A Swingin' Summer

Last updated
A Swingin' Summer
Swingin Summer.jpg
Movie Poster
Directed by Robert Sparr
Screenplay byLeigh Chapman
Robert Sparr (uncredited)
Story byReno Carell
Produced byKenneth Raphael
Larry Goldblatt
Reno Carell
Starring Raquel Welch
James Stacy
Lori Williams
CinematographyRay Fernstrom
Edited byJames T. Heckert
Music by Harry Betts
Production
company
National Talent Consultants
Distributed byUnited Screen Arts
Release date
1965
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

A Swingin' Summer is a 1965 comedy film in the beach party genre. It was directed and co-written by Robert Sparr. Raquel Welch stars in her first featured film role and makes her singing debut in the film. [1]

Contents

Plot

A trio of college kids – all friends of each other – attempt to ensure summer jobs for themselves by becoming concert promoters at a lakeside dance pavilion that is in danger of closing.

A local lifeguard, Turk, jealous of both Rick and Mickey, tries to ruin their plan and at the same time tries to steal Rick’s girl, Cindy – who has secretly arranged for her rich dad to finance the pavilion. Rick flips when he finds out about Cindy’s dad, and Turk tries to sabotage the dance hall with some hired goons – who, after failing, bully Turk into ripping the place off. In the meantime, bookworm Jeri, takes off her glasses, lets down her hair and causes some new problems.

In spite of all the drama, the kids actually succeed in securing an impressive roster of brand-name talent to the pavilion.

Cast

Principal cast

ActorRole
Raquel Welch Jeri
James Stacy Mickey
William Wellman Jr.Rick
Quinn O'Hara Cindy
Martin West Turk
Mary MitchelShirley

Supporting cast

The film features special appearances by The Rip Chords, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, Donnie Brooks and The Righteous Brothers. Others include Gypsy Boots, Diane Bond, Allan Jones, Lili Kardell as Sandra, Robert Blair as Tony, Buck Holland as Lou, and Lori Williams as one of the Swingin' Summer Girls.

Soundtrack

A Swingin' Summer marketed internationally on the appeal of Raquel Welch Swingin Summer Italian.jpg
A Swingin' Summer marketed internationally on the appeal of Raquel Welch

The soundtrack featured songs performed by Raquel Welch, The Rip Chords, Jody Miller, Gary & the Playboys, The Righteous Brothers, Donnie Brooks and Carol Connors. The soundtrack album was issued on Hanna Barbera Records. [2]

Production notes

Although she received sixth billing in the U.S. release, Welch received top billing – with her name above the title – on posters for the Italian release, which was renamed The Warm Night.

The film was shot on location at Lake Arrowhead, California in the summer of 1964 and released in the summer of 1965. [3] [4]

The bearded man who is seen from behind and mistaken for a woman in a one-piece topless bathing suit is Gypsy Boots (real name: Robert Bootzin), the American fitness pioneer who is credited with laying the foundation for the acceptance by mainstream America of "alternative" lifestyles such as yoga and health food. [5]

Taglines for the film read: They're Lovin', Laughin' and Livin' it up and for kicks playing "Chicken on Water Skis!" and Spread Out the Beach Towels...Grab Your Gals...it's gonna be A Swingin' Summer!

The film was the first release of Dale Robertson's film releasing company United Screen Arts.

Linda Evans was originally cast in the role of Cindy. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raquel Welch</span> American actress (1940–2023)

Jo Raquel Welch was an American actress and model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. G. Daily</span> American actress and singer (born 1961)

E. G. Daily also known as Elizabeth Daily, is an American actress and singer.

<i>One Million Years B.C.</i> 1966 film by Don Chaffey, Ray Harryhausen

One Million Years B.C. is a 1966 British adventure fantasy film directed by Don Chaffey. The film was produced by Hammer Film Productions and Seven Arts, and is a remake of the 1940 American fantasy film One Million B.C.. The film stars Raquel Welch and John Richardson, set in a fictional age of cavemen and dinosaurs coexisting together. Location scenes were filmed on the Canary Islands in the middle of winter, in late 1965. The UK release prints of this film were printed in dye transfer Technicolor. The U.S. version released by 20th Century Fox was cut by nine minutes, printed in DeLuxe Color, and released in 1967.

<i>Hannie Caulder</i> 1971 film by Burt Kennedy

Hannie Caulder is a 1971 British Western film. The film was directed by Burt Kennedy and starred Raquel Welch, Robert Culp, and Ernest Borgnine. The screenplay was rewritten by Kennedy, who was not credited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach party film</span> Film genre

The beach party film is an American film genre of feature films which were produced and released between 1963 and 1968, created by American International Pictures (AIP), beginning with their surprise hit, Beach Party, in July 1963. With this film, AIP is credited with creating the genre. In addition to the AIP films, several contributions to the genre were produced and released by major and independent studios alike. According to various sources, the genre comprises over 30 films, with the lower-budget AIP films being the most profitable.

<i>Zoom</i> (2006 film) 2006 film by Peter Hewitt

Zoom is a 2006 American superhero comedy film directed by Peter Hewitt and written by Adam Rifkin and David Berenbaum. Based upon the children's book Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe, the film stars Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, Chevy Chase, Spencer Breslin and Rip Torn. In the film, a former superhero is dragged into training four superpowered youths to become superheroes and combat an approaching threat.

<i>The Magic Riddle</i> 1991 Australian film

The Magic Riddle is a 1991 Australian animated musical feature film written and directed by Yoram Gross. The film tells the story of Cindy, an orphan who lives as an indentured servant to her cruel stepmother, and features elements of famous fairytales including Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio. Robyn Moore provides the voice of Cindy and various other characters. It was panned by critics, and accused of borrowing from several other Disney films.

