It's a Bikini World at Brian's Drive-In Theater

cast

Deborah Walley, Tommy Kirk, Bobby 'Boris' Pickett, Sid Haig, Suzie Kaye, and Jim Begg, with musical guests The Animals, The Castaways, The Toys, Pat and Lolly Vegas, and The Gentrys. Written, produced, and directed by the husband-and-wife team Stephanie Rothman and Charles S. Swartz.

Suzie Kaye, Bob Pickett, and The Gentrys

LEFT: Poster from the 1967 release It's a Bikini World. CENTER: Lobby card with Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley. RIGHT: Suzie Kaye and Bob Pickett dance to The Gentry's hit Spread It on Thick

It's a Bikini World is a notable beach party film for several reasons. For starters, it was directed by Stephanie Rothman, the only woman to direct a beach party film. Shot in late 1965 but not released until April 14, 1967, It's a Bikini World is the end of the line for the beach party genre---although this was not produced by American International Pictures (AIP)---with Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley replacing Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Both Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley had appeared in beach films for AIP and other studios.

plot synopsis

The plot centers around athletic Mike Sampson (Kirk) attempting to woo the new girl on the beach, Delilah Dawes (Walley). Mike is popular with all the girls on the beach, but Delilah finds him conceited and arrogant. Never resisting a challenge, Mike sets out to win Delilah's heart by altering his appearance and passing himself off as Mike's fictional twin brother, Herbert.

LEFT: Mike (Tommy Kirk) and Woody (Robert Pickett). CENTER A: Delilah (Deborah Walley) confronts Mike, who is disguised as Herbert. CENTER B: Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley. LEFT: Deborah Walley

Cult horror favorite Sig Haig, who acted in everything from Spider Baby (1964; with Lon Chaney Jr. and Carol Ohmart) to House of 1000 Corpses (2003; with Karen Black and Sherri Moon Zombie), appears as the leather-clad Big Daddy, who owns a surf bar and sponsors various racing events. Delilah wants to upstage Mike by challenging him to a series of races, beginning with a skateboard race, followed by a decathlon of sorts. In the end, Delilah sees through Mike's disguise and manages to win the final race, although Mike feins injury so that she may win. Mike and Delilah reach a truce and walk off into the sunset together.

LEFT: Sid Haig as Big Daddy congratulates Delilah on winning the race. RIGHT: Herbert and Delilah have trouble finding some privacy

music

Of all beach party films, It's a Bikini World has the best musical talent and soundtrack. The highlight of this movie is when The Animals, The Toys, The Gentrys, Pat and Lolly Vegas, and The Castaways perform some of their biggest chart hits. Eric Burdon and the Animals perform We've Got to Get Out of This Place; the Toys sing Attack, a late girl groups tune that was also their last Top 40 hit; and The Castaways do Liar, Liar, making the movie enjoyable to watch and listen to.

it's a bikini world trivia

Robert Picket (1938-2007), who portrays Mike's sidekick Woody, is better known as Bobby "Boris" Pickett, who had a number one song in 1962 with The Monster Mash. The single was re-released a decade later and made it to the Top 10 in October 1973.
Portions of the dialogue, especially in exterior shots, appear to have been dubbed. The best production values in the film come from the opening and closing credits, which are a creative mixture of beach footage and freeze-frame animation.
Several scenes in this film, including most of the musical numbers, were shot in L.A.'s famed "Haunted House," a discoteque popular in the mid 1960s. Several other films were shot there also, including The Girl in Gold Boots, which aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1998.
For The Toys, The Gentrys, and The Castaways, this was their only film appearance.
Sadly, with the death of Tommy Kirk on September 28, 2021, all the principal actors in this film have passed away. A few of the supporting actors, including Lori Williams, are still alive.

it's a bikini world film clip

availability

While It's a Bikini World has never been officially released to the home video market, The Video Beat offers DVD-R copies of the film for about $19 plus shipping. Click on the link for more information.

it's a bikini world links

The Tommy Kirk page has information, photos, and video sources.

The Deborah Walley page has information, photos, and video sources.

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This page premiered March 3, 1998.
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It's a Bikini World

(1967)