Frankie And Johnny

Released March 31st 1966 (2nd May 1966 UK)

Edward Small Productions / United Artists   87 minutes

Produced by Edward Small

Directed by Frederick de Cordova

Music by Fred Karger

Written by Nat Perrin and Alex Gottlieb

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Johnny), Donna Douglas (Frankie), Harry Morgan (Cully), Sue Ane Langdon (Mitzi), Nancy Kovack (Nellie Bly), Audrey Christie (Peg), Anthony Eisley (Clint Braden), Robert Strauss (Blackie), Joyce Jameson (Abigail), Naomi Stevens (Princess Zolita - uncredited), Dave Willock (bartender - uncredited)

Story:

Johnny and girlfriend Frankie are performers on a Mississippi riverboat. Johnny, a compulsive gambler who is heavily in debt, and his musician friend Cully visit a gypsy camp where a fortune-teller says he will meet a red-haired woman who will bring him luck. Back on the boat, redhead Nellie Bly (their boss Clint Braden's girlfriend) is persuaded by Johnny to touch his chips for luck. After winning, Johnny is convinced about the fortune-telling, but his boss and girlfriend become jealous about their 'partnership'. A musical number performed on the boat involves a bit of theatre where Frankie shoots Johnny for dancing with Nellie Bly while singing a song penned by Cully. An entrepreneur from Broadway sees the show and buys the rights to the song, persuading Frankie and Johnny to go with him to New York to perform it. At New Orleans all the crew attend a masked ball where Johnny is keen for Nellie's 'luck' to win him more money. However, Frankie swaps places with Nellie and when he wins ten thousand dollars at roulette he kisses her. The switch is revealed and a furious Frankie throws his winnings out of the window. In the meantime Blackie, a dull-witted man who works for the boss, hears him bemoaning the fact that he has lost Nellie. Trying to help, Blackie switches the blank in the stage gun for a real bullet. Braden is told and rushes to the theatre to try and stop the show, but arrives only in time to see the shot fired. As Johnny lies, apparently dying, on the stage, Frankie forgives him for everything and is amazed when he stands up - the bullet having struck a medallion given to him by Frankie, that has saved his life.

Notes:

Elvis Presley started working on the film on 11th April 1965. Although a United Artists production, Frankie and Johnny was filmed on MGM’s Hollywood lot. At least 256 different recordings of "Frankie and Johnny" have been made since the early 20th century.

Songs:

Gypsies / Frankie and Johnny / Lookout Broadway / Beginner's Luck / When The Saints Go Marchin' In / Get Happy / Hard Luck / Please Don't Stop Lovin' Me / Let's Go Along With The Show / Make Petunia's Tulips Mine / What Every Woman Lives For

Paradise Hawaiian Style

Released April 23rd 1966 Japan, July 9th Memphis, USA (July 29th UK)

Hal Wallis Productions / Paramount Pictures   91 minutes

Produced by Hal B. Wallis

Directed by Michael D. Moore

Music by Joseph J. Lilley

Written by Anthony Lawrence and Allan Weiss

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Rick Richards), Suzanna Leigh (Judy Hudson), James Shigeta (Danny Kohana), Donna Butterworth (Jan Kohana), Marianna Hill (Lani Kaimana), Irene Tsu (Pua), Linda Wong (Lehua Kawena), Julie Parrish (Joanna), Jan Shepard (Betty Kohana), John Doucette (Mr. Belden), Grady Sutton (Mr. Cubberson), Doris Packer (Mrs. Barrington), Don Collier (Andy Lowell), Philip Ahn (Moki Kaimana), Mary Treen (Mrs. Belden)

Story:

Greg 'Rick' Richards is a girl-loving airline pilot who has been blacklisted by all the major airlines for endlessly chasing their female staff. He returns home to Hawaii and starts a helicopter charter service with his buddy Danny Kohana, providing him with both an income and the means to meet many of the island's lovely tourists. All seems to be going well until he takes a job ferrying some dogs (real ones) around. Things get a touch out of control during the trip as does the helicopter, which buzzes the road and narrowly misses the chief of the Island Aviation Bureau, Donald Beldon, who is not overly impressed and grounds him. His problems increase when Danny becomes overdue on a flight and Rick has to decide if he should risk losing his license forever by going to look for his friend.

Notes:

Working title: 'Polynesian Paradise'. Apparently the 'Drums of the Islands' sequence was affected by a punch-up between some of the native 'extras' when it was noticed that the canoe in the scene was of Samoan origin. The oarsmen were Tongan.

Songs:

Paradise Hawaiian Style / Queenie Wahini's Papaya / Scratch My Back / Drums Of The Islands / A Dog's Life / Datin' / House Of Sand / Stop Where You Are / This Is My Heaven / Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home.

The export album contains a beautiful bonus track called 'Sand Castles', which was edited out of the film.

Spinout (California Holiday)

Released Oct 17th 1966 Memphis, Oct 21st UK, Nov 23rd US premiere

Euterpe / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer   93 minutes

Produced by Joe Pasternak

Directed by Norman Taurog and James A. Rosenberger

Music by George E. Stoll (and Robert Van Eps - uncredited)

Written by Theodore J. Flicker and George Kirgo

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Mike McCoy), Shelley Fabares (Cynthia Foxhugh), Diane McBain (Diana St.Clair), Dodie Marshall (Susan), Deborah Walley (Les), Jack Mullaney (Curly), Will Hutchins (Lt. Tracy Richards), Warren Berlinger (Philip Short), Jimmy Hawkins (Larry), Carl Betz (Howard Foxhugh), Cecil Kellaway (Bernard Ranley), Una Merkel (Violet Ranley), Frederick Worlock (Blodgett - as Frederic Worlock), Dave Barry (Harry)

Story:

Mike McCoy is a singer who races cars in his spare time. He enjoys his single life but it becomes complicated when he is pursued by three girls wanting to marry him off. Cynthia Foxhugh, a spoiled heiress who is used to getting what she wants, persuades her millionaire father Howard to trick Mike and his band into interrupting their music tour to serenade Cynthia with "Am I Ready" for her birthday. On hearing about Mike's racing skills, Howard is determined for Mike to drive his 'Fox Five' car in an upcoming desert road race, but Mike prefers to race his own Cobra 427 which he tows around the country with a 1929 Duesenberg. Mike is also pursued by author Diana St. Clair who wants to marry him and use him as the subject of her latest book 'The Perfect American Male'. The third 'competitor' for his affections is Les, the female drummer in his band who is fed up with being treated as one of the boys and shocks them by turning up at a party in an evening dress. Mike wins the race and works hard to preserve his single status by marrying the three girls off to other people. The desert must have seemed a good place to be at the time.....

Notes:

Working titles: 'Jim Dandy', 'After Midnight', 'Always At Midnight', 'Never Say No' and 'Never Say Yes'. Released in the UK as 'California Holiday'.

Songs:

Stop Look Listen / Adam and Evil / Because Of You / Never Say Yes / Am I Ready? / Beach Shack / Spinout / Smorgasbord / I'll Be Back