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Beach ball

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Beach Ball is a 1965 American musical comedy film. It belongs to a specific genre known as the beach party movie. These films were designed to be loud, lively, and entertaining for young audiences. They often combined music, surfing, and social scenes to create a sense of fun. While some critics viewed it as a "rip off" of other films, it remains a notable example of the genre.

The plot centers on a rock and roll group called The Wigglers. This band consists of three members named Bango, Jack, and Bob. They are managed by a man named Dick Martin. The group faces a financial crisis when a music store owner, Mr. Wolf, demands payment. The band owes $1,000 for their musical instruments. To solve this, the characters must find a way to raise the necessary funds.

Musical performances are a central part of the film's structure. The movie features several famous recording personalities from the era. The Supremes appear in the film and were paid $2,500 for their performance. The Righteous Brothers also appear, receiving $500 for their role. Additionally, The Hondells were featured in the production and earned $400. Other musical groups included in the film are The Walker Brothers and The Four Seasons.

The production of the film involved several key figures in the film industry. Roger Corman provided $100,000 in financing to producer Bart Patton. A significant portion of this budget, between $22,000 and $25,000, was set aside for the star, Edd Byrnes. Although Patton wanted to direct, Corman hired Lennie Weinrib for the role. Weinrib was a comic making his directorial debut with this project.

Casting changes occurred during the early stages of production. Originally, Tommy Kirk was announced as a male star alongside Chris Noel. However, Kirk eventually dropped out of the project. Edd Byrnes was then cast to take his place. Byrnes described the film as a "romp" similar to the work of Frankie Avalon. He accepted the role because of the generous financial offer provided by the producers.

Financially, the film proved to be a significant success. Corman pre-sold the movie to Paramount for $350,000. Some accounts suggest the film was made for $137,000 and sold for $225,000. Regardless of the specific figures, the film earned $1 million at the box office. This success even led to new opportunities for producer Bart Patton. Lew Wasserman of Universal signed Patton to a two-picture deal following the film's quality.

Critical reception of Beach Ball was varied but generally focused on its energy. The publication Critical Variety described it as a "bouillabaisse" of surfing ingredients. They noted that the combination of scenery and rock and roll would appeal to adolescents. Other critics, such as those at Filmink, noted a specific weakness in the character writing. They observed that it was sometimes difficult to tell the characters apart. However, they concluded that the film was still a lot of fun to watch.

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