 Elvis Presley's seventeenth
film was the 1965 MGM movie 'Girl Happy', whose setting was the
annual spring break festivities on the beaches of Fort Lauderdale,
FL.
Elvis reported to Radio Recorders in Hollywood on June
10, 1964 for soundtrack recordings. On June 11th, after 36
frustrating takes on the song 'Do Not Disturb', Elvis left the
studio disillusioned about the quality of the music. After these
sessions he would not record again for eight months.
'Girl
Happy' was produced by Joe Pasternak, who had started his career as
a studio food service worker. Working his way up to producer, he
received three Academy Award nominations and 10 Golden Laurel
nominations. He had made the beach film 'Where The Boys Are' about
Ft. Lauderdale, FL and wanted the same setting for an Elvis movie.
Harvey Bullock and R. S. Allen were the screen writing team.
Together they had written for TV comedy series such as 'The Andy
Griffith Show', 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' and 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C'.
The director was three-time Emmy nominee Boris Sagal. Much of his
career was spent working in television. He was killed in 1982 in a
helicopter accident while working on the TV film 'World War III'.
The choreographer David Winters had worked on 'Viva
Las Vegas' and was asked to choreograph a dance to the song
"Do The Clam." During this time period in American music 'dance
songs' were very popular. There had been dances invented such as The
Twist, The Mashed Potato, The Pony, The Jerk, The S-W-I-M, The
Freddie, The Bird and The Monkey to name a few. RCA and MGM were
hoping to start a new dance craze with The Clam, but it didn't go
over. The song 'Do the Clam' was on the charts for 8 weeks, peaking
at #21, and the dance never caught on.
 This was the first of three Elvis films
in which
Shelley Fabares would play Elvis's leading
lady. The two follow-ups, 'Spinout'
and 'Clambake', came
soon after. She had been a regular as the daughter on
the popular TV series 'The Donna Reed Show' and had
recorded the hit record "Johnny Angel," which was
knocked out of the #1 spot in 1962 by Elvis' 'Good Luck
Charm'. She went on to appear in many films and TV
series, most notably co-staring in the 1990s TV series
'Coach', for which she received two Emmy Award
nominations. She is married to actor Mike Farrell and
has been battling an auto-immune disease, for which she
received a lifesaving liver transplant in 2000.
Emmy nominee
Harold Stone, played Big Frank. He had worked in the
films 'Spartacus' and 'The Greatest Story Every Told'
among others. He continued to work through out the 80s
in films and onsuch TV series as 'I Spy', 'Bridget Loves
Bernie' and 'The Wild McCullochs'.
Gary
Crosby, son of legendary singer Bing Crosby,
played Andy. He was named after his father's friend,
actor Gary Cooper. He went on to work in a number of TV
shows including 'Adam-12', and he wrote a tell-all book
about life in the Crosby home, which, by his account,
wasn't as idyllic as the public had believed. He died of
lung cancer in 1995.
Jimmy Hawkins
played Doc in 'Girl Happy' and worked again with Elvis
and
Shelley Fabares
in 'Spinout'.
Hawkins began his career as a child actor. He was in the
classic 1946 film 'It's A Wonderful Life', starring
James Stewart and Donna Reed, playing the role of their
son Tommy. Later, he was a regular on 'The Donna Reed
Show', playing Shelley Fabares' boyfriend. He also had
regular roles on the TV series 'Annie Oakley' 'The
Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'. He has gone on to
producing while continuing to act. He also authored two
books on the film 'It's A Wonderful Life'.
 Native Mississippian
Mary
Ann Mobley played Deena. She also
co-starred with Elvis as the princess in 'Harum
Scarum'. The former Miss America (1959) won a
Golden Globe Award in 1965 for Most Promising Newcomer
and throughout the 60s and 70s appeared on many popular
TV shows. Married to performer Gary Collins since 1967,
they have often worked together on stage and TV. A
sufferer of Crohn's Disease, she is a tireless advocate
for this and many other humanitarian causes.
Former child star Jackie Coogan played Sgt. Benson in
'Girl Happy'. Born into a vaudeville family, he began
performing at age 4. After being discovered by Charlie
Chaplin, he became one of the highest paid actors in
Hollywood during his childhood. As an adult he sued his
mother and stepfather for the $4 million he had earned
as a child but had not received due to his parents'
control of his income. After Coogan was awarded a mere
$126,000, California passed The Child Actors Bill to
protect the rights and earnings of child actors. As an
adult his career waned until he was cast as Uncle Fester
on 'The Addams Family', and from then until his death in
1984 he worked steadily in film and television.
 John Fiedler played Mr. Penchill.
Throughout his long career as a character actor he has
had roles in many films, including '12 Angry Men', 'A
Raisin In The Sun', 'That Touch of Mink' and 'The World
of Henry Orient', as well as roles in such TV series as
'The Odd Couple' and 'The Bob Newhart Show' to name just
a few. However. it may be for his voice that he is most
recognized. Since 1968 he has provided the voice of
Piglet in Disney's animated 'Winnie the Pooh' programs.
