 Elvis' sixteenth movie was the 1964
Paramount film 'Roustabout'.
Having at one time been a carnival
worker, the idea for a picture with a carnival background had been
that of
Colonel Tom Parker,
Elvis' manager. However, Colonel was adamant that the movie 'not
cheapen carnival life....that this was a wholesome way of life in
which the participants had a legitimate pride'.
The movie was
first announced in May of 1961, but production was delayed until
March of 1964. In the time between there were changes. Among them
were: that the working title went from 'Right This Way Folks' to
'Roustabout'; that Elvis' character name changed from Charlie Main
to Charlie Rogers; and that the character of carnival owner Maggie
Moore changed to Maggie Morgan; and that the actress chosen to play
Morgan changed from Mae West to
Barbara Stanwyck.
The writers were Anthony Lawrence
and Allan Weiss.
Anthony Lawrence later worked on the
scripts for the Elvis movies
'Paradise Hawaiian Style'
and
'Easy Come, Easy Go'
and the 1979 TV biopic 'Elvis', starring Kurt Russell in the title
role. Among his other credits are a number of TV series including
'The Fugitive', 'Hawaii Five-O', 'Cannon', 'Quincy' and 'The Blue
Knight'.
Allan Weiss was the screenwriter for the Elvis flims
'Blue Hawaii', 'Girls!
Girls! Girls!', 'Fun In
Acapulco', 'Paradise Hawaiian Style' and 'Easy Come, Easy
Go'. He once remarked that the scripts were written to producer Hal
Wallis's specifications: "Wallis kept the screenplays shallow. I was
asked to create a believable framework for twelve songs and lots of
girls." However true this was, both Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Weiss
received a nomination from the Writers Guild of America in 1965 for
their work on 'Roustabout' as the Best Written American Musical of
1964.
The director was John Rich and this was his first time
to work with Elvis. He came from a strong background in TV, having
directed such series as 'Our Miss Brooks', 'I Married Joan',
'Gunsmoke', 'The Rifleman', 'The Andy Griffith Show', 'The Dick Van
Dyke Show' and 'Gilligan's Island'. He was anxious to break into
film directing with Hal Wallis. He wasn't impressed with
Elvis' entourage and
their constant hanging around and playing practical jokes on one
another. Elvis told Mr. Rich, "...when these damn movies cease to be
fun, I'll stop doing them. And if my guys go, (expletive), so do I."
Elvis and Mr. Rich had gotten off to a shaky start when Elvis
cajoled the director into allowing him to do his own stunt fight,
which was very uncommon then due to the possibility of the star's
being hurt and shutting down production. When Elvis indeed was hurt
in the stunt and required several stitches above his eye, Mr. Rich
was afraid to tell Hal Wallis that he'd allowed their star to become
injured. Then he came up with a plan to write into the script the
bandage that covered the stitches and thus production wasn't halted
and Wallis was appeased. John Rich later directed Elvis in 'Easy
Come, Easy Go'. By that time he was disillusioned with Hal Wallis
and his methods and had developed a respect for Elvis. He returned
to directing TV series including such programs as 'All In The
Family', 'Sanford and Son', 'Maude', 'The Jeffersons', 'Barney
Miller', 'Newhart', 'Dear John' and 'Murphy Brown' among others. He
has received many accolades including seven Emmy nominations with
three Emmy wins.
On February 26, 1964, Elvis reported to
Paramount for pre-production. He started with soundtrack recording
sessions at Radio Recorders of Hollywood. On March 3, Elvis recorded
the version of the title song 'Roustabout' that was written by Otis
Blackwell and Winfield Scott. It was not used in the film. Instead
they used a different song with the same title written by Bill
Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. Elvis recorded his vocals for
that second song on April 29, 1964 after the principal photography
was shot. An acetate of Elvis's long-thought-lost Blackwell/Scott
song was found in Winfield Scott's basement and RCA first released
it as a bonus track on the 2003
Elvis2nd To Nonealbum.
To differentiate it from the one used in the movie, the title was
changed to 'I'm a Roustabout'.
Elvis became frustrated during
these sessions when he wanted
The Jordanaires to back
him up on a song that he would be seen singing alone in the film
while riding a motorcycle down the road. One of the producers
questioned him as to where the backup singers would be in the shot.
Elvis snapped back, "The same damn place as the band!"
