore as herself, apparently one of the sorority girls, doing nothing but singing a few songs. Like "Beach Ball", the young men involvedin the story end up in drag, being grabbed to dance by other men who were far too blind or stupid to notice what they were really looking at. The real issue here, is that the film is simply just boring, the comedy unfunny and even the music not all that memorable. The Beach Boys sing a beach song that sounds exactly like "La Bamba", and the words just don't go with the rhythm.
Noreen Corcoran and Linda Marshall in the leading female roles really have no presence, have a story, told from a woman's point of view, does the female gender no favors in a liberated era. The only interesting young presence is Lana Wood, more for her family connections and scandalous history than for the performance. It really hits a low point when some of the girls dressed up as the Beatles, looking closer to the Mosquitoes on "Gilligan's Island".
Tossed into the mix is Lesley Gore as herself, apparently one of the sorority girls, doing nothing but singing a few songs. Like "Beach Ball", the young men involvedin the story end up in drag, being grabbed to dance by other men who were far too blind or stupid to notice what they were really looking at. The real issue here, is that the film is simply just boring, the comedy unfunny and even the music not all that memorable. The Beach Boys sing a beach song that sounds exactly like "La Bamba", and the words just don't go with the rhythm.
Noreen Corcoran and Linda Marshall in the leading female roles really have no presence, have a story, told from a woman's point of view, does the female gender no favors in a liberated era. The only interesting young presence is Lana Wood, more for her family connections and scandalous history than for the performance. It really hits a low point when some of the girls dressed up as the Beatles, looking closer to the Mosquitoes on "Gilligan's Island".
The Girls On The Beach
djrockinray1 January 2006
There have been some good comments on the film The Girls On The Beach. Some have been quite critical, and that is sad. Fans of AIP(American International Pictures) will surely love this film. Following the format Paramount gave AIP the ultimate compliment. Yes, much slicker than AIP, just as corn ball, this is an innocent teen movie of the time. Those who may be interested should also take the approach as the studio did. You went to see this movie for the music,good looking people, and the acting really didn't matter much. I have seen this movie available on DVD, a bit steep for one disc at $29.00 new, or VHS for $25.00. A rare movie indeed, and certainly about life and music of the 1960's generation surely to bring a smile.
A Beach Party Movie With Savvy
dbonk3 July 2005
Forget those AIP Hollywood Beach movies with Annette and her girl friends wearing those Mother Hubbard swimsuits along with Frankie Avalon who somehow never came across as a true hodad, try as he might.
Trust a major studio like Paramount Pictures (yeah, go figure) to deliver a teen beach movie that rocks. Not only does this movie deliver less swimsuit per girl per frame, but the music scores as well.
Featuring The Beach Boys during their initial crest atop the surf/custom car sound (complete with a handsome,tanned and confident Brian Wilson at the helm), they provide the theme song as well as a casual lip-sync to their breezy 'Little Honda' lifting this movie genre beyond the usual Hollywood Tin Pan Alley vs.America's teenagers.
Lesley Gore(the perfect singing role model in handling teen angst) captures the mood of this movie which clearly represents the feminine point of view through a group of bubbly, buxom girls who need to raise money for their sorority. Sure, familiar plot but it glides past the viewer like the swirl on Noreen Corcoran's bottled blond bouffant styled hair. No longer John Forsythe's niece to his 'Uncle Bentley', Noreen fills her role as a California college cutie in this flick as well as she fills her bikini. Not to be outdone, Lori Saunders(credited as Linda Saunders,soon to be the prim and proper Bobbie Jo Bradly on 'Petticoat Junction')delivers a bumpin' bikini belly dance in a beauty contest judged by a group of hot and bothered middle-aged men. Well, no wonder those poor judges are working up a sweat, wearing dark suits and ties on the beach. Anyway, that scene is worth its weight in woodies.
Add the constantly peeved Dick Miller performing yeoman duty as a bartender at the beach hangout and Sonny Curtis revving up the house band(the original 'Crickets'no less),well, you won't find any gremmies on this stretch of sand.
Surf's Up!
Trust a major studio like Paramount Pictures (yeah, go figure) to deliver a teen beach movie that rocks. Not only does this movie deliver less swimsuit per girl per frame, but the music scores as well.
Featuring The Beach Boys during their initial crest atop the surf/custom car sound (complete with a handsome,tanned and confident Brian Wilson at the helm), they provide the theme song as well as a casual lip-sync to their breezy 'Little Honda' lifting this movie genre beyond the usual Hollywood Tin Pan Alley vs.America's teenagers.
Lesley Gore(the perfect singing role model in handling teen angst) captures the mood of this movie which clearly represents the feminine point of view through a group of bubbly, buxom girls who need to raise money for their sorority. Sure, familiar plot but it glides past the viewer like the swirl on Noreen Corcoran's bottled blond bouffant styled hair. No longer John Forsythe's niece to his 'Uncle Bentley', Noreen fills her role as a California college cutie in this flick as well as she fills her bikini. Not to be outdone, Lori Saunders(credited as Linda Saunders,soon to be the prim and proper Bobbie Jo Bradly on 'Petticoat Junction')delivers a bumpin' bikini belly dance in a beauty contest judged by a group of hot and bothered middle-aged men. Well, no wonder those poor judges are working up a sweat, wearing dark suits and ties on the beach. Anyway, that scene is worth its weight in woodies.
Add the constantly peeved Dick Miller performing yeoman duty as a bartender at the beach hangout and Sonny Curtis revving up the house band(the original 'Crickets'no less),well, you won't find any gremmies on this stretch of sand.
Surf's Up!
Great for what it is
zippo-92 August 1999
This movie is a must-see for the Beach Boys at the top of their early form and for Lesley Gore. It doesn't have the fantasy elements of the Eric Von Zipper movies, but being from a female point of view wins points. Especially lovely are the beach beauties, and watch for the sister of Natalie Wood, Lana. They don't come sweeter!
brilliant
dum21 February 1999
Girls on the Beach is one of the most satisfying films of its genre. A beautifully realized screenplay of straight-to-the-point dialogue and acting that borders on Kabuki theatre. And of course there's the great songs of Leslie Gore and The Beach Boys. The ending is pure magic realism.
Music, Beach Boys and Lesley Gore, and girls in bikinis worth it.
youth_in_asia1 February 2002
I don't know where you grew up but NY, PA and OH: Yes, girls had boufants and ratted hairdos, boys had short hair and sport coats in 1965. In fact in 1968, there was only one guy with long hair (over ears) in my whole school. Unfortunately, we didn't have any surfboarding either in suburban NY. Lame movie... good soundtrack.
For oldies fans ONLY!
BobLib7 October 1999
I saw this one recently on AMC and all I can say is this: If you can wade through the insipid plot, even by Beach Movie standards, and worse acting, you'll actually get some pretty good performances by the Beach Boys, Leslie Gore, and the original Crickets, Buddy Holly's backup group. Alas, you have to put up with the one to get at the other. Musically, I give "Girls on the Beach" a 10, otherwise one half of one! It's hard to believe a major studio like Paramount could have gone the AIP route with this one.
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