Getting Psyched for the Party
Step One: Start with the web site of the man behind it all: Charles Busch!
Step Two: Psycho Beach Party is a darkly comic and savagely witty parody of number of mainstream movies from Hollywood's 1960's era. Psycho Beach director Jeff Marontate has compiled a list of films which will help set the stage, so to speak, for the coming show. Don't worry — these aren't required viewing to appreciate the play, but they help! So get in the mood by taking in some of the movies which inspired the psychosis!
- Beach Blanket Bingo* (1965) - Frankie and Annette hit the beach in one of the last films from Hollywood's beach party craze.
- Beach Party* (1963) - The perfect summer when the urge meets the surge!
- Gidget (1959) - Can you spot the similarities between Gidget and Chicklet, or perhaps Moondoggie and Star Cat?
- Marnie* (1964) - Hitchcock's psychological thriller, starring Tippi Hedren and Sean Connery, provides the basis for a substantial subplot in Psycho Beach Party.
- Mommie Dearest* (1981) - Faye Dunaway is Joan Crawford. A star ... a legend ... and a mother. The illusion of perfection.
- Spellbound* (1945) - Another Hitchcock piece, set in an asylum and featuring Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, and plenty more insanity.
- Strait Jacket (1964) - Mrs. Forrest, meet Joan Crawford. Do take notes.
- Suddenly Last Summer (1959) - Based on Tennessee Williams' play, and starring Liz Taylor and Katharine Hepburn.
- Three Faces of Eve* (1957) - A possible source for Chicklet's multiple personalities, starring Joanne Woodward as Eve.
Titles marked with an asterisk indicate videos which are available for rental from Reruns Video in Windsor (519-256-3500). Links go to the Internet Movie Database, which is not affiliated with Korda Productions; links are for information and entertainment purposes only.