Ski Party (1965)

 (This post is part of the Winter in July Blogathon hosted by Moon in Gemini)

American International Pictures' series of "Beach Party" movies remain well known. Baby Boomers remember them fondly from their youth. Younger generations remember them fondly from repeated viewings on television (which is how I first saw them). What is sometimes forgotten is that the "Beach Party" series included movies whose settings were sometimes far from the beach. The first of these was Pajama Party in 1964. The second was Ski Party (1965), which was set on the slopes of a ski resort (it was shot on location in Idaho).

Although part of AIP's "Beach Party" series, like Pajama Party before it,  Ski Party was not a proper sequel to the earlier "Beach Party movies (Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, et. al).  Annette Funicello only appears briefly as a college professor (not Dee Dee of the "Beach Party" films) and while Frankie Avalon stars in the film, he plays an entirely different character. None of the other regular characters from the "Beach Party" series appear, although actors who had previously appeared in "Beach Party" movies do, albeit in different roles. Deborah Walley had previously appeared in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). Dancer Bobbie Shaw appeared in both Pajama Party and Beach Blanket Bingo before appearing in Ski Party.

AIP's "Beach Party" series began in 1963 with the movie Beach Party starring Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. The movie proved to be a hit, so it was followed by the sequels Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), and Beach Blanket Bingo. Because of the success of Beach Party, other studios soon jumped onto the bandwagon. United Artists put out For Those Who Think Young (1964). Universal released The Lively Set (1964). Paramount came out with The Girls on the Beach (1965) and Beach Ball (1965). And there were yet other movies that imitated AIP's beach films. By 1965 not only had there been three "Beach Party" movies (four if one counts Pajama Party), but there had been several imitators released as well. It was getting more and more difficult to keep the films fresh and interesting. The solution for AIP was then to simply change the setting, yet keep the "Beach Party" formula of teenage independence, fun, music, and mild sexuality. The end results were the movies Pajama Party and Ski Party.

Ski Party centred on college students Todd Armstrong (played by Frankie Avalon) and Craig Gamble (played by Dwayne Hickman, then as now most famous for the title role in The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis), who are having no luck in pursuing co-eds Linda Hughes (played by Deborah Walley) and Barbara Norris (played by Yvonne Craig, later to gain lasting fame as Batgirl). Much of the problem seems to be that they, like seemingly every other woman on campus, are drawn to the handsome, athletic, but none too bright Freddie (played by Aron Kinkaid). When Freddie, as president of the college's Ski Club, invites a number of beautiful women (including Linda and Barbara) on a ski trip to Idaho, Todd and Craig go to the same resort, despite the fact that neither of them can ski. Complicating things further, Todd and Craig decided to dress as two English girls in order to observe the girls and with any luck learn how to succeed with them. One can perhaps guess what happens from there...

Of course, one of the major attraction of the "Beach Party" movies is the music that appears throughout the series. A very good argument can be made that Ski Party features the best music of any of the films. Surf band The Hondells (who had earlier appeared in Beach Blanket Bingo) played the film's title track and the song "The Gasser". Lesley Gore performed her hit "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows". Perhaps the biggest surprise among the music acts is the appearance of James Brown and the Famous Flames, who perform "I Got You (I Feel Good)". Even if one doesn't enjoy Ski Party itself (and I don't see why he or she wouldn't), chances are good they will enjoy the music!

Like the earlier "Beach Party" movies, Ski Party is a slight concoction that goes down easily. It is filled with the same sort of misunderstandings and innuendo, although in the case of Ski Party there is a touch of Some Like It Hot (1959) thrown in for good measure. Ultimately, Ski Party is a fun movie that one can sit down and enjoy without thinking too much.