<i>Terror Toons</i> 2002 American film

Terror Toons is a 2002 American comedy horror film directed by Joe Castro and written by Rudy Balli, starring Lizzy Borden, Beverly Lynne, Brandon Ellison, Kerry Liu, and Fernando Padilla. The film was followed by three sequels, Terror Toons 2: The Sick and Silly Show in 2007, Terror Toons 3 in 2016, and Terror Toons 4 in 2021.

<i>Picture This</i> (film) 2008 film by Stephen Herek

Picture This is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Stephen Herek. Starring Ashley Tisdale and Kevin Pollak, the film was released on July 13, 2008, on television by ABC Family, branded as an ABC Family Original Movie, and on July 22, 2008, on DVD. The film is produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and drew 5.3 million viewers.

<i>Get Yourself a College Girl</i> 1964 film by Sidney Miller

Get Yourself a College Girl, also released as The Swingin' Set, is a 1964 Metrocolor film comedy in the style of a beach party movie. The plot involves a college co-ed who tries to balance her time writing songs and dealing with her publisher who tries to pursue her. It was directed by Sidney Miller and written by Robert E. Kent, and filmed at Sun Valley, Idaho, United States.

<i>Fathom</i> (1967 film) 1967 British film

Fathom is a 1967 British spy comedy film directed by Leslie H. Martinson, starring Raquel Welch and Anthony Franciosa.

<i>Really, Raquel</i> American TV series or program

Really, Raquel was a prime-time variety show adapted from Raquel Welch's 1973 live night club show. The special showcased Welch's talents as a singer, dancer and comedian, pitting her in a variety of skits with the Krofft Puppets, who were the only guest stars. The show aired on CBS on March 8, 1974, and on BBC 2 in London on May 2.

<i>That Girl in Yellow Boots</i> 2010 Indian film

That Girl in Yellow Boots is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language thriller film by director Anurag Kashyap, starring Kalki Koechlin and Naseeruddin Shah. The film was first screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2010, followed by the Venice Film Festival after it played in several festivals worldwide including the South Asian International Film Festival. The commercial release however took place a year later in September 2011, both in India as well as in the U.S.

<i>Sex Quartet</i> 1966 film

Sex Quartet is a 1966 Italian-French comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, Mauro Bolognini, Antonio Pietrangeli and Luciano Salce. It starred Capucine, Claudia Cardinale, Monica Vitti and Raquel Welch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fur bikini of Raquel Welch</span> Costume worn by Raquel Welch in the film One Million Years B.C.

A fur/hide bikini was worn by Raquel Welch in the 1966 British-made prehistoric saga One Million Years B.C.. In that bikini, she was described as "wearing mankind's first bikini" and the fur bikini was described as a "definitive look of the 1960s".

The Rip Chords were an early-1960s American vocal group, originally known as the Opposites, composed of Phil Stewart and Ernie Bringas. The group eventually expanded into four primary voices, adding Columbia producer Terry Melcher and co-producer Bruce Johnston. This group came to be associated with the hot-rod and surf genres of that day, although their first single did not reflect those styles. They recorded for Columbia Records in Hollywood from 1962 to 1965. The group placed five singles on the Billboard Hot 100. They are best known for their number-four single: "Hey Little Cobra".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Curtis (producer)</span> American film producer (1939–2022)

Patrick Curtis was an American film producer, best known for his association with Raquel Welch, whom he married on February 14, 1967 and divorced on January 6, 1972. Curtis was instrumental in promoting Welch's career, producing a number of movies starring her.

<i>Dragstrip Riot</i> 1958 film

Dragstrip Riot is a 1958 US teen-oriented sportscar club and motorcycle gang film produced by O'Dale Ireland and directed by David Bradley. It stars Yvonne Lime, Gary Clarke, Fay Wray and Connie Stevens. Set in coastal California, the film centres on a false accusation that a sportscar club member is responsible for the death of a member of a motorcycle gang and the gang's attempts to take revenge. Dragstrip Riot was released in the US by American International Pictures as a double feature with The Cool and the Crazy (1958), and distributed in Canada by Astral Films and in the UK by Anglo Amalgamated.

Diane Loretta Bond is an American former actress and feminist artist and writer, best known for her minor roles in movies during the 1960s. She appeared in films like In Like Flint (1967), House of 1,000 Dolls (1967), A Swingin' Summer (1965), Pajama Party (1964) and as a beach extra in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies. Bond also had several uncredited roles such as an air hostess in Seconds (1966) and a body double for Claudia Cardinale in Blindfold (1965). After relocating to Italy and studying art, she became an artist using mainly feminist issues to fuel her creativity.

<i>How to Be a Latin Lover</i> 2017 American film

How to Be a Latin Lover is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Ken Marino, written by Chris Spain and Jon Zack and stars Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Raphael Alejandro, Raquel Welch, Rob Riggle, Rob Huebel, Rob Corddry, Renée Taylor, Linda Lavin, Kristen Bell, and Rob Lowe. This was also Welch's final film before her death in 2023. The film follows a man who has spent his whole life married to a rich old woman, and must learn to make it on his own when she kicks him out. It was released on April 28, 2017 by Pantelion Films and grossed $62.6 million worldwide.

References

  1. Collins, Glenn (2012). "A Swingin' Summer - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  2. "Various - A Swingin' Summer: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  3. "A Swingin' Summer (1965)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  4. Tetley, Rhea-Frances Lake Arrowhead Chronicles The History Press, 18 Nov 2014
  5. Woo, Elaine (12 August 2004). "Gypsy Boots -- quirky health fanatic who reached the masses". Sfgate.com. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  6. Tom Lisanti (2015). Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties. McFarland. p. 132. ISBN   978-0786493425.