 Elvis' twenty-fifth film was the
1967 United Artists movie 'Clambake', a story perhaps inspired by
Mark Twain's 'The Prince and The Pauper'. In 'Clambake' Elvis plays
the rich young Scott Heyward, who trades places with the poor but
happy Tom Wilson, played by Will Hutchins.Scott is eager to be
accepted for himself and not his money, while Tom seeks to know the
lifestyle that money can bring.
The beaches of Florida
are the setting for 'Clambake' and the movie culminates
with the running of the Orange Bowl International Power
Boat Regatta.Actual footage from the January 1967 race
was used in the movie.In the actual race the 'Scarlet
Lady' was owned and raced by Jim Stough of Florida and
the 'Raw Hide' was owned and raced by Lou Brummett of
California.The 250-mile race was held at Miami's Marine
Stadium, which was built for boat races, concerts and
firework displays. The stadium was closed in 1992
after being severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew.The
location scenes in Miami were done with doubles for the
actors, and Miami water ski champion Jim David was used
for stunts.All of the actors' scenes were filmed in
California.
When Elvis Presley
became interested in something he typically immersed
himself in it completely.Such was the case when he
developed an interest in riding horses in the 1960s.He
bought horses and equipment for himself and the members
of his inner circle. Soon, the barn and pastures
at
Graceland
were too small for the operation, so Elvis bought a
ranch in nearby Walls, Mississippi and dubbed it the
'Flying Circle G' ('G' for Graceland).Elvis and the
gang then spent a lot of their time there.Elvis had
grown frustrated with his film career and the ranch was
a welcome diversion for him.In February 1967, while
Elvis and his friends were doing their cowboy bit, it
was very hard for his manager
Colonel Tom Parker to get Elvis to leave the
ranch to make his twenty-fifth film, which was the
United Artists movie 'Clambake', originally titled 'Too
Big For Texas'.
Parker, knowing ofElvis'
disenchantment and concerned about his disinterest,was
making an effort to get the studios to improve their
scripts. In correspondence he was working to get
them away from the 'bikini girls, nightclubs, etc'.
formulaic approach to
Elvis' films.However, for now he needed to persuade
Elvis to honor his existing contracts and make
'Clambake'.There were numerous delays and finally
Elvis, dressed in his cowboy chaps, came to soundtrack
recordings in Nashville on February 23, 1967.
Elvisflew home on the 25th, making sure the pilot flew
over the ranch. By the 26th Elvis' saddle sores caused
yet another delay in filming.On March 5, 1967, Elvis
was feeling better and left for California.The next day
he reported to the studio where he met with the
producers and the director and finished overdubs on the
soundtrack.(Tirivia note:The
Jordanaires
member Ray Walker provided the vocal for Hutchins's
onscreen duet with Elvis.) The film's editor Tom Rolf
thought the song 'How Can You Lose What You Never Had'
was the best song recorded for the movie but couldn't
find an appropriate place for it to fit into the story
line of the film, but he requested that it be included
on the album.Elvis and Priscilla Beaulieu were married on May 1, not
long after this film was finished.As a bonus item for
fans, the soundtrack album contained a color photo from
the wedding.
At his home in California,
Elvis suffered a slight concussion on March 9, 1967 when
he tripped over a TV power cord and fell during the
middle of the night.This pushed start of production
back to March 20, 1967 when he was well enough to start
rehearsals.Principal photography began on March 22,
1967. The movie wrapped by April 27, 1967 and it opened
on November 22, 1967, reaching #15 on that week's
'Variety' magazine film list.
Elvis' leading lady
for this movie was
Shelley Fabares, one of his favorite
actresses to work with.This was their third film
together, having previously worked together on 'Girl
Happy' and 'Spinout'.She
had achieved stardom as cast member of "The Donna Reed
Show" before getting into movies.A big highlight of her
career was co-starring in the TV series 'Coach' in the
1990s.As of late she has been recovering from an
illness that required her to undergo a liver transplant
in 2000.However, she recently appeared on a reunion
special celebrating the hit 1970s/80s TV series 'One Day
At A Time', in which she had a supporting role.
Supporting actor Will Hutchins had also
worked with Elvis in 'Spinout'.
He has starred in his own TV series 'Sugarfoot' and has
traveled the world on various other projects. His varied
career includes a number of years working as a circus
clown.Hutchins has more recently been working behind
the scenes at NBC.
Actor
Bill Bixby played Elvis' competition for
both the girl and the speedboat race in the film
'Clambake'.Bixby, a sixth generation Californian who
grew up in San Francisco, had a lifelong interest in
acting.He studied law for a while at the University of
California at Berkley, but three credits shy of
graduation, he moved to the Los Angeles area where he
began doing commercials and modeling work. Best
known for starring in several TV series including 'My
Favorite Martian', 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father',
'The Magician' and 'The Incredible Hulk', he also was a
producer and director. He directed a 1993 TV movie
entitled 'The Woman Who Loved Elvis'. He had been
directing the TV series 'Blossom' in 1993 when he lost
his battle with cancer and died.He was an accomplished
painter and magician. He once recalled that on the
set of 'Clambake' there were the usual practical jokes
with Elvis and his guys, but that Elvis was also very
fascinated by an album of recitations by Charles Boyer
called 'Where does Love Go?' and played one particular
piece over and over for everyone. It was 'Softly
As I Leave You', which, years later, Elvis would add to
his 1970s concert shows.
Gary Merrill played Sam
Burton and his many credits include films such as
'Twelve O'Clock High', 'The Pleasure of His Company' and
'All About Eve'.Working on 'All About Eve' was
Merrill's introduction to the star of the film, Bette
Davis, who became Merrill's second wife.Their marriage
ended after ten years and two adopted children.He went
on to enter politics and he unsuccessfully ran for a
seat in Maine's legislature in 1968.He kept busy with
voice-over work in both radio and TV commercials until
his death of lung cancer in 1990.
