Review of Palm Springs Weekend

I never went on a college spring break. Money, time and my parents forbid me from going and in hind sight they were right. Another campy gem from the vault of WABC's Channel 7 4:30 movie. A colorful handsome cast is displayed among the Palm Springs, California backdrop of floral filled motels and swimming pools and lets not forget plenty of teenagers. A bus load of teens from Hollywood travel across the Mohave in hopes of a memorable time of sex,suds and sand, but on that bus is the pudgy,grouchy and lispy basketball coach Fred Campbell (Jack Weston) as he reads his players the official riot act of rules for their spring break. No Alcohol and no necking.You got the picture! Anyway our cast of characters assembles at the Yates Motel, NOT BATES that's further down the road run by Norman but that's another story . Mrs. Yates (Carole Cook)the strong armed proprietor/warden and wise to all teens living on her premises who we presume is either widowed or divorced has a son Boom Boom (Billy Mumy)who is a devilish,impish sandy haired nightmare to all visitors who come in contact with him. Four male stars emerge in this weekend bonanza Jim Munroe (Troy Donohue), All American good guy and Basketball Captain on his way to Medical School falls for a local Palm Springs girl Bunny Dixon (Stephanie Powers) in a record shop.Jim doesn't know that Bunny's father is the chief of police (Andrew Duggan) as earlier our Police Chief at the breakfast table started his usual rant and complaining of all those kids coming into their quiet oasis in the desert and wrecking the place as his wife tries to slip a nerve pill in his orange juice. Goofy inventor guy Biff Roberts and Banjo player crew bald Jerry Van Dyke finds love with karate master Amanda (Zeme North). Spoiled and neglected yet nasty and overly confident Eric Dean (Robert Conrad)sways a young vivacious Gayle Lewis (Connie Stevens) to his car with an over sized Bugs Bunny in front. Has road rage with a tall Cowboy Stretch Fortune (Ty Hardin) who makes eyes at Gayle driving along side So Dean cuts off our cowboy into the sandy dune shoulder and that's our forth and final male lead in this camp fest movie. Stretch is a Hollywood Stuntman and he also is joining the kids in a little R&R at the Yates. Gayle and Stretch meet later at a house party along with everyone else and the rivalry begins between dashing blade Dean and Stretch. Cameo by Tina Cole of My Three Sons as she offers her home to a house full of spring breakers. Townies enter the home and bust up the bar and a donnybrook commences as the Palm Springs Police raid the ravaged home. Jim Munroe as we might expect was taken aback by his discovery as Bunny calls the chief of Police,"Daddy". After everyone was questioned at the precinct it's back to the Yates Motel for the laundry incident. Soap suds get poured in the swimming pool and our beloved Chief Dixon again complains crying," Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles!" Even disgruntled coaches and Motel owners can find romance in this silly flick.The questions remain who will win Gayle Lewis's fancy? Stretch or the spoiled Dean? Will Bunny and Jim stay together despite the father's demands not to see him anymore? Will Biff stay in one piece and not get accidentally flipped by his Karate girlfriend? Will Boom Boom behave like a normal kid should? Will Naomi give Coach Fred Campbell better rates on his return visit?I'm sure all these problems will work themselves out just make sure you check out,don't steal the towels and catch the bus back to Los Angeles on time.FYI, Warner Brothers reunited Andrew Duggan, Carole Cook and Jack Weston a year later in the combination animation movie The Incredible Mr. Limpet.