''A Swingin' Summer'' is a 1965

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

in the beach party genre. It was directed and co-written by

Robert Sparr Robert Sparr (September 10, 1915 – August 28, 1969) was an American screenwriter, television director, and film director. He died as a result of a plane crash in Colorado while scouting filming locations for the 1970 film ''Barquero'' with ...

Raquel Welch Jo Raquel Welch ( Tejada; September 5, 1940) is an American actress. She first won attention for her role in ''Fantastic Voyage'' (1966), after which she won a contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her contract to the British studio Hammer ...

stars in her first featured film role and makes her singing debut in the film.

Synopsis

A trio of college kids – all friends of each other – attempt to insure summer jobs for themselves by becoming concert promoters at a lakeside dance pavilion that is in danger of closing. A local lifeguard, Turk (Martin West), jealous of both Rick (William Wellman, Jr.) and Mickey (James Stacy), tries to ruin their plan and at the same time tries to steal Rick’s girl, Cindy (Quinn O’Hara) – who has secretly arranged for her rich dad to finance the pavilion. Rick flips when he finds out about Cindy’s dad, and Turk tries to sabotage the dance hall with some hired goons – who, after failing, bully Turk into ripping the place off. In the meantime, bookworm Jeri (Raquel Welch), takes off her glasses, lets down her hair and causes some new problems. In spite of all the drama, the kids actually succeed in securing an impressive roster of brand-name talent to the pavilion.

Cast

Principal cast

Supporting cast

The film features special appearances by

The Rip Chords The Rip Chords were an early-1960s American vocal group, originally known as the Opposites, composed of Phil Stewart and Ernie Bringas. The group eventually expanded into four primary voices, adding Columbia producer Terry Melcher and co-produce ...

, Gary Lewis & the Playboys,

Donnie Brooks Donnie Brooks (born John Dee Abohosh; February 6, 1936 – February 23, 2007) was an American pop music singer. Brooks is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Early life Born in Dallas, Texas, Abohosh moved to Ventura, California in his te ...

and

The Righteous Brothers The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Los ...

. Others include

Gypsy Boots Gypsy Boots (August 19, 1915 – August 8, 2004), born Robert Bootzin (also known as Boots Bootzin), was an American fitness pioneer, actor and writer. He is credited with laying the foundation for the acceptance by mainstream America of "alter ...

Diane Bond Diane Loretta Bond (born September 25, 1945, in Los Angeles) is an American former actress and feminist artist and writer, best known for her minor roles in movies during the 1960s. She appeared in films like ''In Like Flint'' (1967), '' House o ...

, Allan Jones,

Lili Kardell ''Lili'' is a 1953 American film released by MGM. It stars Leslie Caron as a touchingly naïve French girl whose emotional relationship with a carnival puppeteer is conducted through the medium of four puppets. The film won the Academy Award for ...

as Sandra, Robert Blair as Tony, Buck Holland as Lou, and

Lori Williams ''Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!'' is a 1965 American exploitation film directed by Russ Meyer and co-written by Meyer and Jack Moran. It follows three go-go dancers who embark on a spree of kidnapping and murder in the California desert. The fi ...

as one of the Swingin' Summer Girls.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack featured songs performed by

Jody Miller Myrna Joy "Jody" Miller (November 29, 1941 – October 6, 2022) was an American country music singer. "Home of the Brave" and "Queen of the House" are her well-known albums. She is a recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal ...

, Gary & the Playboys,

and Carol Connors. The soundtrack album was issued on

Hanna Barbera Records Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to ...

Production notes

Although she received sixth billing in the U.S. release, Welch received top billing – with her name above the title – on posters for the Italian release, which was renamed ''The Warm Night.'' The film was shot on location at

Lake Arrowhead, California Lake Arrowhead is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, and surrounding the eponymous Lake Arrowhead ...

in the summer of 1964 and released in the summer of 1965. The bearded man who is seen from behind and mistaken for a woman in a one-piece topless bathing suit is Gypsy Boots (real name: Robert Bootzin), the American fitness pioneer who is credited with laying the foundation for the acceptance by mainstream America of "alternative" lifestyles such as

yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...

and

health food A healthy diet is a diet that maintains or improves overall health. A healthy diet provides the body with essential nutrition: fluid, macronutrients such as protein, micronutrients such as vitamins, and adequate fibre and food energy. A healt ...

. Taglines for the film read: ''They're Lovin', Laughin' and Livin' it up and for kicks playing "Chicken on Water Skis!"'' and ''Spread Out the Beach Towels...Grab Your Gals...it's gonna be A Swingin' Summer!'' The film was the first release of

Dale Robertson Dayle Lymoine Robertson (July 14, 1923February 27, 2013) was an American actor best known for his starring roles on television. He played the roving investigator Jim Hardie in the television series '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' and railroad owner Be ...

's film releasing company United Screen Arts.

Linda Evans Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad; November 18, 1942) is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. In the 1960s she played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck) in the Western tel ...

was originally cast in the role of Cindy.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Swingin' Summer, A 1965 films 1960s teen comedy films Beach party films 1960s English-language films Films directed by Robert Sparr Films shot in California American teen comedy films 1965 comedy films 1965 directorial debut films 1960s American films