Despite this, Ski Party performed very badly at the box office. In fact, it performed so badly that AIP cancelled plans for their upcoming film Cruise Party, even though it had been announced at the end of Ski Party. It is difficult to say why Ski Party failed. Perhaps audiences wanted to see Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon together (the previous "Beach Party" movie, Beach Blanket Bingo, would be their last in the series together). Perhaps they wanted to see pretty girls in bikinis instead of pretty girls in ski suits. Perhaps it was the timing of its release. Despite the fact that Ski Party is set during the winter, it was released on June 30 1965, when most people probably aren't thinking about snow! Regardless, it was an enjoyable movie that really deserved to make more money than it did.

Ski Party would not be the last audiences would see of Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman's characters Todd and Craig. The two were the main characters in Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), although in this film Mr. Avalon played Craig and Mr. Hickman played Todd. Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine would be the penultimate "Beach Party" movie. With the series running out of steam and making less money with each new release, Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966) would be the last of the "Beach Party" movies. Regardless, Ski Party is unique among the "Beach Party" films in being one of two that are not set on the beach (along with Pajama Party) and the only one set at a ski resort in the middle of winter.

The 60th Anniversary of "In Spite of All the Danger" by The Quarrymen

It was sixty years ago today that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, as members of The Quarrymen (the band that would evolve into The Beatles), made their first recordings. One of the songs recorded was a cover of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day". The other song would be the first original song recorded by The Quarrymen (and their only original song at the time). It was "In Spite of All the Danger".  Both songs were recorded at Phillips' Sound Recording Service in Kensington in Liverpool. Phillips' Sound Recording was a small studio in the home of Percy Phillips. Mr. Phillips recorded acetates and tapes for music artists, actors, local businesses, and others. In the case of The Quarrymen, they paid Percy Phillips seventeen shillings and six pence to record the two songs.

"In Spite of All the Danger" is unique in that it is the only composition credited to Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Paul McCartney believes he actually wrote the song and George Harrison simply did the guitar solo. Regardless, it would be the only song on which they shared credit. As to other credits on the song, as leader of the band, John Lennon sang lead vocals and played guitar. Paul McCartney provided backing vocals and guitar, as did George Harrison. John Lowe played piano on the song, while Colin Hanton played drums.

Each member of The Quarrymen kept the acetate for a week, with John Lowe finally keeping it for many years. In 1981 Mr. Lowe tried to sell the recording at auction, but Paul McCartney bought it from him. It would not be released publicly until it appeared on The Beatles' Anthology 1 in 1995.

Without further ado, here are The Quarrymen with "In Spite of All the Danger".

The Late Great Tab Hunter

Tab Hunter, the movie heart throb who appeared in such  films as The Girl He Left Behind (1956), Gunman's Walk (1958), and Damn Yankees (1958), died yesterday, July 8 2018, at the age of 86. The cause was complications from deep vein thrombosis that resulted in a heart attack.

Tab Hunter was born Arthur Andrew Kelm on July 11 1931 in New York City. It was only a few years after Tab Hunter's birth that his parents divorced and his mother moved the family to San Francisco, California. She took back her maiden name, Geilen, and also changed the surnames of her sons. Young Tab Hunter was a figure skater as a teenager. He was also an avid horseman. At the age of 15 he lied about his age in order to enlist in the United States Coast Guard. He was discharged from the Coast Guard a year later when his true age was discovered. Actor Dick Clayton, who had worked with him at a stable, suggested that he finish high school and said that he if ever wanted to work in motion pictures to talk to him.

It was Dick Clayton who introduced young Tab Hunter to agent Henry Wilson, the agent of a number of young, male actors, including Rock Hudson, Guy Madison, and Robert Wagner. It was Henry Wilson who gave young Arthur Geilen his stage name, "Tab Hunter".

Tab Hunter made his film debut in a small part in The Lawless (1950), In the early Fifties he appeared in such films as Saturday Island (1952), Gun Belt (1953), Return to Treasure Island (1954), and Track of the Cat (1954). It was in 1955 that he appeared in his star-making role of Danny Forrester in the film Battle Cry. It resulted in a seven year contract with Warner Bros. Over the next few years Tab Hunter appeared in such films as The Sea Chase (1955), The Burning Hills (1956), The Girl He Left Behind (1956), Lafayette Escadrille (1958), Gunman's Walk (1958), and Damn Yankees (1958). During this period Mr. Hunter was immensely popular. In 1955 he beat out both Jack Lemmon and Harry Belafonte as most promising new personality in an audience poll conducted by the Council of Motion Picture Organisations. So popular was Mr. Hunter that he survived a story published in the scandal magazine Confidential about him being arrested five years earlier at a gay house party. The revelation did nothing to harm his career, even given the rampant homophobia of the times.

