Pajama Party

Pajama Party
theatrical poster
Directed by	Don Weis
Produced by	Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson
Written by	Louis M. Heyward
Starring	Tommy Kirk Annette Funicello Elsa Lanchester Jody McCrea Harvey Lembeck Buster Keaton Jesse White
Music by	Score: Les Baxter Songs: Jerry Styner Guy Hemric
Cinematography	Floyd Crosby
Editing by	Eve Newman
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release date(s)	November 11, 1964 (1964-11-11)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Pajama Party is a 1964 beach party film starring Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello. This is the fourth in a series of seven beach films produced by American International Pictures. The other films in this series are Beach Party (1963), Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).

This fourth entry has not always been considered a follow-up to the three films that preceded it. Several sources have noted, however, that while it is not a proper sequel, it is indeed a part of what is now termed AIP's ‘Beach Party series.’ Moreover, AIP marketed it as a sequel in its trailer, stating "The Bikini Beach Party Gang is Warming Up! – For the ‘Party’ that Takes Off – Where others Poop Out!" and "All the ‘Beach Party’ Fun … in Pajamas!" Additional links that tie this film to the others are the return of Eric von Zipper and his Rat Pack (who previously appeared in Beach Party and Bikini Beach) and the return of Candy Johnson as Candy for the fourth time in as many films. Regulars Frankie Avalon, Don Rickles, Annette Funicello, Jody McCrea and Donna Loren all appear (albeit with character name changes – not the first time this happens in the series, nor the last); Susan Hart makes the first of three appearances in the AIP brand of the genre; Buster Keaton makes the first of four appearances, and Bobbi Shaw makes the first appearance of five. In addition, several background players in this film (Patti Chandler, Mary Hughes, Johnny Fain, Mike Nader, Salli Sachse, Luree Holmes, Ronnie Dayton, Ed Garner, Ray Atkinson, Linda Benson, and Laura Nicholson) also appear in three or more films in the AIP brand of the genre.

The final credit in the original titles gives the name of the next film in the series, Beach Blanket Bingo.

Plot

Teen aged Martian intelligence officer 006, named Gogo (Tommy Kirk), is sent to Earth wearing an usher's uniform to prepare the way for a Martian invasion. The first earthling he meets, Aunt Wendy, is an eccentric widow who runs a dress shop. She has Gogo, now calling himself George, get dressed in a swimsuit and sends him to the beach. There he meets her nephew, Big Lunk (Jody McCrea), who enjoys volleyball but has little interest in romance, which is frustrating for his girlfriend Connie (Annette Funicello).

Meanwhile, Aunt Wendy's shady neighbor, J. Sinister Hulk (Jesse White), and his gang (with Buster Keaton as Chief Rotten Eagle and Bobbi Shaw as the Swedish Helga) concoct a scheme to separate Aunt Wendy from her cash. Meanwhile Eric von Zipper (Harvey Lembeck) and his motorcycle gang, the Rat Pack want to get revenge against the beach teenagers. George and Connie fall for each other, while Big Lunk is attracted to Helga, and for the fourth time in as many films, a giant fight breaks out at the end.

Cast

• Tommy Kirk as Go-Go
• Annette Funicello as Connie
• Elsa Lanchester as Aunt Wendy
• Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper
• Jesse White as J. Sinister Hulk
• Jody McCrea as Big Lunk
• Ben Lessy as Fleegle
• Donna Loren as Vikki
• Susan Hart as Jilda
• Bobbi Shaw as Helga
• Cheryl Sweeten as Francine
• Luree Holmes as Perfume Girl
• Dorothy Kilgallen as herself
• Candy Johnson as Candy
• Buster Keaton as Chief Rotten Eagle
• Dorothy Lamour as Head Saleslady
• Don Rickles as "Big Bang" the Martian
• Frankie Avalon as Socum
• Teri Garr as Pajama Girl
• Toni Basil as Pajama Girl

Production notes

Director

Pajama Party is one of only two Beach Party films not directed by William Asher. Pajama Party and The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini were both directed by Don Weis.

Cast

Teri Garr (aka "Teri Hope") and Toni Basil both can be seen in the film; they were both students of David Winters of West Side Story fame, who choreographed the picture and were the "David Winters' dancers" appearing in most of the films he choreographed; they are listed in the end credits as "Pajama Girls"^[1][2]. Frankie Avalon appears in the film in all the scenes with Don Rickles, but only the back of Avalon's head is seen until the final moments.

During the entire Beach Party series, this was the one and only time Donna Loren was seen in a speaking role. Celebrity Dorothy Kilgallen's son, Kerry Kolmar, had a recurring role throughout the film as a little boy who declares disgustedly "Mush!" whenever he spies romance in action. Kilgallen herself has a tiny cameo as a woman who falls on J.D.'s motorcycle during the car chase sequence; she introduces herself saying, "My name is Dorothy – what's yours?" Cheryl Sweeten, who was the 1963 Miss Colorado and played Francine in this film, made only this one film, but she received prominent billing in the end credits.

Choreography

The dances for this film were choreographed by David Winters of Shindig! and Hullabaloo fame. Both Teri Garr and Toni Basil were Winters' students at the time.

Locations

The studio backlot used for the car chase sequence is the Warner Bros. Ranch Facility in Burbank, which was also used for the car chase sequence in Bikini Beach. The beach used for the volleyball scenes and Donna Loren's "Among the Young" song is Surfrider Beach in Malibu.

Product placement

The film features extensive product placement of Dr. Pepper soft drink and features Donna Loren who was the "Dr. Pepper Girl"^[3]The then new Ford Mustang is also featured in a chase scene.

Music

Guy Hemric and Jerry Styner wrote all the songs heard in the film, and several melodies were picked up and used for the film's score by composer Les Baxter. The music supervisor was Al Simms.

Annette Funicello performs "It's That Kind of Day", with the cast and also sings "Stuffed Animal" as well as the title track.

Funicello and Tommy Kirk sing "There Has to Be a Reason"; Dorothy Lamour sings "Where Did I Go Wrong"; Donna Loren sings "Among the Young."

The Los Angeles-based band The Nooney Rickett 4 (who appeared in Columbia's beach party film, Winter A Go-Go the following year) play backup for "Among the Young", and are shown playing backup for "Pajama Party." The band also performs an instrumental version of "Among the Young" in the film, entitled "Beach Ball", and are shown performing an instrumental of "It's That Kind of Day."

References

External links

• Pajama Party at the Internet Movie Database
• Pajama Party at the TCM Movie Database
• Pajama Party at AllRovi