The Beach Girls and the Monster
Encyclopedia
The Beach Girls and the Monster (aka Monster from the Surf) is a horror film
in the beach party style
. Unlike most beach party films, it was shot in black & white. For some release prints, the surfing footage was printed in color. The onscreen copyright is 1964, although the film was not released until September 1965.
beachfront near his father and stepmother's house where he lives. This is to the great displeasure of his father, the noted oceanographer Dr. Otto Lindsay (Jon Hall
), who is married to the somewhat younger Vicky (Sue Casey
), who is fast becoming dissatisfied with Otto's relative lack of devotion to her. Also living with the Lindsays is Richard's sculptor buddy Mark (Walker Edmiston
), who walks with a limp as a result of an auto accident Richard had earlier.
While Vicky hits on her stepson and teases his friend Mark, a loathsome seaweed shrouded monster starts slaughtering the kids on the beach. Dr. Lindsay seems convinced that it is a mutated carnivorous South American "fantigua fish"
that has grown large enough to exist out of the ocean.
Dancing Girls" from Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go
club on Sunset Boulevard.
, the host of "The Walker Edmiston Show", a children's television program in Los Angeles that featured featured puppets of his own creation including 'Kingsley the Lion.'
According to the film's credits, the theme song, titled "Dance Baby Dance," was written by Frank Sinatra, Jr.
and Joan Janis
, and produced by Edward Janis.
Arnold Lessing, who plays Richard, wrote the song he sings in the film, "More Than Wanting You."
Walker Edmiston and Elaine DuPont, who play Mark and Jane respectively, wrote "There's a Monster in the Surf."
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
in the beach party style
Beach Party film
Beach party movies were an American 1960s genre of feature films created by American International Pictures with their surprise 1963 hit, Beach Party, and copied by virtually every other studio...
. Unlike most beach party films, it was shot in black & white. For some release prints, the surfing footage was printed in color. The onscreen copyright is 1964, although the film was not released until September 1965.
Plot
Young Richard Lindsay (Arnold Lessing) has given up his career in science in favor of his newfound passion, surfing – and hanging out and having fun with his surfer friends and girlfriend Jane (Elaine DuPont) on the Santa MonicaSanta Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
beachfront near his father and stepmother's house where he lives. This is to the great displeasure of his father, the noted oceanographer Dr. Otto Lindsay (Jon Hall
Jon Hall
Jon Hall was an American film actor.-Biography:Born Charles Felix Locher in Fresno, California, and raised in Tahiti by his father, the Swiss-born actor Felix Locher, he was a nephew of James Norman Hall, one of the authors of Mutiny on the Bounty...
), who is married to the somewhat younger Vicky (Sue Casey
Sue Casey
Sue Casey, born April 8, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, was an American actress and Hollywood extra who appeared in over 75 productions between the years 1945 and 2002....
), who is fast becoming dissatisfied with Otto's relative lack of devotion to her. Also living with the Lindsays is Richard's sculptor buddy Mark (Walker Edmiston
Walker Edmiston
-Career:Walker Edmiston was an American character actor and voice-over artist who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Edmiston appeared on various television programs in character roles during the 1950s – 1970s, such as Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, Knots Landing, and The Dukes of Hazzard, all...
), who walks with a limp as a result of an auto accident Richard had earlier.
While Vicky hits on her stepson and teases his friend Mark, a loathsome seaweed shrouded monster starts slaughtering the kids on the beach. Dr. Lindsay seems convinced that it is a mutated carnivorous South American "fantigua fish"
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
that has grown large enough to exist out of the ocean.
Hawaii surfing footage
The surfing footage used for the scene where Richard runs a film for Mark was shot by one of the most prolific surf filmmakers of the 1960s, Dale Davis, who produced Walk on the Wet Side, Strictly Hot, and the landmark The Golden Breed.Cast
According to the trailer for the film, the dancing girls seen in the movie are "The WatusiWatusi
Watusi may refer to one of the following:* Tutsi, an African tribe* The Watusi, a dance* Watusi * Watusi , by The Wedding Present* Ankole-Watusi , a cattle breed* Watusi , a 1959 film with George Montgomery and Taina Elg...
Dancing Girls" from Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
club on Sunset Boulevard.
Locations
Most of the interior shots - specifically all those of the Lindsay home - were shot at the actual home of director and star Jon Hall.Props
All the sculptures and the 'Kingsley the Lion' puppet used in the film, were created by the actor who played Mark - Walker EdmistonWalker Edmiston
-Career:Walker Edmiston was an American character actor and voice-over artist who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Edmiston appeared on various television programs in character roles during the 1950s – 1970s, such as Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, Knots Landing, and The Dukes of Hazzard, all...
, the host of "The Walker Edmiston Show", a children's television program in Los Angeles that featured featured puppets of his own creation including 'Kingsley the Lion.'
Music
Brian Chidester & Dominic Priore state in their book, Pop Surf Culture, that "the soundtrack of The Beach Girls and the Monster has got to rank up there among the best … no fewer than 13 different sections of full-bore, deep-reverb tank surf instrumentals throb the soundtrack." The score was arranged and conducted by Chuck Sagle, and a few of the musicians assembled for the soundtrack were members of the surf band The Hustlers (who are known for their songs "Kopout," "Inertia" and "Wailin’ Out") from Riverside, California.According to the film's credits, the theme song, titled "Dance Baby Dance," was written by Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Franklin Wayne Sinatra , professionally known as Frank Sinatra, Jr., is an American singer, songwriter and conductor....
and Joan Janis
Joan Gardner (voice specialist)
Joan Gardner was an American voice specialist. Also a screenwriter, songwriter, actress, author and composer. Married Edward Janis, producer, and wrote under the name Joan Janis.Her works include:...
, and produced by Edward Janis.
Arnold Lessing, who plays Richard, wrote the song he sings in the film, "More Than Wanting You."
Walker Edmiston and Elaine DuPont, who play Mark and Jane respectively, wrote "There's a Monster in the Surf."