Surf Party (1964)

Terry (Patricia Morrow), Sylvia (Lory Patrick), and Junior (Jackie DeShannon) arrive in Malibu Beach from Arizona to vacation and visit Terry’s egotistical swinging bachelor brother Skeet (Jerry Summers).

Sylvia falls in love with Skeet; Terry falls in love with the harmless hero, Len (Bobby Vinton), the operator of a local surf shop; and Junior falls in love with the short comic relief “gremmie” Milo (Ken Miller).

They soon attract the attention of the local anti-surfing police sergeant (Richard Crane) and realise that Skeet’s reputation in Malibu is far from what it seems. It turns out he’s actually a pathetic lying gigolo supported by a wealthy older woman (Martha Stewart).

The Astronauts do the excellent opening surf music theme (offscreen) and another instrumental at a party, and The Routers (white stand-ins for a black studio band) do Crack Up.

DeShannon sings the best song (Glory Way), the girls twist and sing Never Comin’ Back in their trailer, and Morrow and Miller both have unimpressive solo spots. The songs by top-billed Vinton are lame even for him, and he was never asked to act again.

Len Marshal
Bobby Vinton
Terry Wells
Patricia Morrow
Junior Griffith
Jackie DeShannon
Milo Talbot
Ken Miller
Sylvia Dempster
Lory Patrick
Sgt. Wayne Neal
Richard Crane
Pauline Lowell
Martha Stewart
Skeet Wells
Jerry Summers
The Astronauts
Themselves
The Routers
Themselves
Casey
Lloyd Kino

Director
Maury Dexter