Despite such success Tab Hunter was not happy at Warner Bros. After appearing in an adaptation of the book Fear Strikes Out on the TV show Climax!, Mr. Hunter wanted Warner Bros. to buy the film rights to the book. Unfortunately, the studio did not do so. Tab Hunter then bought out his contract with Warner Bros. in 1959. He finished out the Fifties appearing in such films as That Kind of Woman (1959) and They Came to Cordura (1959). He also appeared on television during the decade. He made his debut in an episode of The Ford Television Theatre. He guest starred on such shows as Conflict, Climax!, Playhouse 90, and General Electric Theatre. He starred in the television films Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and Meet Me in St. Louis. At the end of the decade he starred in his own TV show, The Tab Hunter Show. It lasted one season.  Tab Hunter also had hit singles in the Fifties. In 1957 his song "Young Love" went to no. 1 on the Billboard singles chart. He later had a hit with the song , "Ninety-Nine Ways".

In the Sixties Tab Hunter appeared in such films as The Pleasure of His Company (1961), L'arciere delle mille e una notte (1962), Operation Bikini (1963), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), The City Under the Sea (1965), Birds Do It (1966), El dedo del destino (1967), Hostile Guns (1967), La vendetta è il mio perdono (1968), and No importa morir (1969). He had a cameo in the cult film The Loved One (1965).  He guest starred on the TV shows Saints and Sinners, Combat!, Burke's Law, The Virginian, and San Francisco International Airport.

In the Seventies Mr. Hunter appeared in such films as Sweet Kill (1972), The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), Timber Tramps (1975), and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976). He guest starred on such shows as The Wonderful World of Disney; Cannon; Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law; Ghost Story; The Six Million Dollar Man; Ellery Queen; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; McMillan & Wife; The Love Boat; Police Woman; Hawaii Five-O; and Charlie's Angels.

In the Eighties Tab Hunter appeared in such films as Pandemonium (1982), Grease 2 (1982), And They Are Off (1982), Lust in the Dust (1985), Cameron's Closet (1988), Out of the Dark (1988), and Grotesque. He guest starred on the TV shows Benson, The Fall Guy, and Masquerade. In the Nineties he appeared in the film Dark Horse (1992). In 2005 his autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star (co-written with Eddie Muller), was published. In it he came out as gay. The documentary Tab Hunter Confidential was released in 2015.

In his early days Tab Hunter often received searing reviews from critics, but the truth was that he was an actor of considerable talent. If his performances in some of his early films were not up to par, it was perhaps due to Warner Bros. utilising him wrongly rather than a lack of talent on his part. Indeed, even as he was appearing in films for Warner Bros., Mr. Hunter was giving impressive performances on television, playing a soldier accused of murder on Conflict, a young baseball player fighting mental illness on Climax!, and a respected citizen leading a sinister double life on Playhouse 90. Mr. Hunter would also give sterling performances in motion pictures. Even when he was on screen briefly (as in his delightful cameo in The Loved One), Tab Hunter could be impressive. He gave solid performances in Damn Yankees, In the Pleasure of His Company, City Under the Sea, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, and many more movies. Even when specific film was not very good, Mr. Hunter always was.

I never got to meet Tab Hunter, although I know people who did. All of them have the same things to say about him. Mr. Hunter was one of the kindest, most generous, most sincere people one could ever meet. I have never heard a bad word said about him. That Tab Hunter was a talented movie is well known, but he was also an incredibly nice guy.

Happy 4th of July 2018

On many holidays I post classic pinups to A Shroud of Thoughts. Today being the 4th of July, then, here are some classic, patriotic pinups.

