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Live A Little, Love A Little - 1 - 3
On March 4, 1968 Elvis reported to MGM to begin pre-production on
the film "Kiss My Firm But Pliant Lips" based on the novel of the
same name by Dan Greenburg.
Greenburg was born and educated in Illinois. He received his Masters
Degree at UCLA and became an award-winning ad copywriter. Later he
was managing editor of "Eros" magazine. He became a best-selling
writer with his 1964 book "How To Be A Jewish Mother." He along with
Michael A. Hoey adapted his novel "Kiss My Firm But Pliant Lips"
into the screenplay for Elvis's movie which would become entitled
"Live A Little, Love A Little," although other titles also
considered including "Bumblebee Oh Bumblebee" and "Born Rich."
Greenburg went on to write other productions including "Oh!
Calcutta!" and the TV series "Adam's Rib."
Writer, director and producer Michael A. Hoey was born in London and
came to the U.S. as a child. Son of character actor Dennis Hoey, he
grew up around the Hollywood movie studios. He worked with director
Norman Taurog on several Elvis movies: "Tickle Me", "Spinout", "Stay
Away Joe" and "Live a Little, Love A Little." He received two Emmy
Award nominations for his work on the TV series "Fame." Among his
credits is having produced several Emmy Award shows.
Working with musical conductor and writer Billy Strange, Elvis
recorded the soundtrack at Western Recorders on 3/7/68. Strange's
method of using written charts was foreign to Elvis's more casual
style of recording.
Principal photography began on 3/13/68. Locations included the
Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, Marineland, the Hollywood Citizen
News building, the Los Angeles Music Center and the streets of the
Hollywood Hills.
Elvis's somewhat kooky love interest Bernice/ Betty/Suzie/Alice was
played by actress Michele Carey who had been a top model for the
Powers Agency. Her film credits include "El Dorado" and "Dirty
Dingus Magee" among others. She was also the voice of "Effie" the
computer on the Robert Conrad TV series "A Man Called Sloane."
There has been a long-held myth that Elvis and Priscilla's dog
Brutus was used in this movie as Albert the Great Dane. Not
believing this to be true, we checked with Priscilla herself. She
said it was not their dog but a professionally trained "working dog
that was hired for the film." |