One of
the songs in the film, 'It's A Wonderful World', written by Sid
Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, was for a time in contention for an
Academy Award nomination as Best Song.
For authenticity
in Elvis' sixteenth film, 'Roustabout', a real carnival
was employed and set up on land near Thousand Oaks,
California. This was one of the locations used for
exterior shots in the movie. The interior shots used
three connecting sound stages (Nos. 12, 14 and 15) on
the Paramount lot. The doors between them were opened up
to make them into one huge stage, which was needed to
accommodate the set for the big tent scenes. This was
the first time in the history of the studio that they
had done this.
 To Elvis the only exciting thing about making the
movie 'Roustabout' was the opportunity to work with the
legendary
Barbara Stanwyck, who played Maggie Morgan.
Unknown to both of them at the time, her long career of
over 90 films was about to take a turn. For the next
twenty years she would be a popular television actress
in such series as 'Big Valley', 'The Thorn Birds'
(mini-series) and 'The Colbys'. She was born Ruby
Stevens in Brooklyn, NY in 1907. Orphaned at a young
age, she was raised by her older sister, who was a
chorus girl. Ruby took the stage name of
Barbara Stanwyck, dropped out of school in her
teens and looked for work as an actress. She became a
dancer in a chorus line of the Ziegfeld Follies. She
finally landed lead roles on Broadway, where she met and
married her first husband Frank Fay. They moved to
Hollywood in 1928. There she received tutelage under
director Frank Capra. Of him she once said, "Eyes are
the greatest tool in film. Mr. Capra taught me that.
Sure, it's nice to say very good dialogue, if you can
get it. But great movie acting - watch the eyes!" She
was married to actor Robert Taylor from 1939 until 1951.
In 1944 the government listed her as the nation's
highest-paid woman, earning $400,000. She received four
Academy Award nominations and in 1982 was awarded an
Honorary Academy Award for her contributions to the
acting industry. She was nominated five times for Emmy
Awards, winning three of them, and she received four
Golden Globe nominations, winning one. She received Life
Achievement Awards from the American Film Institute, the
Screen Actors Guild and the Los Angles Film Critics
Association and the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the
Golden Globes.
Another veteran actor in the movie
was Leif Erikson who played the gruff
Joe Lean. The son of a sea captain and a writer, he was
a big band vocalist and trombone player. He made his
acting debut as a corpse in a Zane Grey Western in 1935.
He was known for his brawny, deep-voiced characters,
including that of Big John Cannon in the TV series 'High
Chaparral'. He served in World War II and was wounded in
action twice . Prior to 'Roustabout', he had worked with
Barbara Stanwyck in the 1948 movie 'Sorry, Wrong
Number'.
Actor Pat Buttram played the wily
villain Harry Carver. Born in Alabama in 1915, the son
of a circuit-riding preacher, he quickly became known
for his comedy. In the 1950s, he replaced Smiley
Burnette as the sidekick to western star Gene Autry,
with whom he made a number of movies and a TV show. In
1961 he played a mechanic in the Elvis movie 'Wild
In The Country'. By 1965 he became a regular on
the TV series 'Green Acres', playing peddler Eustace
Haney. Over the years he also proved to be a talented
voice-over actor for many Disney animated movies,
including 'The Aristocats', 'Robin Hood', 'The
Rescuers', 'The Fox and The Hound', 'Who Framed Roger
Rabbitt' and, his last one just before his death in
1994, 'A Goofy Movie'. In 1982 he founded the Golden
Boot Awards to honor actors, directors, stuntpeople and
others professionals who make significant contributions
to the Western film industry.
Jack Albertson
played Lou, the manager of Mother's Tea House in
'Roustabout'. He had recently worked with Elvis in the
movie
''Kissin' Cousins'.
Albertson was born in Massachusetts in 1907 and was a
veteran of vaudeville and Broadway. He was one of the
few actors to win an Academy Award, an Emmy Award and a
Tony Award. The Tony Award was for his role as John
Cleary in the play 'The Subject Was Roses' on Broadway.
The Academy Award was for the same role in the film
version. One memorable film role was Grandpa Joe in
'Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory'. He is best know
to many as Ed Brown in the TV series 'Chico and The
Man', for which he won an Emmy Award. Like Pat Buttram,
he lent his voice to the Disney film 'The Fox and The
Hound' and was working in TV and film right up to his
death in 1981.
