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Double Trouble - Part 1 of 3
Elvis's twenty-fourth movie was the 1967 MGM film
"Double Trouble." Based on a novel by Mark Brandel, the
working title was "You're Killing Me" and the idea was to give the
movie the same feel as that of the zany comedic Beatles films
"Hard Days Night" and "Help." Although the movie is set
in Europe, it was filmed on the MGM back lot in Hollywood.
Elvis reported to MGM on June 27, 1966 for a music
meeting and wardrobe fittings. The next night Elvis, reluctant
to record the lackluster material provided for him, was late
for his recording session at Radio Recorders. As a result MGM
moved the recording session to their own cavernous soundstage.
As principal Elvis researcher/compilation producer for BMG, Ernst
Jorgensen, put it, "The soundstage had all the presence of a giant
tin can." Sloppy engineering and sound further disgusted
Elvis. Says Jorgensen, "Being forced to record 'Old MacDonald'
was only the final indignity, and Elvis left, forcing the movie
company to use an incomplete, seventh take as the master." The
session ended with Elvis recording the very short (1 min. 20 sec.)
song with the very long title
"Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)."
On a brighter note, Elvis got to meet Jackie Wilson,
a singer whom he had long admired, who was performing near by.
Jackie Wilson also visited Elvis on the set of this movie. He
also met James Brown and Elvis formed a friendship with both
performers that lasted the rest of his life. In 1975 it was
Elvis who helped to pay the medical costs when Jackie Wilson
suffered a stroke. And James Brown would be one of the few
celebrities to attend Elvis's wake in 1977.
This was the only movie made by Elvis's leading
lady, Annette Day, who played Jill Conway in "Double Trouble."
She was a young girl whom producer Judd Bernard saw working in her
parents' antique shop in London. He thought that she would be
right for the part in the movie despite her not having any previous
acting experience. Several of her natural expressions such as
"Super!" and "biccies" (cookies) were written into the script.
During filming Elvis surprised the 18-year-old, who had yet to learn
to drive, with a white Mustang convertible. Unable to take the
gift back home to Britain, Ms. Day left it in the U.S. in her
brother's care when she returned to England, where she still
lives.During filming Elvis's cousin Billy Smith served as Ms.
Day's stand-in.
John Williams played Jill Conway's uncled, Gerald
Waverly.
Williams was best known for his role on stage and
screen in "Dial M For Murder."
Yvonne Romain played Waverly's accomplice in crime,
Claire Dunham. Ms. Romain is the wife of songwriter Leslie
Bricusse. Her first American film was "The Swinger" with
Ann-Margret. |
