Fun Fact to start your week: When I was in middle school, I had a slight obsession with the Beach Party movies. I’m pretty sure it was egged on by a trip to Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Resort that later led to an all out bedroom makeover. However, in my sheltered childhood, there are two things I was too naive to realize when I was 13:
- They’re smoking pot the whole time.
- It’s really all about sex.
So now when I watch it every summer, I still swoon over the big hair and fabulous clothes–I’m just a little more disturbed by whatever those crazy kids were doing in the early 60s. That, however, will not stop me from doing a little Style File.
First of all, sing-alongs in the car are the best! What better foreplay than singing about a beach vacation with the one you love? And is there a woman alive who wouldn’t pay embarrassing amounts of money to know just how Annette Funicello got her hair to stay so big in the balmy beach climate? Annette Funicello should have been Southern because sister loves her bouffant. Also, and I won’t dwell on this, who else can own head to toe yellow?
Annette shows off some seriously ‘good girl wanting to go bad’ beachwear in these movies. In fact, I have this theory that her chest was so provocative in the first movie (see above), that they literally tied it down in the sequel (see below.)
Aside from the fashion, there were some real life lessons in this movie. The 2 most notable being:
1. Stand by your man… unless he tries to get you into bed before you’re ready. In that case, find an older man to make him jealous that doesn’t pose a threat but gives your new-found sexuality a confidence boost.
2. It is important to know at least one good defense move like “the finger.” Also, if all bad guys were Eric von Zipper’s gang, watching the evening news would be exponentially more awesome.
Also noteworthy, in the picture below is Deadhead. I’m pretty sure he was one of the first pioneers for preppy beachwear. Tell me those short shorts don’t look like a Michael Bastian collection just waiting to happen!
Beach Party is on Netflix Instant. You can thank me later.
