Pyjama-Party (1964)

Pyjama-Party: Directed by Don Weis. With Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Elsa Lanchester, Harvey Lembeck. Gogo, a Martian teenager, is sent to Earth to prepare the way for an invasion. The first Earthling he meets, one Aunt Wendy, is a rich widow who runs a dress shop catering to teenagers. Her nephew, Big Lunk, is a volleyball-loving guy with little interest in romance, which causes frustration for his girlfriend Connie. Naturally, Gogo meets Connie and they fall in love. Meanwhile, Aunt Wendy’s shady neighbor and his gang concoct a scheme to part Aunt Wendy from her cash. Also meanwhile, the local motorcycle gang wants revenge on the volleyball players for… getting footprints on their beach. Somehow all the subplots come together at the pajama party.

“I LOVE this film, particularly the scene at the dress store, with Dorothy Lamour.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYes, the 2nd model out, IS the one and only Terri Garr. The last dancer out – the one doing the INCREDIBLE u0026#39;Swim,u0026#39; is Ms. Toni Basil.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThese two women have a combined history (which mightu0026#39;ve started here. Does anyone know?), as, it was shortly after this film, that Terri became a dancer on the late, great ShInDiG!, with Toni as both a dancer and choreographer.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI saw some reviews here which were practically out for blood in their negativity, their dislike of this film. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe one that stuck in my craw, was the person who said they were in high school (in LA) at the time, and this film was so bad, they couldnu0026#39;t sit through it – u0026#39;FIVE(?!?!) times.u0026#39;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eO – kaaaaay.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile itu0026#39;s true, itu0026#39;s not the best, it does have things going for it, starting with Tommy Kirk, who Iu0026#39;ve always liked. I can only imagine how he felt, to basically be given the u0026#39;beach movie mantleu0026#39; – ALONE. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThat had to be a little unnerving tonhave that weight put on you. But, he did have the help of Annette, and a truly fun cast, with everyone from Buster Keaton, through to Dorothy (u0026#39;poor me, pour me another drinku0026#39;) Kilgallen (huh?).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYes, itu0026#39;s stupid, but, itu0026#39;s fun. Itu0026#39;s not supposed to be anything other than lightweight fluff, and, it does itu0026#39;s job admirably.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEvery time this film comes on, Iu0026#39;m front-and-centre, waiting up for that terrific dance at the dress store.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd, again, to the person who hates this – but, keeps seeing it: you keep saying you leave after only the 1st few minutes. There are very few films that are great after only a few minutes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNext time you u0026#39;forceu0026#39; yourself to (try and) watch PAJAMA PARTY…just try to at least see Dorothy, Terri, and Toni? You might end up with a smile.”