Charro!

Released March 13th 1969 (August 1969 - January 1970 Europe)

National General Pictures          98 minutes

Produced by Charles Marquis Warren

Directed by Charles Marquis Warren and George Templeton

Music by Hugo Montenegro

Written by Frederick Louis Fox (story) and Charles Marquis Warren

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Jess Wade), Ina Balin (Tracey Winters), Victor French (Vince Hackett), Barbara Werle (Sara Ramsey), Solomon Sturges (Billy Roy Hackett), Lynn Kellogg (Marcie), Paul Brinegar (Opie Keetch), Harry Landers (Heff), Tony Young (Lt. Rivera), James Almanzar (Sheriff Ramsey), Charles H. Gray (Mody), John Pickard (Jerome Selby), Garry Walberg (Martin Tilford), Duane Grey (Gabe), Rodd Redwing (Lige), J. Edward McKinley (Henry Carter), Robert Luster (Will Joslyn), James Sikking (Gunner).

Story:

Jess Wade, an ex-member of an outlaw gang led by Vince Hackett, is fooled into believing that Tracey Winters, an old flame of both his and Vince's, wants to meet him again in a run -down Mexican saloon. Seeing Vince's younger brother, Billy Roy Hackett, urging Vince and some other gang members into the saloon he realises that he has been tricked and warns everyone to get out before a gunfight starts. He tries to escape but is stopped at the door by an outlaw called Gunner, disarmed and forced to return with them to their mountain hideout. He is told by Vince that word has been put about that Jess is the one responsible for the theft of a historical and valuable gold-plated cannon that was used by Emperor Maximilian in the battle against Mexican leader Benito Juarez, although it is Hackett and his gang who actually stole it. Further 'evidence' is provided by branding Jess's neck as he was supposed to have been shot by one of the guards, according to the 'wanted' poster. The gang abandons Jess to his outlaw fate and make their getaway, planning to ransom the cannon to the town it was stolen from, also using its firepower in the meantime, and it seems that only Jess can foil their plans.

Notes:

Working titles: 'Jack Valentine', 'Johnny Hang' and 'Come Sundown, Come Hell'. The role of Jess Wade was originally offered to Clint Eastwood and the script was dramatically changed before Elvis got it. Elvis sports a beard and performs (himself) some half-way decent action stunts in this non-musical dramatic offering. The acting is, in places, pretty fair and would probably have been even better had the film not been yet another 'rush' job. Interesting and unique. This is the only one of his movies in which Elvis doesn't sing. There is a nude scene where Ina Balin gets out of a bath-tub, which is rarely seen, and is not usually in edits made for television or recordings. 'Charro', Jess's nickname, translates as 'singer', particularly the lead singer of a mariachi band.

Songs:

Only one.......... the title theme - 'Charro!' (written by Billy Strange and Mac Davis)

The Trouble With Girls

Released September 3rd 1969

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer   99 minutes

Produced by Lester Welch

Directed by Peter Tewksbury and George Templeton

Music by Billy Strange

Written by Mauri Grashin, based on a book of the same name

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Walter Hale) Marlyn Mason (Charlene), Nicole Jaffe (Betty), Sheree North (Nita Bix), Edward Andrews (Johnny), John Carradine (Mr. Drewcolt), Anissa Jones (Carol), Vincent Price (Mr. Morality), Joyce Van Patten (Maude), Pepe Brown (Willy), Dabney Coleman (Harrison Wilby), Bill Zuckert (Mayor Gilchrist), Pitt Herbert (Mr. Perper), Anthony 'Scooter' Teague (Clarence - as Anthony Teague), Med Flory (Constable), Robert Nichols (Smith), Helene Winston (Olga Prchlik), Kevin O'Neal (Yale), Frank Welker (Rutgers), John Rubinstein (Princeton), Charles Briles (Amherst - as Chuck Briles), Patsy Garrett (Mrs. Gilchrist), Linda Sue Risk (Lily-Jeanne), Charles P. Thompson (Cabbie), Leonard Rumery (First Farmhand), William M. Paris (Second Farmhand), Kathleen Rainey (Third Farmhand), Hal Pederson (Soda Jerk - as Hal James Pederson), Mike Wagner (Chowderhead), Brett Parker (Iceman), Duke Snider (The Cranker), Pacific Palisades High School Madrigals (Choral Group).