Florida-born Chris Noel played Betsy. Her career
progressed as that of many blonde beauties in show
business of the 1960s - cheerleader, model and beauty
queen turned 'beach party' movie actress. Avisit to a
veterans hospital in 1965 changed her life forever. She
soon auditioned for the Armed Forces Radio Network and
became America's answer to 'Hanoi Hanna' during the
Vietnam War with her popular show 'A Date With Chris'.
Twice, her helicopter was shot down while touring to
entertain the troops and she received the Distinguished
Vietnam Veteran award from the Veterans Network in 1984.
Today, she runs a shelter for homeless veterans in
Florida.
Joby Baker played
Wilbur. At one time he was married to Joan Blackman, who
was Elvis' leading lady in 'Blue
Hawaii' and
'Kid Galahad'.
Gail Gilmore played Nancy and was also Sapphire in 'Harum
Scarum'.
Bevery Adams played an
uncredited extra and she was Cora in 'Roustabout'. She
was at one time married famed hairdresser Vidal Sassoon.
George Cisar played the bartender at the Kit Kat Club.
He also had roles in 'Jailhouse
Rock', 'It
Happened at The World's Fair',
'Viva Las Vegas'
and 'Speedway'.
Mike De Anda played the bartender at the Sandbar Club
and he was a guard at La Perla in 'Fun
In Acapulco'.
Nancy Czar was a blonde on
the beach and also played a beauty queen in 'Spinout'.
Tommy Farrell, son of Glenda Farrell (Ma Tatum in
"Kissin' Cousins"), played Louie. In 'Kissin'
Cousins' Tommy played MSgt. William George
Bailey.
Norman Grabowski played 'Wolf Call'
O'Brien. Earlier, he was Sam in
'Roustabout'. He is
an award winning custom car designer.
Dan
Haggerty, who became famous in the 1970s for his title
role in the 'Grizzly Adams' TV series, played Charlie.
He began his acting career with the role of a
bodybuilder in the film 'Muscle Beach Party'. He has
worked as an animal trainer, stunt man, custom
motorcycle builder and restaurateur.
Hank Jones
played an uncredited role in 'Girl Happy'. His movie
career in the 60s and 70s included a number of Disney
films. Today, he is a much published world renowned
genealogist specializing in the Irish-German Palatine
Families.
This was the last of four Elvis films
in which actor Kent McCord had uncredited roles as an
extra. He became famous after being cast as a lead in
the 'Adam-12' television series. He has been actively
involved in, and served on the board of directors of,
The Screen Actors Guild.
Richard Reeves, the ever
patient Officer Wilkins, also had roles in the Elvis
films 'Tickle Me', 'Harum Scarum', 'Frankie and Johnny'
and, perhaps most notably, as the soulful harmonica
playing convict in 'Blue Hawaii'.
Principal
photography began on June 22, 1964 and visitors to the
set included George Hamilton and his then girlfriend
Lynda Bird Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon
Johnson. George Hamilton had just finished shooting
'Your Cheating Heart' a movie about Hank Williams.
On the June 23, 1964 there was an early
celebration on the set for Colonel Parker's 55th
birthday, which was June 26, 1964. The party was
attended by actor Nick Adams among others.
Principal photography wrapped on August 3, 1964
and the studio released Elvis on August 12, 1964. The
movie opened in April 1965 and ranked #25 for the year.
The soundtrack LP peaked at #8 on the charts.
 Soundtrack
Girl Happy
Fort Lauderdale Chamber Of
Commerce
Startin' Tonight
Wolf Call
Do Not Disturb
Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
The Meanest Girl In Town
Do The Clam
Puppet On A String
I've Got To Find My Baby
Recorded at:
Radio Recorders Studios, 7000, Santa
Monica Boulevard, Hollywood. March 1964.
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore,
Tiny Timbrell, Tommy Tedesco (guitars), Bob Moore
(bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Frank Carlson
(drums), Floyd Cramer, (piano), Boots Randolph, (sax),
the Jordinaires, the Jubilee Four and the Carole Lombard
Trio (vocals)
Directed:
Boris Sagal
Writing Credits: Harvey
Bullock, R.S. Allen
Music:
George Stoll
Vocal Backgrounds by: The
Jordanaires
Art Director: George W Davies
and Addison Hehr
Assistant Director: Jack
Alworth
Technical Advisor: Colonel Tom
Parker
Make Up Supervisor: William Tuttle
Hair Styles: Sydney Guilaroff
Recording
Supervisor: Franklin Milton
Panavision and
Metrocolor
Cast Overview:
Elvis Presley .... Rusty Wells,
Shelley Fabares .... Valerie Frank, Harold Stone
.... Big Frank, Gary Crosby .... Andy, Joby Baker ....
Wilbur, Nita Talbot .... Sunny Daze,
Mary
Ann Mobley .... Deena, Fabrizio Mioni ....
Romano, Jimmy Hawkins .... Doc, Jackie Coogan ....
Sergeant Benson, Peter Brooks .... Brentwood von
Durgenfeld, John Fiedler .... Mr. Penchill, Chris Noel
.... Betsy, Lyn Edgington .... Laurie, Gale Gilmore ....
Nancy.
|
