- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,310
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Back to the Beach, a 1987 satire directed by filmmaker Lyndall Hobbs, is based upon a huge series of films produced at Paramount during the 1960s. It's quite an oddity, as it turns 180 degrees from those original films - that began with Beach Party (1963), followed by well over a dozen "beach" and "party" films during that decade - Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964), Pajama Party (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), Ski Party (1965), How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), followed by the topic of this thread Back to the Beach, over two decades later.
Many of these films feature Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, two stalwart and happy performers in Back to the Beach, who in those earlier films portrayed the darker side of humanity. Beneath all of these "party" and "beach" monikers lay some of the finest and darkest noir since the 1940s - many from the pen of the great John Paxton.
Rarely have there been a series of motion pictures dealing with the darkest attributes of the human soul.
Paramount's new Blu-ray of Back to the Beach, with the number 34 on the spine, is a colorful effort. I have no idea if the grain is correct or real, as it doesn't matter in this situation. What we want are jelly bean colors, blue water and most important, wonderful flesh tones surrounding all those bikinis.
Tremendously entertaining - nominated for four Academy Awards, Back to the Beach is one of those treasures that one will want to pass down from generation to generation, warranting that special spot in the Paramount Presents pantheon.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD - Yes
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
Many of these films feature Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, two stalwart and happy performers in Back to the Beach, who in those earlier films portrayed the darker side of humanity. Beneath all of these "party" and "beach" monikers lay some of the finest and darkest noir since the 1940s - many from the pen of the great John Paxton.
Rarely have there been a series of motion pictures dealing with the darkest attributes of the human soul.
Paramount's new Blu-ray of Back to the Beach, with the number 34 on the spine, is a colorful effort. I have no idea if the grain is correct or real, as it doesn't matter in this situation. What we want are jelly bean colors, blue water and most important, wonderful flesh tones surrounding all those bikinis.
Tremendously entertaining - nominated for four Academy Awards, Back to the Beach is one of those treasures that one will want to pass down from generation to generation, warranting that special spot in the Paramount Presents pantheon.
Image – 5
Audio – 5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from DVD - Yes
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
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