First up is Myrna Dell, who is relaxing on a fence!

Next up is Mary Castle, who is setting off a cannon!

And here is Martha Hyer, who has lit a really big firecracker!

Debbie Reynolds is riding a rocket.

And here is Ava Gardner flying the American flag.

And last but not least, it wouldn't the 4th of July without Ann Miler!

Happy 4th of July!

TCM Spotlight: 50 States in 50 Movies

This month every Monday and Tuesday TCM Spotlight is featuring 50 different movies, one set in each state, as well as a movie set in Washington D.C. (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, of course). Turner Classic Movies will be airing some truly great movies, including some of my favourites. I am very happy that to represent Missouri they are showing Meet Me in St. Louis (1944).  The neighbouring states of Illinois and Iowa also got lucky as far as the movies representing them go (also two of my favourites): The Front Page (1931) and The Music Man (1933).

That having been said, some of TCM's choices do seem a bit odd to me. King Kong (1933) is one of my all time favourite movies (it is in the top ten), but I think more of it is set on Skull Island than the state of New York. And, quite honestly, while The Graduate (1967) is set in California, I don't think of it as a particularly Californian movie. Indeed, the plot could take place anywhere. For California I would have gone with Vertigo (1958) or L.A. Confidential (1997). Of course, I have to admit that if I had been in charge of choosing movies for 50 Movies in 50 States some of my choices might seem odd to a lot of people. I would have gone with The Haunted Palace (1963) instead of Little Women (1933) for Massachusetts. I feel I have to apologise to Massachusettsans, but when I think of their state I tend to think more of H. P. Lovecraft than Louisa May Alcot!

Anyway, be sure to check out 50 States in 50 Movies on Turner Classic Movies every Monday and Tuesday in July!

Happy Canada Day 2018

I am not Canadian, but I do have plenty of Canadian friends and I have always had a soft place in my heart for Canada. I then thought today that I would do what I do on many holidays, post pictures of classic movie actresses. Sadly, Canada never did produce much in the way of patriotic pinups, but they did produce a number of beautiful and talented actresses. In fact, a number of actresses that many assume are American were actually born in Canada!

Without further ado, here are this year's ladies...

Fifi D'Orsay was born in Montreal, Quebec and later performed in Paris. Not surprisingly then, she was often cast as a French girl! She appeared in such films as Those Three French Girls (1930), Wonder Bar (1934), and Wild and Wonderful (1964). She would later guest star on such shows as Perry Mason and Pete & Gladys.

The woman most often credited as the world's first scream queen, Fay Wray, was born in Cardston, Alberta. Although best known for her iconic role as Ann Darrow in King Kong (1933), she appeared in many other notable movies, including Doctor X (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932),  and Tammy and the Bachelor (1957).

Yes, the legendary Deanna Durbin was Canadian! In the Forties her movies were so popular that she is often credited with single-handedly keeping Universal afloat during those years. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The general public may know Yvonne De Carlo best as Lily Munster, but classic film buffs know she made a number of movies and was one of the most popular pinups of all time. She appeared in such films as Salome, Where She Danced (1945), The Desert Hawk (1950), Sea Devils (1953), and The Ten Commandments (1956). Her film career was still doing relatively well when she took the role of Lily on The Munsters. The year before the show debuted she appeared in McLintock! (1963). 

Dianne Foster appeared in such films as The Kentuckian (1955) and The Brothers Rico (1957), but she may be best known for her many appearances on television, including guest shots on Bonanza, Wagon Train, Thriller, Route 66, The Wild Wild West, and several on Perry Mason.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Beverly Adams may be best known for appearing in the Matt Helm movies The Silencers (1966), Murderer's Row (1966), and The Ambushers (1967). She also appeared in such films as How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) and Winter A-Go-Go (1965). She retired from film acting in 1967, but would do occasional guest appearances on TV shows such as CHiPs, Silk Stalkings, and Profiler.

Happy Canada Day!

