Before second-string A.I.P. studios turned into the primary movie-house responsible for scary-castle thrillers and cycle-savage B-flicks, it took another gasp with its "Beach Party" cast, putting GI Frankie Avalon and a chimpanzee into orbit. Deborah Walley is the love-interest, Buster Keaton is an Air Force handyman, Fred Clark is the befuddled General, but there's no Annette Funicello this time (not even in a cameo). The nickname "Dead Head" was very popular with A.I.P.'s stable of writers; poor Avalon gets to wear the moniker this time, and he looks more than a little embarrassed monkeying around with this script, full of silly slapstick. Eve Arden gets some funny lines and has an enjoyable song number, the gals in the barracks are frisky, but the rest is pretty routine. *1/2 from ****
Review of Sergeant Dead Head
