Pajama Party (1964) starring Annette Funicello, Don Rickles, Buster Keaton
In short, Pajama Party is an Annette Funicello beach party movie — but in addition to the gyrating young girls in bikinis, Pajama Party adds large amounts of clown-level zaniness as well. The basic story has 3 intertwining plots – a Martian invasion (led by a clean cut, inept Martian teenager and managed by Don Rickles), a beach party complete with teenage angst, and some inept crooks (including Buster Keaton as an American Indian, still wearing his traditional pork pie hat — with a feather in it). There’s a lot of humor in the movie, with slapstick that borders on the Looney Tunes. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it and hope you do as well.
Editorial review of Pajama Party, courtesy of Amazon.com
Gogo, a Martian teenager (Tommy Kirk), is sent to Earth to prepare the way for an invasion. The first Earthling he meets, one Aunt Wendy (Elsa Lanchester), 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 (Annette Funicello). Naturally, Gogo meets Connie and they fall in love. Meanwhile, Aunt Wendy’s shady neighbor (Jesse White) and his gang (Buster Keaton as an American Indian — still wearing his traditional hat) 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.
Funny movie quotes from Pajama Party
Fleegle: What are we looking for?
J. Sinister Hulk (Jesse White): Look for anything suspicious!
Chief Rotten Eagle (Buster Keaton): The only thing suspicious is us!
Big Bang The Martian (Don Rickles): [Talking about Go-Go the Martian to Socum] It’s not that I don’t like him, it’s just I can’t stand him!
Connie (Annette Funicello): [Talking about Go-Go the Martian] This kid is a kook!
Aunt Wendy (Elsa Lanchester): No, dear not a kook – a Martian.
Connie (Annette Funicello): A Martian!
Aunt Wendy (Elsa Lanchester): From Mars.
Connie (Annette Funicello): Both you birds belong in a clock.