 Not surprisingly, Elvis' fifth film,
his first after serving two years of active duty in the U.S. Army,
was was entitled "G.I. Blues" and was set in Germany.
Elvis was discharged from active duty with the army in early March
1960 and began preproduction work for "I. Blues" in California on
April 21. Filming began on May 2nd and was finished by June 29th.
While Elvis was stationed in Germany, Producer Hal Wallis had
visited with him in August of 1959. Wallis was there while the
German countryside and U.S. military operations were shot for the
film. Elvis did not appear in any of this filming, however, the U.S.
Army did supply tanks and crews for these shots. The movie follows
the romantic adventure of an American G.I., Tulsa McLean (Elvis),
while stationed in Germany. "Cafe Europa" and "Christmas In Berlin"
were briefly considered as titles for the film - the former being
the name of a club featured prominently in the story.
This
was the first of nine Elvis films directed by Norman Taurog, who
began his career as a child actor in 1912, but turned to writing and
directing in the 1920s. He won an Academy Award for his work in the
1931 movie "Skippy"" and was nominated again in 1939 for "Boys
Town." One source states that his daughter Priscilla appeared in
"G.I. Blues" as an uncredited extra in the children's puppet show
scene. Taurog was also an uncle to actor Jackie Cooper.
 The script was written by Edmund Beloin
and Henry Garson. They were both nominated in 1961 by the Writers
Guild of America for "G.I. Blues" as Best Written American Musical.
Mr. Beloin's film work includes "Road To Rio," "Connecticut Yankee
In King Arthur's Court," "The Sad Sack" and others. He also was a
regular writer for the TV series "My Three Sons." Mr. Garson worked
with Beloin on a number of projects including the "Don't Give Up The
Ship" and the TV series "My Three Sons" and "Mona McCluskey" - the
latter starring
Juliet Prowse.
Elvis' leading lady in this movie was the dancer/actress
Juliet Prowse.
Ms. Prowse was born in India to South African parents and began
studying dance at the age of four. As an adult, just under six feet
tall, she was deemed too tall for ballet and she then pursued
nightclub dancing and acting. At the time "G.I. Blues" was in
production, she was engaged to
Frank Sinatra. However, they never married. She was at one
time married to John McCook, with whom she had a son. McCook was an
actor known for the daytime TV series "The Bold and The Beautiful."
Ms. Prowse died of cancer in 1996.
During production Elvis
was visited on the set by King Bumiphol and Queen Sirikit of
Thailand, Princess
Margaretha of Sweden, Princess Astrid of Norway, and Princess
Margretha of Denmark. In his free time Elvis was visiting
local nightclubs and seeing the shows of entertainers such as
Bobby Darin and
Sammy Davis Jr. He also attended a birthday party for
Dean Martin on the
Paramount lot. With his music and movie career taking off again and
his having to travel so much, Elvis wrote to the
U.S. Army and
requested to be placed on standby reserve rather than active
reserve. This was the status he then had until his full discharge in
1964.
 Elvis had just come home from serving
two years active duty in the U.S. Army, the last eighteen months of
which were served in Germany. This film mixing fact and fiction was
based on the escapades of U.S. Army G.I.'s stationed in Germany.
Elvis's character name in this film is Tulsa MacLean.
Robert
Ivers played Cookie, one of Tulsa's army buddies. Mr. Ivers had
studied theater in school and was offered scholarships to study at
the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of Arizona. Choosing the
latter, located in an area where many movies were shot on location,
he was able to secure roles in a number of movies. He was signed to
a contract with Paramount in 1956 and had roles in such films as
"The Delicate Delinquent", "The Errand Boy", and a role in the TV
series "Mister Roberts."
James Douglas played Rick, another
buddy of Tulsa's. Mr. Douglas also had roles in a number of TV
series including "Peyton Place," "Another World," "As The World
Turns," "The Doctors," "One Life To Live" and others.
 Arch Johnson, who played Sgt. McGraw,
had been an Associated Press Correspondent in Europe prior to
becoming an actor. He had a very active career playing roles on TV.
Some of the shows were "Maverick," "Hawaiian Eye," "Bonanza," and
"The Rockford Files."
Mickey Knox played Jeeter. Some of his
other movie roles were in "The Longest Day" and "The Godfather: Part
III." He also worked as a dialogue coach for several foreign films.
Kenneth Becker played Mac. He also had roles in the Elvis films, "Loving
You" "Girls! Girls!
Girls!" and "Roustabout".
Jeremy Slate played Turk. Later, he had a role in the Elvis film
"Girls! Girls! Girls!." Among his credits are the films "I'll Take
Sweden," "The Sons of Katie Elder," and "True Grit." In 1966, he won
a Bronze Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Awards for his
work in the film "The Sons of Katie Elder." He also had numerous
roles in TV series such as "Have Gun Will Travel," "Route 66,"
"Gunsmoke," and "Mission Impossible."
 Edward Faulkner played Red. Later, he
had a role in the Elvis film "Tickle Me." He was part of a group of
actors whom John Wayne regularly used in his movies.
Let'cia
Romin made her screen debut in "G.I. Blues" playing the role of
Tina. She was the daughter of Academy Award winning set decorator
Vittorio Novarese. She went on to play a number of roles in foreign
films as well as on American TV shows such as "The Man From Uncle,"
"I Spy," and "Run For Your Life."
Bess Flowers, the "queen of
extras" as she was known, played a patron of the Cafe Europa. You
might remember her from the earlier Elvis film "Loving You."