Another familiar face is that of
Dabbs Greer, who played Arthur Nielsen. His long career
includes many roles in film and TV. Born in 1917 in
Missouri, he was the only child of a pharmacist and a
speech therapist. He began his career on stage as a
child and later studied drama in college, earning his
degree and then becoming the head of the drama
department. He moved to California 1943 and became an
instructor and administrator as well as an actor at the
famed Pasadena Playhouse. He made his film debut in 1948
and has continued to act in TV and movies ever since.
Among his memorable roles are the Reverend Robert Alden
in TV series 'Little House On The Prairie', his role as
a minister on the TV series 'Picket Fences' and Paul in
the film 'The Green Mile'.
 Cathy, Elvis' character's
love interest in the movie, was played by actress
Joan
Freeman. Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in
1942, Ms. Freeman began acting as a child. Although she
has acted in a number of movies, she has had more roles
in television series such as 'Bus Stop', 'Bonanza', 'The
Virginian', 'CHiPs' and, most recently, 'The Commish'.
One source places her today as retired and living on a
yacht with her husband.
'Roustabout' was
based on the theme of a traveling carnival show. As
such, among its actors were one the world's shortest
people, Billy Barty, and one of the world's tallest,
Richard Kiel.
Born in 1924, Billy Barty began
performing as a child of three and he began acting in
movies in the late 1920s. Among other roles, he played
the little brother of Mickey Rooney in the 'Mickey
McGuire' comedy films. He also had his own daily
children's TV show in California. He founded the Little
People of America in 1957 and The Billy Barty Foundation
in 1975. A champion for knowledge of and acceptance of
dwarfs, he once said, "The general public thinks all
little people are in circuses or sideshows. We have
doctors, nurses, just about every field covered." Barty
also appeared with Elvis in the film 'Harum
Scarum'.
In contrast, Richard
Kiel played the 7' 2" strongman. He is likely
best known for his role as the steel-toothed character
Jaws of the
films 'The Spy Who Loved Me', 'Moonraker'
and 'Inspector Gadget'. Born in 1939, he was a night
club bouncer and a cemetery plot salesman before
becoming an actor in the late 1950s. He wrote, produced
and starred in the 1991 film 'The Giant of Thunder
Mountain'. Since writing his autobiography in 2002, his
writing career has continued with novels.
In most
of Elvis' 31 feature films as an actor, there are
various character actors and actresses who have had
small roles in more than one Elvis movie. Some of them
whose Elvis film roles include 'Roustabout' are as
follows: Fred the pitcher was played by Steve Brodie. He
also had rolls in both 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' and
'Blue Hawaii', playing an antagonist for Elvis to fight
with. Norman Grabowski played Sam in 'Roustabout' and
later played 'Wolf Call' O'Brien in 'Girl Happy'.
Kenneth Becker played Gregg in 'Roustabout' and was also
was in 'Loving You',
'GI Blues' and 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' Joseph Forte was a
concessionaire in 'Roustabout' and he also played in
'Loving You'. Mike Mahoney was the deputy in
'Roustabout' and had roles in 'Loving You' and 'It
Happened At The World's Fair'. Lance Le Gault, Elvis'
long-time movie double, played a carnival barker in
'Roustabout'. Kent McCord, Elvis' friend and fellow
actor, had an uncredited role in 'Roustabout' as he did
in 'Viva Las Vegas',
'Kissin' Cousins' and 'Girl Happy'. (McCord found fame
in the 1970s starring in the television series
'Adam-12'.)
Many of the women in Elvis' movies
were dancers, models and beauty queens - some of whom
played in more than one Elvis film and some who went on
to notable show business careers:
Linda Rand
played a college girl in 'Roustabout' and she was in
'Fun In Acapulco' and 'Girls! Girls! Girls!'.
Sue Ane Langdon played
Madame Mijanou in 'Roustabout' and had a larger role
playing Mitzi in the 1966 'Frankie and Johnny'. She has
had a long career in film and television, including two
Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Supporting
Actress- TV and winning one in 1972 for her work on the
TVseries 'Arnie'.
