Evil scientist Dr. Goldfoot (Price) wants to take over the world. His bikini machine churns out beautiful women robots, who are trained to ensnare the wealthiest men in the world. He sends #11, Diane (Hart), into the world to test the plan. She accidentally charms secret agent Craig Gamble (Avalon), but quickly corrects the mistake and goes after millionaire Todd Armstrong (Hickman). Armstrong quickly falls for Diane and they marry.
Meanwhile, Craig begins to suspect that there is something bigger going on. His boss / uncle D.J. Pevney (Clark) dismisses the concerns and thinks Craig is overreacting. Dr. Goldfoot is thrilled with Diane's success, and orders his long-suffering assistant Igor (Mullaney) to continue the process with the other robots. Can Craig uncover the truth and stop Dr. Goldfoot's plans?
An off-shoot of American International Pictures (AIP) beach party franchise, this film brings together the cast and concepts of the beach party films and Edgar Allen Poe films, and throws in some espionage. The result: a campy, 1960s comedy.
The Good:
Vincent Price is excellent. The character is over the top and he runs with it. The rest of the cast is fine, but they can't compare to Price. The stop-motion title sequence is a great way to introduce the film and characters. The title song, "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" performed by the Supremes is fun and catchy.
The Bad:
The story is rough and riddled with plot holes.
Other Comments:
-The filmmakers originally planned to make this film a musical, like the beach party films, but the singing was scrapped from the final project. I wish they had kept a few songs, to add to the camp and fun.
-Annette Funicello has a brief cameo in the dungeon, which is a wink to the audience about her role in the AIP beach party films and connection to Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman.
-Harvey Lembeck, another regular in the beach party films, has a brief cameo as a motorcycle thug in the dungeon scene.
-AIP made 2 sequels: a 30-minute TV special The Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot in 1965 and feature film Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs in 1966.
-The film is mindless fun, and worth watching Price swing for the rafters.
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) minutes
Director: Norman Taurog & Ishiro Honda
Starring: Vincent Price as Dr. Goldfoot
Frankie Avalon as Craig Gamble
Dwayne Hickman as Todd Armstrong
Susan Hart as Diane
Jack Mullaney as Igor
Fred Clark ad D.J. Pevney
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