Patsy Kelly, Queen of Wisecracks

In the Thirties Patsy Kelly was a very successful comedienne and actress. She made a series of short subjects with Thelma Todd until Miss Todd's unfortunate death. She appeared in such films as The Girl from Missouri (1934) and Topper Returns (1941). Her speciality was wisecracking characters, earning her the title of "Queen of the Wisecracks". What makes Miss Kelly even more notable is that she was also one of the first actresses to be openly gay, this at a time when homosexuality was frowned upon in society (to say the least).

Patsy Kelly began her career in entertainment when she was still very young. She started out as a dancer in vaudeville when she was only 12. She made her film debut in the Vitaphone short "The Grand Dame" in 1931. In 1933 she appeared in the feature film Going Hollywood. That same year producer Hal Roach teamed Patsy Kelly with Thelma Todd in a series of short subjects. Miss Kelly replaced Miss Todd's previous comedy partner, ZaSu Pitts, who had left Hal Roach Studios in a salary dispute. The team of Kelly and Todd proved very successful, appearing together in over twenty shorts. Thelma Todd's mysterious and untimely death in 1935 brought an end to the series of shorts, although Hal Roach tried teaming Patsy Kelly with other partners. Patsy Kelly appeared opposite Pert Kelton in one short ("Pan Handlers" from 1936) and Lyda Roberti in two shorts and the feature film Nobody's Baby (1938). Sadly, like Thelma Todd, Lyda Roberti would also die young. She died at age 31 from a heart attack. Interestingly enough, Patsy Kelly and ZaSu Pitts would appear together in the 1941 feature film Broadway Limited.

Patsy Kelly was known for playing brash characters, and in many respects she was that way in real life. She was unapologetically open about being a lesbian in the Thirties and Forties. Keep in mind that was at this time even a hint of homosexuality could mean the end of one's acting career. The Hollywood studios regularly inserted morality clauses into their performers' contracts. Despite this, Patsy Kelly made it no secret that she was gay. In the Thirties, she gave an interview to Motion Picture magazine in which she said she lived with actress Wilma Cox and planned to never marry any man. She was known to refer to herself as a "dyke" in private and at times did so publicly as well. It is impossible to say for certain, but it seems possible that Patsy Kelly's openness about her sexuality may have had an adverse impact on her career. She worked steadily in film from the Thirties into the early Forties, appearing in such movies as There Goes My Heart (1938), Topper Returns, and My Son the Hero (1943). Danger! Women at Work (1943) would be her last appearance in a feature film for nearly twenty years. With the exception of the short "Babies, They're Wonderful" in 1947, she was absent from the big screen.

Patsy Kelly continued to work in both summer stock and radio. For a time she was also Tallulah Bankhead's personal assistant, and she would later state that she had an affair with the actress. Eventually she began making appearances on television in the Fifties, guest starring on such shows as Four Star Revue, Laramie, The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Wild Wild West, and Bonanza. Her film career would eventually see a revival. She appeared in Please Don't Eat the Daisies in 1960. In the Sixties she went onto appear in the films Naked Kiss (1964), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966), C'mon, Let's Live a Little (1967), Rosemary's Baby (1967), and The Phynx (1970). In the Seventies she appeared in Freaky Friday (1976) and The North Avenue Irregulars (1979).

Patsy Kelly would even return to Broadway in a role in the 1971 revival of No, No Nanette. She won the 1971 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. The following year she appeared on Broadway in Irene, for which she was also nominated for a Tony.

Patsy Kelly suffered a stroke in January 1980. She died on September 24 1981 at the age of 71. The cause was cancer.

Patsy Kelly was an incredibly talented comedienne who known for her ability to ad lib on screen. She truly earned the title of "Queen of Wisecracks" as no one could deliver them better. While she was absent from the big screen for many years, she left behind a legacy of work that is enjoyed to this day. Indeed, her comedy shorts with Thelma Todd remain among the best comedy shorts ever made. In addition to all of this, she displayed a good deal of courage. At a time when homosexuality was a forbidden topic, she was wholly open about her sexuality.