Teri Garr
played a carnival dancer in 'Roustabout' and she danced
in the Elvis movies 'Clambake', 'Viva Las Vegas'
'Kissin' Cousins' and 'Fun In Acapulco'. The daughter of
a dancer and a Broadway actor, she soon established
herself as an actress in both TV and film, receiving an
Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in
the 1982 movie 'Tootsie'. Despite her current battle
with multiple sclerosis, she continues to perform. Among
her jobs in recent years was the recurring role of
Phoebe's mother in the hit TV series 'Friends'.
Marianna
Hill
was Viola in 'Roustabout' and played Lani
Kaimana in 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style'. Having lived in
several countries, she has to ability to act with
various accents and dialects. She also has taught acting
at the famous Lee Strasberg Institute in London. Her
birth name is Marianna Schwarzkopf and she is a cousin
to General Norman Schwarzkopf.
Joan Staley
played Marge in 'Roustabout' and Jonesy in the 'Kissin'
Cousins'. She was Playboy Playmate of the Month for
November 1958.
 Beauty queen turned actress,
Raquel
Welch enjoyed one of her first acting jobs
playing a college girl in Mother's Tea House scenes in
'Roustabout'. She has had high-profile roles in film and
television and on stage. She has been nominated twice
for a Golden Globe Award, winning one.
Wilda
Taylor played Little Egypt, a dancer, in 'Roustabout'
and also had roles in 'Harum Scarum' and 'Frankie and
Johnny'. Decades before 'Roustabout', a dancer actually
known as Little Egypt was Catherine Devine, who danced
at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Three months after
the release of 'Roustabout', another professional dancer
using the stage name Little Egypt sued Paramount, RCA
and Elvis Presley Music for $2.5 million in damages. She
also sought an injunction against showing the film and
selling the LP, saying she did not authorize the use of
the song nor the name in the film. The song was written
by
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and had been
recorded by The Coasters in 1961. Miss Egypt lost her
lawsuit.
Principal photography for 'Roustabout'
started on March 20, 1964. On that day an article
appeared in a Las Vegas newspaper that would hurt and
haunt Elvis for the rest of his life. "Would you believe
that Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole owe part of their
current success to Elvis Presley?" was the title of the
piece that went on to say, "These two brilliant
Shakespearean-trained actors, winning worldwide acclaim
for their performances in 'Becket' might not have had
the opportunity to star in the picture, were it not for
Sir Swivel Hips." Quoting producer Hal Wallis, the
article indicated that it was the profits from the
commercially successful, light-hearted Elvis movies that
made it possible for Wallis to fund the production of
more 'artistic pictures'. The article was picked up by
the news services and printed throughout the country.
For Elvis it confirmed his fears that he was never going
to be taken seriously as an actor.
'Roustabout'
opened on November 11, 1964. As part of the promotion
for the film, a special copy of the title song was sent
to the theaters. Instructions to play one side with the
song and an announcer saying 'coming soon' before the
release of the film and then, after the release of the
film, play the other side with song and the announcer
saying 'now playing'. The idea was to inspire ticket
sales in much the same manner as Elvis's character
Charlie Rogers did in the film. Today, these promotional
singles are sought-after collectibles.
The movie
was on Variety's chart for two weeks, peaking at #8 and
reaching #28 on the list of films for the year of 1965.
Meanwhile, Elvis was ranked the sixth biggest money
making movie star for 1964.
 Soundtrack
Roustabout
Little Egypt
Poison Ivy League
Hard Knocks
It's A Wonderful World
Big Love Big Heartache
One Track Heart
It's Carnival Time
Carny Town
There's A Brand New Day On The
Horizon
Wheels On My Heels
Directed
John Rich
Writing Credits Allan Weiss
(story), Anthony Lawrence
Producer Hal
Wallis
Associate Producer Paul Nathan
Production Manager
Frank Caffey
Technical Advisor Colonel Tom
Parker
Music Joseph J. Lilley
Choreographer Earl Barton
Hair Style
supervisor Nellie Manley
Technicolor and
Techno scope
Cast
Overview: Elvis Presley .... Charlie Rogers,
Barbara Stanwyck.... Maggie Morgan,
Joan
Freeman .... Cathy Lean, Leif Erickson .... Joe
Lean,
Sue
Ane Langdon .... Madame Mijanou, Pat Buttram
.... Harry Carver, Joan Staley .... Marge, Dabbs Greer
.... Arthur Nielsen, Steve Brodie .... Fred, Norman
Grabowski.... Sam, Jack Albertson .... Lou, Jane Dulo
.... Hazel. |