Among the many character
actors who had roles in "G.I. Blues," Elvis' fifth film,
was Ludwig Stossel, who played the owner of the puppet
show featured in a memorable scene. This was his last
role after a long career in films and TV playing such
films as "The Pride of the Yankees," "Bluebeard," "The
Beginning or the End" and "No Time For Flowers."
Three different sets of twins were used to play the role
of the baby Tulsa (Elvis) was babysitting with Lili
(Juliet Prowse).
Hannerl Melcher, Miss Austria of
1957 and a Las Vegas showgirl, had a role as an extra in
this film. She can be seen as the strolling singer
during one of Tulsa's dates with Lili. Ms. Melcher and
Elvis were friends. She and roommate Kathy Gabriel spent
Christmas with the Presley family at Graceland in 1958.
Sally Todd played a bargirl in "G.I. Blues." She
had been the "Playboy Playmate" for the February 1957
issue of "Playboy" magazine.
Elisha Mott played a
sergeant in "G.I. Blues." The following year, he played
a state trooper in the Elvis film "Wild
in the Country."
Joe Gray had an
uncredited role as a soldier. He also had roles in the
Elvis movies "Loving You"
and "Kid Galahad."
Mr. Gray, a former boxer, also worked as a stuntman.
Torben Meyer was played a headwaiter in "G.I.Blues".
Known for his heavy accent, Mr. Meyer made a long career
with hundreds of roles that required such an accent.
Dick Winslow had played the role of Eddie Burton in
Elvis' last film before going into the army, "King
Creole" in 1958. He played an orchestra leader
in "G.I. Blues" and later played a similar role in
Elvis' 1966 film "Frankie
and Johnny."
Paul Nathan was the associate producer. He also
had this responsibility in the Elvis films "Loving
You", "King
Creole", "Blue
Hawaii", "Girls!
Girls! Girls!", "Fun
In Acapulco", "Roustabout",
"Paradise,
Hawaiian Style" and "Easy
Come, Easy Go".
The cinematographer for
"G.I. Blues," Loyal Griggs, later worked on the Elvis
films "Girls!
Girls! Girls!" and "Tickle
Me". Mr. Griggs received four Academy Award
nominations for his work, winning one for the film
"Shane."
The art director, Hal Pereira, worked
on nine of Elvis's films: "Loving You," "King Creole,"
"G.I. Blues", "Blue Hawaii," "Girls! Girls! Girls!,"
"Fun In Acapulco," "Roustabout", "Paradise Hawaiian
Style" and "Easy Come, Easy Go." Mr. Pereira was
nominated 23 times for Academy Awards, winning for his
work on "The Rose Tattoo."
The set decorator was
Sam Comer, father of actress Anjanette Comer. He too
worked on multiple Elvis films. He received 26
nominations for the Academy Award, winning for the films
"The Rose Tattoo," "Sunset Boulevard", "Samson and
Delilah" and "Frenchman's Creek."
Another set
decorator was Academy Award winner Ray Moyer, who worked
through out his career with Sam Comer and Hal Pereira.
Nellie Manley was the hair stylist. She had her hands in
that famous hair of Elvis's for the films "King
Creole,""Blue
Hawaii," "Girls!
Girls! Girls!," "Fun
In Acapulco," "Roustabout",
"Tickle Me," "Paradise,
Hawaiian Style" and "Easy
Come, Easy Go". Jack Mintz was the dialogue
coach and he also worked on
the Elvis films "Blue Hawaii" and "Girls!
Girls! Girls!."
"G.I. Blues" had a sneak
preview in Dallas, Texas on August 18, 1960. It also
played on a number of military bases before it opened
nationwide on November 23, 1960.
On November 15,
1960, there was a special showing of the film in
Hollywood to benefit the Hemophilla Foundation.
In attendance were Ronald Reagan,
Juliet
Prowse and Cesar Romero.
The film ranked #2 for the week on Variety's
chart and was the fourteenth highest grossing film of
the year.
Soundtrack
Tonight Is So Right For Love
What's She Really Like
Frankfort Special
Wooden Heart
G.I. Blues
Pocketful Of Rainbows
Shoppin' Around
Big Boots
Didja' EverBlue
Suede Shoes
Doin' The Best I Can
The soundtrack was recorded at RCA Studios
and Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April-May 1960. Engineer Thorne
Nogar.
The musicians were:
Guitar:Scotty
Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Neal Matthews Jr., Elvis Presley.
Bass:Ray Siegel. Drums:D.J
Fontana, Frank Bode, Bernie Mattinson. Piano:Dudley Brooks.
Accordian: Jimmie Haskell. Vocal accompaniment by the Jordinaires.
G.I. Blues -
Paramount 1960
Directed:
Norman Taurog
Writing Credits: Edmund Beloin, Henry
Garson
Producer: Hal Wallis
Assistant Director:
Michael Moore
Associate Producer: Paul Nathan
Technicolor and Vistavision.
Cast Overview:
Elvis Presley .... Tulsa McLean,
Juliet Prowse
.... Lili, Robert Ivers .... Cookie, James Douglas .... Rick,
Letícia Román .... Tina, Sigrid Maier .... Marla, Arch Johnson ....
Sergeant McGraw, Mickey Knox .... Jeeter, John Hudson .... Captain
Hobart, Kenneth Becker .... Mac, Jeremy Slate .... Turk, Beach
Dickerson .... Warren, Trent Dolan .... Mickey, Carl Crow .... Walt,
Fred Essler ....
|
