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Spinout 2
This film began with the working title of "Never Say Yes." In
January 1966 producer Joe Pasternak asked Elvis's manager Tom Parker
if he had any suggestions for a better title. Parker came up with
"Jim Dandy" and "Clambake." Other titles considered were "Never Say
No," "Never Say Yes" and "After Midnight." In Britain it was finally
released as "California Holiday," while in the U.S. they ended up
using "Spinout" and saving "Clambake" to use for a later film.
On January 30, 1966 Elvis and his entourage left Memphis in his
Dodge motor home and headed to California. Soon after arriving Elvis
gifted his new toy, a Sony video camera and recorder, to director
Norman Taurog. Personal video equipment was new on the market and
relatively hard to come by.
Elvis reported for film pre-production on February 11, 1966 and for
soundtrack recording on the 16th. Famed vehicle customizer George
Barris was almost finished customizing Elvis's new bus. A bit
impatient to try it out, Elvis took it on a trial spin to Las Vegas
that weekend.
Principal photography for "Spinout" began on February 21, 1966.
During the shooting of this film Elvis told a reporter that he
wanted to do another gospel album. He had in fact been working on
new music at home with entourage members Charlie Hodge and Red West.
His latest inspiration had come from folk singers Peter, Paul and
Mary and Odetta singing songs written by Bob Dylan. He also told the
reporter that he would always keep Graceland because of the memory
of his late mother.
Location shooting for "Spinout" took place at the Los Angles Dodgers
Baseball Stadium as well as Ascot Motor Car Racing Ground. Over 200
extras were used for the Sante Fe Road Race scene. Elvis's character
drove a classic 1929 Duesenberg to tow his race car around.
Diane McBain, who played author Diana St. Clair, started her career
as a teenage model. She has played in a number of TV series
including "Surfside Six" and today continues to perform on
television and in films.
The late Deborah Walley portrayed drummer Les. She was the daughter
of Ice Capades skating stars and started her career skating with her
parents at the age of three. Known for her perky roles as Gidget and
other beach movie characters, in the 1970s she moved to Arizona to
raise her family. There she founded children's theater companies and
promoted the arts in inner-city schools and among the local Native
Americans. She became an author writing stories and scripts about
the Native American culture. |