James Gregory played Duster Heyward, the wealthy
father to Elvis' character Scott.A native New Yorker,
Gregory gave up working on Wall Street in the stock
market to become a stage actor in the mid-1930s.
He played many small towns before his Broadway debut in
1939 in 'Key Largo'. His successful Broadway career was
interrupted by World War II and a tour of duty in the
Pacific.In 1955 he switched to acting in TV and
movies.His credits are numerous but include 'The
Silencers', 'PT 109', 'Capt. Newman M.D.', 'The Sons of
Katie Elder', 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes' and the
hit TV series 'Barney Miller', in which he played
the crusty Inspector Frank Luger.
Suzie Kaye
played Sally and had among her previous credits roles in
'West Side Story' and 'Tammy and The Doctor'.She went
on to play Angel in the TV series 'Love Is A Many
Splendored Thing' from 1969 - 1973.
Los
Angeles radio personality Sam Riddle played the race
announcer.
Jack Good played Mr. Hathaway
the hotel manager. He had few acting credits, but he is
better known for his being a TV series producer for 60s
TV teen musical shows such as 'Shindig!'.
Harold
the doorman was played by Harold Peary, who is best
known for his long running radio and film character
Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve on the 'Fibber McGee and
Molly' show and 'The Great Gildersleeve'. Known
for his trademark giggle, he also played Herb in TVs
'Blondie'.
 Actress Marj Dusay played the
waitress who's all go-go over Scott Heyward's sports
car. The actress went on to specialize in playing
haughty villainesses in such daytime TV series as 'Days
of Our Lives', 'The Guiding Light' and 'All My
Children'.
Dal McKennon played the bearded gas
station attendant.An actor who has been in a number of
TV westerns including his role as Cincinnatus on the
'Daniel Boone' TV series, his voice may be even more
familiar.His has been the voice of numerous cartoon
characters such as Homer Pigeon, Buzz Buzzard, Gumby,
Pokey, Bucky, Pepito, Courageous Cat, Inspector
Wiloughby, Archie Andrews, Hot Dog, Mr. Weatherbee, and
Joe Hardy.
There is an uncredited walk-on part
played by Frances Humphrey Howard, the socialite and
politically active sister of former Vice President
Hubert H. Humphrey.Susie the dolphin, better known as
Flipper and star of the 'Flipper' TV series, had a
'swim-on' appearance in 'Clambake'.
Watch for
several of Elvis's entourage in this film:Joe
Esposito plays a garage attendant;Red
West is a playful ice creme man;Charlie
Hodge is a barber; and Richard Davis
plays a bartender.
Bloopers:The film is set in
Florida, but the actors's scenes were all shot in
California.Scott Heyward (Elvis) and Dianne (Shelley
Fabares) enjoy a beautiful sunset over the
ocean.Whoops!This scene is supposed to be in Florida
near the Atlantic ocean, although it was actually shot
on the west coast near the Pacific.The sun sets in west
over the Pacific ocean, but a sunset over the Atlantic
is depicted in this film.And those pesky California
mountains keep popping up on the Florida skyline, first
at the gas station and then as Scott and Dianne drive
along the Florida coastline admiring his oil wells.
Heyward is spelled Hayward on Scott's drivers
license...whoops again.
The script writer was
Arthur Browne, Jr. and the director was Arthur H.
Nadel.They have worked together on many TV projects
including 'Gunsmoke','The Big Valley','The Virginian',
'The Rifleman' and 'The Rebel', which starred Elvis's
friend Nick Adams.
The producers were
Arthur Gardner, Arnold Laven, and Jules Levy.
These three men met in 1943 when they were serving in
the First Motion Picture Unit if the Army Air Force.
They along with others such as Captain Ronald Reagan,
Captain Clark Gable and Lieutenant William Holden were
making training films.Gardner, Laven and Levy decided
to form their own production company after their
discharge from duty.
 Soundtrack
Clambake
Who Needs Money
A House That has Everything
Confidence
Hey, Hey, Hey
The GirlI'll Never Loved
How Can You Lose What
You Never Had
Recorded at:
RCA Studios, 17th Avenue South,
Nashville.February 1967.
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Chip Young,
Charlie McCoy (guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Bob
Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd
Cramer, Hoyt Hawkins (pianos),Norman Ray (sax), Millie
Kirkham and the Jordanaires (vocals)
Clambake -
United Artists 1967
Directed
Arthur N. Nadel, Ladislav Smocek
Writing
Credits Arthur Browne Jr.
Producers J.
Levy, A. Gardner, A. Laven
Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Scott Hayward, b
Shelley Fabares .... Dianne Carter, Will
Hutchins .... Tom Wilson,
Bill Bixby .... James J. Jamison III, Gary
Merrill .... Sam Burton, James Gregory .... Duster
Hayward, Suzie Kaye .... Sally Harold Peary ....
Doorman, Sam Riddle .... Announcer, Angelique
Pettyjohn.... Gloria, Olga Kaya .... Gigi, Jack Good
.... Mr. Hathaway, Lee Krieger .... Bartender, Amanda
Harley .... Ellie, Sue England .... Cigarette Girl.
Elvis and Dolly Take a Road Trip-
In a broadcast television first, Tennessee music
superstars Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley meet on
screen
to promote their home state. The newest commercial from
the State of Tennessee’s Department of Tourist
Development features Dolly Parton riding alongside Elvis
in a digital scene recreation from the 1967 Elvis film,
Clambake.
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