The Beau Brummels Movies
- 1966
Directed by versatile standup comedian Lenny Weinrib, Wild Wild Winter is more palatable in its comic scenes than its musical interludes. Essentially a snowbound imitation of American-International's Beach Party series, the film stars such passing fancies of the 1960s as Gary Clarke, Chris Noel and Les Brown, Jr. The plot: Clarke poses as a millionaire to impress Noel, she finds out, everybody lives happily ever after. The musical acts include Jay and the Americans, The Beau Brummels, Dick and Dee Dee and Jackie and Gayle. Man, this sure is a swingin' snow-ball. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gary Clarke, Chris Noel, (more)
Based on the same H.G. Wells story as his later Food of the Gods, this silly but good-looking fantasy from Bert I. Gordon is among his more entertaining films. The young Ron Howard plays Genius, who develops a substance which causes animals to grow to monstrous size. After eight kids (led by Beau Bridges and Tisha Sterling) crash their car in the mud, they dance and get drunk, then steal some food containing the growth-gunk, causing them to attain huge physical size as well. It's up to the good teens of the town (including Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford from The Rifleman, and "Mickey" crooner Toni Basil) to set things right. That involves a gas-like antidote and a lot of subpar musical numbers from the likes of Freddy Cannon and the Beau Brummels. Joseph Turkel and Rance Howard are also in the cast, and a jokey ending features a number of midgets including Felix Silla, best known as Cousin Itt on TV's The Addams Family. The first in a projected 13-picture production deal with Joseph E. Levine, Gordon followed this with the William Castle-inspired Picture Mommy Dead. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford, (more)
- 1965
In this takeoff of the popular TV rock-music show Shindig, Fred creates a new dance craze called the Frantic when he hops around in agony after dropping a bowling ball on his foot. In a twinkling, Fred has been invited to perform the Frantic on the TV series "Shinrock-A-Go-Go", hosted by Jimmy O'Neillstone (his voice provided by Shindig emcee Jimmy O'Neill. Also appearing is the singing group The Beau Brummels (as "The Beau Brummelstones", natch!), performing their hit "Laugh, Laugh", written by Ron Elliot--which was not recorded for The Flintstones, but released as a single long before this episode aired. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