Story:

Walter Hale is the new manager of the Chautauqua, a travelling medicine show which gets involved in a murder incident in a small Iowa town. Walter is trying to stop Charlene from forming a performer's union that threatens to wreck the show. A gambler is arrested for the murder of a local pharmacist, Wilby, but Walter discovers that Nita, one of Wilby's employees, actually did it and tricks her into admitting it when he advertises that he is going to announce the killer's name at one of his shows. Charlene is outraged that Walter used the crime to boost the popularity of the Chautauqua and tries to quit, despite Walter's efforts to reason with her. Iin order to keep her with the show he gets the local police to insit that she must leave town on the train with the rest of the troupe. One might argue that the main trouble with girls in this film is that there aren't very many.

Notes:

Working title: 'The Chautauqua'. The film's original full title is 'The Trouble with Girls (and How to Get Into It). Elvis and Vincent Price never actually met. The film rights were originally held by MGM, After failing to make a screen production they sold it to Columbia Pictures in May 1965. Columbia had similar problems and sold it back to them in April 1968.

Songs:

Swing Low Sweet Chariot / The Whiffenpoof Song / Violet / Clean Up Your Own Backyard / Sign Of The Zodiac / The Darktown Strutter's Ball / Susan Brown / Toot Toot Tootsie

Change Of Habit

NBC / MCA / Universal Pictures   93 minutes

Produced by Joe Connelly

Directed by William A. Graham

Music by Billy Goldenberg, Buddy Kaye and Ben Weisman

Written by Eric Bercovici, John Joseph, James Lee, Richard Morris and S.S. Schweitzer

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Dr. John Carpenter), Mary Tyler Moore (Sister Michelle), Barbara McNair (Sister Irene), Jane Elliot (Sister Barbara), Leora Dana (Mother Joseph), Edward Asner (Lieutenant Moretti), Robert Emhardt (The Banker), Regis Toomey (Father Gibbons), Doro Merande (Rose), Ruth McDevitt (Lily), Richard Carlson (Bishop Finley), Nefti Millet (Julio Hernandez), Laura Figueroa (Desiree), Lorena Kirk (Amanda), Virginia Vincent (Miss Parker), David Renard (Colom), Ji-Tu Cumbuka (Hawk), William Elliott (Robbie - as Bill Elliott), Rodolfo Hoyos Jr. (Mr. Hernandez - as Rodolfo Hoyos).

Story:

Dr. John Carpenter is a physician who is attempting to bring good works to the ghettoes. He accepts the help offered by three women, who are actually nuns but are wearing street clothes as they think that their religious robes might scare the local population away. Unaware that they are actually nuns, Carpenter falls for Michelle Gallagher, one of the workers. A very contemporary film at the time which, presumably, was trying to put some kind of message across. This film and Charro! looked like genuine attempts to move towards movies with a far better dramatic content. The reason for their comparative lack of success at the box must remain purely subjective, either in the fact that they really failed to do so or that people really wanted to see Elvis singing more than acting. Anyway, Michelle realises that she also has feelings for Carpenter but doesn't really want to leave her holy order and the film ends with Sisters Michelle and Irene entering a church where Dr. Carpenter is singing, to pray for guidance in making her choice.

Notes:

This was Elvis Presley's last feature film and was part of a contract made with NBC in 1968 which included the "Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special" TV show. 'Rubberneckin' wasn't originally recorded for this film, but as the 'B' side to 'Don't Cry Daddy'. It was considered a Mary Tyler Moore film until January 1969 when Elvis signed to take the lead role.

Songs:

Change Of Habit / Rubberneckin' / Have A Happy / Let Us Pray