It’s been 35 years since the late film critic Roger Ebert wrote the following.
Who would have thought Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello would make their best beach party movie 25 years after the others?
Director Lyndall Hobbs has a good eye and a good ear, and the movie is filled with satirical angles from beginning to end.
The comments appear in the legendary film critic’s 1987 review of Back to the Beach. I reread Ebert’s comments to director Lyndall Hobbs as I began a recent interview to chat about the 35th anniversary release of Back to the Beach.
The film follows Frankie and Annette as the travel back to the beach from Columbus, Ohio. Frankie can sell anything, he’s a car salesman here and Annette is Annette with peanut butter and her squeaky clean image as the two, along with their son Demian Slade (Better Off Dead) are visiting their daughter played by Lori Laughlin (Before Full House).
Back to the Beach begs you to own a copy. If for no other reason than to catch so many of your favorite television stars of the past.
Since Hobbs had a couple minutes to chat, it was time to reminisce a bit about everything surrounding the film as well as a Prince and heir to the throne that she was “exposed” to.
On hearing the Roger Ebert print review of Back to the Beach and the segment with Ebert and Gene Siskel on their television show:
Lyndall Hobbs: I was shocked that they even got to see it … they didn’t allow critics to see it, there was no screenings, there was no release whatsoever so it was kind of dumped out there. So the fact that Siskel and Ebert got to see it and gave it that review was thrilling beyond belief. I think the film was great … silly as anything but a feel good, silly, adorable movie.
How did you get Frankie and Annette to get onboard with the silliness?
There was never a word about that. Frankie had been trying to get a movie going for a long time and then they hired Chris Thompson, brilliant comedy writer, who did this massive big new rewrite where it was definitely poking fun at them… They were fine with it, they’re professionals they get it they get the joke, what are you going to do, take them very, very seriously? They got it, they embraced it, they loved it – it was never even a moment’s thought was given to it. All the peanut butter and nonsense after it … everybody got the joke. Frankie and Annette exuded good times good people fun nostalgia and so it was a dream on that level. It was a fun experience at the time, I’m thrilled that people are still enjoying it.
When the cameras were turned off, what was the Back to the Beach set like?
Everybody else talks about, people who were involved who I even know to this day like Marlene Stewart, the costume designer, All sorts of people would tell me what a ball they all had chatting and goofing it up with Gilligan or whoever it was and Pee Wee. I was too busy, I didn’t get to have all that fun sitting around at lunch or between takes. There were no cellphones. Very seldom were we given two cameras to shoot these massive scenes on the beach. Everybody else had a fabulous time.
Let’s talk for a minute about all those Back to the Beach stars. A quick thought on each of the following individuals or groups.
On Connie Stevens:
Very, very good but was a little spiky – late at night about midnight shooting the bonfire scene I remember there was one spiky moment with her … but other than that she got the joke.
On Don Adams:
Divine, I was in awe, I loved him.
On Dick Dale and Stevie Ray Vaughan:
Stevie Ray Vaughan — thrilling that he agreed to do it. Dick Dale is a doll, and they just were perfection. I didn’t have to direct that. They came and brought their “A” game.
On Bob Denver and Alan Hale:
Ohhh..worship Bob Denver. Grew up watching Gilligan my entire life in Australia. Both just delightful, adorable … just wish I could have given them more lines. I felt bad.
Barbara Billingsley, Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow:
All sweet as can be. Charming, lovely, on time, professional. I wish there would have been more for them to do… I literally felt bad … We’re not utilizing these people to the best of their abilities.
On Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens):
Heavenly, Just literally was a doll, I didn’t think Pee Wee would say yes … but when he heard the song we chose for him he was delirious… it was not a lot to learn and he just got to be about as silly as you can be he was happy … that was a fun scene, that was enjoyable to shoot I remember standing back and watching that at 3AM and having a ball.
Who were you not able to get for Back to the Beach?
Absolutely no one … everybody said YES. I honestly don’t recall anyone who said know. I think everybody just loved Frankie and Annette so much that … that anyone was willing … and happy to do it.
One last question: You danced with a prince and future king, didn’t you?
I write about that in my book A Girl From Oz – I did back in the day in London, many moons ago … we were at Annabel’s. I was living with a London theater producer, Michael White, he had the opening of Ain’t Misbehavin’ and we invited Prince Charles … we knew him a little bit. Then 10 of us had dinner back at our house … and I changed from this black velvet strapless gown to a one shoulder leopard skin leotard [to go dancing at Annabel’s] the elastic broke as I was feverishly dancing and thus my breast was exposed and Prince Charles was extremely amusing … apparently even told the Queen about it. He’s divine, ahead of his time, organic gardener, all about preserving beautiful historic buildings, the Prince’s Trust charity for underprivileged kids. You know I think he’s fantastic, I always have.
We think you’re kind of fantastic yourself, Lyndall.
To celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary, Back to the Beach is available on Blu-ray for the first time as part of the Paramount Presents line from Paramount Home Entertainment.
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