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Jody McCrea
1934-
Updated 3/25/2008.
biography
The son of actor Joel McCrea and actress Frances Dee, Jody McCrea was born Joel McCrea Jr. on September 6, 1934. He landed his first film role in the 1956 western Naked Gun, and through the end of the 1950s, McCrea acted in a string of westerns. During the 1959-1960 television season, he appeared with his father, western star Joel McCrea, in the NBC series Wichita Town. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after 26 episodes. The elder McCrea retired after this series wrapped, making few films afterward. In the 1960s Jody McCrea branched out into other roles before being cast as 'Deadhead' in the 1963 film Beach Party.
LEFT: With father Joel McCrea in the early 1950s. RIGHT: AIP photo of Jody McCrea from 1964
Jody McCrea appeared in nearly all American International beach party films, with the exception of The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. The 6'3" McCrea provided romantic and comedic relief in his six beach party films. Later in his acting career, McCrea produced and starred in Cry Blood, Apache (1970). Following this film, he retired from the screen to become a rancher.
the films of jody mccrea
Lafayette Escadrille (1958)
From Lafayette Escadrille with William Wellman Jr., Tab Hunter, and David Janssen
The Broken Land (1962)
From the 20th Century Fox western The Broken Land with Diana Darrin
Beach Party (1963)
From AIP's first beach movie Beach Party. LEFT: McCrea as Deadhead. RIGHT: With Bob Cummings, Annette Funicello, and John Ashley
Law of the Lawless (1964)
As Pete Stone in Paramount's western Law of the Lawless
From AIP's Pajama Party. LEFT: Big Lunk (McCrea) and the gang play volleyball. CENTER A: Big Lunk gets knocked out. CENTER B: With Annette Funicello. RIGHT: With Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, and Bobbi Shaw
LEFT and CENTER: With the girls on the beach in Beach Blanket Bingo. RIGHT: As Bonehead
The Glory Stompers (1968)
From AIP's biker film The Glory Stompers with Chris Noel, Astrid Warner, and Gary Wood
The Monster That Challenged The World (1957)/It! The Terror From Beyond Space [DVD](1958) DVD
The planet is under attack in "The Monster That Challenged the World" by, in fact, many gigantic snail-like creatures released from their undersea resting place by seismic activity. Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, and Hans Conried star. Next, an interplanetary ship rescues the sole survivor of a Martian scouting mission and heads for home, unaware that "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" has stowed away in the cargo hold and is slowly approaching the crew's quarters. This unofficial inspiration for "Alien" stars Marshall Thompson, Ann Doran, and Ray "Crash" Corrigan as "It." 152 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
The Frankie & Annette Collection [DVD] DVD
"Surf's up" in this four-disc boxed set saluting AIP's teen comedy series and seaside sweethearts Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Anthropologist Bob Cummings uses the pair as part of a study of modern mating habits in the original "Beach Party" (1963), with Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Annette has her hands full when the Potato Bug, a British pop star who's Frankie's double, arrives at "Bikini Beach" (1964). Don Rickles and Little Stevie Wonder guest star. Gym owner Rickles wants to take over the kids' surf spot, and heiress Luciana Paluzzi wants to woo Frankie from Annette, in "Muscle Beach Party" (1964). Avalon trades his board for slats and joins Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley and James Brown for a "Ski Party" (1965). "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) boasts a missing singer, a mermaid, and skydiving surfdogs. Avalon wants to keep pal Hickman away from Funicello while he's on military duty in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965), with Buster Keaton. Frankie's a moonshine-running hot rodder competing with racer Fabian for Annette's hand in "Fireball 500" (1966). And Fabian and Funicello burn rubber together in "Thunder Alley" (1967). 12 1/2 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English mono.
Force Of Impulse [DVD](1961) DVD
"Kids in trouble" drama about two high schoolers from opposite sides of the tracks who fall in love, over the objections of the girl's father. Robert Alda, Tony Anthony, Teri Hope, Jody McCrea, and J. Carroll Naish star; look for Christina Crawford ("Mommie Dearest" author). 84 min.
Force Of Impulse(1961) VHS
"Kids in trouble" drama about two high schoolers from opposite sides of the tracks who fall in love, over the objections of the girl's father. Robert Alda, Tony Anthony, Teri Hope, Jody McCrea and J. Carroll Naish star; look for Christina Crawford ("Mommie Dearest" author). 84 min.
Beach Party (1963)/Bikini Beach [DVD](1964) DVD
The first entry in A.I.P.'s surfside slapstick series, "Beach Party" stars Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello as fun-loving teens who become the subject of anthropologist Bob Cummings' research into adolescent mating rituals. With Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, Dick Dale and The Del-Tones, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Next, Frankie plays himself and mop-topped British pop idol the Potato Bug (get it?)--and both are vying for Annette's attention--in "Bikini Beach," co-starring Don Rickles, Keenan Wynn, Little Stevie Wonder, and Boris Karloff. 198 min. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
Muscle Beach Party (1964)/Ski Party [DVD](1965) DVD
Surf's up! Frankie and Annette sure have their hands full at a "Muscle Beach Party," as gym owner Don Rickles and his strongmen try to take over the beach, lovesick heiress Luciana Paluzzi tries to snare Frankie, and Little Stevie Wonder stops by to perform "Happy Street." With Morey Amsterdam, Buddy Hackett, Peter Lorre. Next, Frankie trades in his board for some slats and hits the slopes with Dwayne Hickman to find why their gals are swooning over ski bum Aron Kincaid. ..with the guys resorting to dressing up as girls! "Ski Party" also stars Deborah Walley, Yvonne Craig, Robert Q. Lewis, and musical guests James Brown and Lesley Gore. 186 min. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French.
