cast

Tommy Kirk, Deborah Walley, Aron Kincaid, Quinn O'Hara, Basil Rathbone, Jesse White, Harvey Lembeck, Nancy Sinatra, Francis X. Bushman, Patsy Kelly, Piccola Pupa, Claudia Martin, Boris Karloff, and Susan Hart.

Ghost in the Invisible Bikini lobby cardDeborah WalleyNancy Sinatra and Aron Kincaid

RIGHT: Lobby card featuring Mary Hughes and Sally Sachse. CENTER: Deborah Walley stars as Lili Morton. RIGHT: Nancy Sinatra and Aron Kincaid


Quinn O'HaraBasil Rathbone

LEFT: Quinn O'Hara in a 1966 still not from the film. RIGHT: Basil Rathbone in one of his final performances.

plot synopsis

This is the last of the seven American International beach party movies, and it veers from the tradition in that action takes place in a haunted house, not at the beach. There's a lot of well-known talent here (Boris Karloff, Patsy Kelly, Basil Rathbone, Jesse White, Francis X. Bushman), as well as AIP regulars Aron Kincaid, Tommy Kirk, Harvey Lembeck, Deborah Walley, and Susan Hart. Also appearing in Ghost are Quinn O'Hara and Italian singer Piccola Pupa (from the Danny Thomas Show).

Aron KincaidNancy Sinatra and Aron KincaidEd Garner, Aron Kincaid, Quinn O'Hara, and Basil Rathbone

LEFT: Pressbook image from The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. From left to right, front row: Piccola Pupa, Aron Kincaid, and Nancy Sinatra. CENTER: Aron Kincaid and Nancy Sinatra. LEFT: With Ed Garner, Aron Kincaid, Quinn O'Hara, and Basil Rathbone

Recently deceased Hiram Stokely (Boris Karloff) must do a good deed with the help of Cecily the Ghost (Susan Hart) before he can get into heaven. His good deed is to ensure that his estate goes to his most honest heirs (Tommy Kirk and Deborah Walley), and doesn't go to the corrupt Basil Rathbone and Jesse White. The haunted house where the action takes place inexplicably has a pool, and that's where the partying teens come in.

Don Weis, Quinn O'Hara, and Aron KincaidQuinn O'Hara and Aron KincaidQuinn O'Hara and Aron KincaidJesse White, Deborah Walley, and Basil Rathbone

LEFT: Behind-the-scenes photo with director Don Weis, Quinn O'Hara, and Aron Kincaid. CENTER: As Sinistra, Quinn O'Hara attempts to poison Aron Kincaid. RIGHT: Jesse White and Basil Rathbone abduct Deborah Walley

music

The music in this film consists of strictly standard American International fare---pleasant songs to be sure, yet far away from then-contemporary top 40 hits. Billed as a "musical terror comedy," The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini features an appearance by the Bobby Fuller Four, performing Make the Music Pretty. In addition to acting, Nancy Sinatra sings Geronimo. Quinn O'Hara sings Don't Try to Fight it Baby in a hilarious scene, and Piccola Pupa performs Stand Up and Fight.

Nancy Sinatra

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini was filmed before the release of Nancy Sinatra's No. 1 single These Boots Are Made For Walking. However, Boots hit the charts in February 1966, and Ghost premiered in April 1966. The pressbook for Ghost suggests a tie-in with Nancy Sinatra's Boots to ride on the coattails of her newfound popularity

ghost in the invisible bikini trivia

  • The year 1966 was the end of the line for beach movies and for the regular appearance of popular bands in films. Also, this was silent film star Francis X. Bushman's last role (he died in 1966 at age 84), and the same goes for Bobby Fuller (Fuller died under mysterious circumstances in July 1966).
  • This is the only beach party film without appearances by Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Avalon tired of the formula and moved on, while Funicello was busy with her first child.
  • Considered a flop at the time, this film cost $600,000 to produce in the fall of 1965. It was released in April 1966.

ghost in the invisible bikini links


Visit the Aron Kincaid page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Tommy Kirk page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Quinn O'Hara page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Deborah Walley page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Boris Karloff page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Patsy Kelly page at Brian's Drive-In Theater

Visit the Basil Rathbone page at Brian's Drive-In Theater
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This page premiered February 10, 1999.
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