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)/How To Stuff A Wild Bikini [DVD](1965) DVD
The "Beach Party" gang is back in a double bill that's packed with more fun than a two-piece bathing suit. "Beach Blanket Bingo," a wild mix about a missing singing star, a mermaid, and biker Eric Von Zipper's gang, features guest stars Don Rickles, Paul Lynde, Buster Keaton, and Linda Evans joining series regulars Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon and Harvey Lembeck. Then, while Frankie is away on Army Reserve duty, he gets witch doctor Keaton to send a bikini-clad beauty to keep rival Dwayne Hickman away from Annette, in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini." Beverly Adams, Mickey Rooney, and The Kingsmen also star. 192 min. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailers.
Girls From Thunder Strip [DVD](1966) DVD
Ever wonder what would happen if a group of hippie chicks on motorcycles descended upon the moonshine-making denizens of Appalachia? The results of such a culture clash are depicted in this one-of-a-kind sixties shocker featuring "beach movie" star Jody McCrea, Lindsay Crosby and Casey Kasem; directed by David L. Hewitt ("The Mighty Gorga").
Cry Blood, Apache [DVD](1970) DVD
Unusual western drama about an Apache warrior seeking a brutal vengeance on the prospectors who killed his people and took his sister hostage on their search for gold. Jody McCrea and, in a cameo, dad Joel star; with Marie Gahva, Dan Kemp. 82 min.
from movie goods
Original and Reproduction Jody McCrea Photos and Posters Available at Movie Goods
filmography
FILM
Lady Streetfighter (1985) with Liz Renay
Nightmare County (1977)
Cry Blood, Apache (1970) with Joel McCrea; Jody McCrea also produced this film
Scream Free (1969) with Russ Tamblyn, Lana Wood, and Casey Kasem
The Glory Stompers (1967) with Jock Mahoney, Dennis Hopper, and Chris Noel
The Girls From Thunder Strip (1966) with Lindsay Crosby, Casey Kasem, and Gary Kent
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley, and John Ashley
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) with Annette Funicello, Bobbi Shaw, John Ashley, and Harvey Lembeck
Young Fury (1965) with Rory Calhoun, Virginia Mayo, Lon Chaney Jr., John Agar, Merry Anders, Richard Arlen, and William Wellman Jr.
Pajama Party (1964) with Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Donna Loren, and Elsa Lanchester
Bikini Beach (1964) with Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Donna Loren, Martha Hyer, Keenan Wynn, Don Rickles, Harvey Lembeck, and John Ashley
Law of the Lawless (1964) with Yvonne De Carlo, Dale Robertson, William Bendix, John Agar, Kent Taylor, Bill Williams, Richard Arlen, and Lon Chaney Jr.
Muscle Beach Party (1964) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Peter Lupus, Luciana Paluzzi, Buddy Hackett, John Ashley, Donna Loren, and Don Rickles
Beach Party (1963) with Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Bob Cummings, Dorothy Malone, John Ashley, and Harvey Lembeck
Operation Bikini (1963) with Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, Scott Brady, Jim Backus, and Gary Crosby
Young Guns of Texas (1963) with James Mitchum, Gary Conway, and Chill Wills
The Broken Land (1962) with Kent Taylor, Diana Darrin, and Jack Nicholson
All Hands on Deck (1961) with Pat Boone, Barbara Eden, Buddy Hackett, Warren Berlinger, Gale Gordon, and Ann B. Davis
Force of Impulse (1961) with Robert Alda and Christina Crawford
Lafayette Escadrille (1958) with Clint Eastwood, Tab Hunter, Brett Halsey, and Tom Laughlin
The Restless Years (1958) with John Saxon, Sandra Dee, Luana Patten, Virginia Grey, and James Whitmore
Gunsight Ridge (1957) with Joel McCrea, Mark Stevens, Carolyn Craig, and Slim Pickens
The Monster That Challenged the World (1957) with Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried, and Max Showalter
The First Texan (1956) with Joel McCrea, Felicia Farr, Jeff Morrow, and William Hopper
Naked Gun (1956) with Mara Corday, Veda Ann Borg, Morris Ankrum, Chick Chandler, and X. Brands
TELEVISION
Hollywood Backstage 1966-1967 syndicated TV series. McCrea appeared numerous times on this program which mostly consisted of interviews with celebrities and clips from premieres.
Wichita Town, 1959-1960 NBC TV series. Jody McCrea starred with Joel McCrea on this half-hour western program.
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This page premiered August 11, 1999.
Counter reset March 1, 2001.
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