 Elvis Presley'sthirtieth movie was shot in 1968 and was called 'The
Trouble With Girls
(And How To Get Into It)'. It was the only Elvis movie to have a
subtitle in its name.
'The Trouble With Girls'
is set in the traveling show known as Chautauqua. And
like the eclectic offerings of the Chautauqua, the movie
has its share of colorful characters matched with the
equally colorful actors playing them. Elvis played
Walter Hale, manager of the traveling show.
The story for the film was based on the Chautauqua,
which was founded in 1874 by Lewis Miller, an Akron,
Ohio inventor and the father-in-law of inventor Thomas
Edison; and John H. Vincent, a Methodist minister and
eventual bishop. Their original goal was to provide
adult education in the summer for Sunday school
teachers. With the success of the program it evolved to
include academic subjects, music, art and physical
education. From the very start it included many
religious denominations. The home base for Chautauqua is
the southwest corner of New York State near Lake
Chautauqua, where the institute still thrives today. In
the early 1900's the Chautauqua program traveled by
train across the country bringing its lectures to the
people. (This is the era of Chatauqua depicted in 'The
Trouble with Girls'. ) With the advent of film and radio
programs the traveling stopped. Today the Chautauqua
Institution is a 750-acre educational center with an
average visitorship of 150,000 each summer. It has been
visited by nine U.S. Presidents, including Franklin D.
Roosevelt, who delivered his 'I Hate War'speech from
there in 1936, and Ronald Reagan, who addressed a
conference on U.S.-Soviet relations there via satellite
in 1987. And George Gershwin composed his 'Concerto in
F' while visiting in 1925. The Athenaeum Hotel on the
grounds was one of the first hotels to have electric
lights.
 The story had a long road to production
as a movie. As early as December 1960, Glenn Ford was
set to star in the film. By February 1961, Elvis was to
join as Ford's co-star along with
Hope Lange
and Arthur O'Connell. Screenwriters changed over and
over and, by July 1961, Glenn Ford was out and Elvis was
in as the star. In August 1964, Elvis was out and Dick
Van Dyke was chosen to star. After more screenwriter
changes MGM sold its rights to Columbia Pictures. In
April 1968 MGM bought back the rights to the film and
Elvis was back in as the star. Production finally began
in October 1968 and was finished by December 18, 1968.
Filming took place at the MGM studios. Among the film's
working titles had been 'Big America' (during the
Columbia possession) and 'Chautauqa' (including the time
of production with Elvis). Ultimately, it was released
as 'The Trouble with Girls (And How to Get Into It)'.
 Maryln
Mason played Charlene, the performers'
union representative. Ms. Mason has worked in such films
as 'Brigadoon' and 'Carousel' as well as in TV shows
such as 'Charles In Charge'.
Sheree
North played Nita Bix. Ms. North has had roles
in such films as 'Madigan', 'Charley Varrick' and 'The
Shootist' and has guest performed on such TV series as
'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and 'The Golden Girls'. She
is also be remembered for playing Kramer's mother on the
'Seinfeld' TV series, a character who reveals to the
other characters that Kramer's first name is Cosmo. She
was nominated twice for an Emmy Award, one for her role
on 'Archie Bunker's Place' and one for 'Marcus Welby,
M.D.'.
The innkeeper's daughter Betty was played
by Nicole Jaffe, who also worked in the Disney movie
'The Love Bug'. She might be best known for her voice.
From 1969 to 1973, she was the voice of Velma in the
'Scooby-Doo' cartoon series. Since 1974, she has been an
agent for the William Morris Agency.
John
Carradine played Mr. Drewcolt and is well known for his
deep voice. He acted in over 70 TV shows and in over 260
films, such as 'Bluebeard', 'The Grapes of Wrath' and
'Captains Courageous'. His roles varied from the
numerous times he played Dracula in horror films to his
portrayal of Aaron, brother of Moses, in the movie 'The
Ten Commandments'.
 Vincent Price was Mr. Morality
in the 'Trouble With Girls'. He played many types of
roles in movies, including playing Baka in 'The Ten
Commandments'. Eventually, Price became best known for
his work in the horror genre - his character Dr. Phibes
being one of the most memorable. His inimitable voice
can be heard as the macabre narrator in Michael
Jackson's music video 'Thriller'. Shortly before his
death in 1993, he said that one of his favorite roles
was the voice of Professor Ratigan in the Disney cartoon
'The Great Mouse Detective'. A gourmet cook, Price
concentrated a big part the 1970's on cooking programs
for television and he and his wife, the actress Coral
Brown, wrote a cookbook. His last film role was in the
1990 film 'Edward Scissorhands'.
Dabney Coleman
played the villain Harrison Wilby in 'The Trouble with
Girls'. Over the years, Mr. Coleman has became known for
his roles as a smarmy, selfish type. You might remember
him for his role as the oppressive boss in the movie
'Nine To Five'. He also played memorable roles of a
similar nature on the comedic television series 'Mary
Hartman, Mary Hartman', 'Buffalo Bill' and 'The Slap
Maxwell Story'. Today, he can be seen weekly in the TV
drama series 'The Guardian'. He has been nominated three
times for a Golden Globe Award, winning one in 1988 for
'The Slap Maxwell Story'. He received a 1991 Emmy
nomination for a guest role on 'Columbo'.
Child
actress Anissa Jones had the role of Carol Bix. She was
also Buffy in the TV series 'Family Affair'.
If
you look closely, you can catch Susan Olsen trying out
for the children's program at the Chautauqua. The next
year she became known for her role as Cindy on the
television series 'The Brady Bunch'.
Brett
Parker was Chowderhead in 'The Trouble with Girls'.
Earlier, he played the deputy sheriff in the Elvis film
'Stay Away Joe'.
Frank Welker was the young college man wearing the
Rutgers sweater. Mr. Welker became known as the 'voice
God'in Hollywood performing in nearly 400 animated
movies and cartoons. He was the gopher in 'Caddyshack
II', Stripe in the 'Gremlins', Heckle in 'Heckle and
Jeckle', Abu in 'Aladdin', Flit in 'Pocahontas', Khan
the horse in 'Mulan', Pegasus in 'Hercules', and the
list goes on. If you listen closely, you will recognize
his as the voice of Fred for many years in the in the
'Scooby-Doo, Where are You?' animated television series.
The very small role simply called 'The Cranker', a
character who cranks a motor car in the movie, was
played by Duke Snider. Also known as 'The Silver Fox'
and the 'Duke of Flatbush', Mr. Snider held several
baseball records and was inducted into the Baseball Hall
of Fame in 1980.
'The Trouble
With Girls' was directed by Peter Tewksbury, who also
directed the Elvis film 'Stay Away Joe'. Mr. Tewksbury
received three Emmy Award nominations for his work in
television, winning one in 1959 for directing an episode
of 'Father Knows Best'. Upon his retirement from show
busines he relocated to Vermont. There he became known
as 'Henry The Cheeseman', having become the manager of
the cheese department at the Brattleboro, Vermont Food
Co-Op and writing a book called 'The Cheeses of
Vermont'. Tewksbury died in February 2003.
Unique
camera angles were used by cinematographer Jacques R.
Marquette, who also worked on the Elvis movie 'Frankie
& Johnny'. Mr. Marquette began his career in
newsreel photography and served in World War II as an
Air Force photographer. He has worked on numerous movie
and television projects.
 Soundtrack
Almost
Clean Up Your Own Backyard
Swing Low
Sweet Chariot
Violet
Signs Of The Zodiac
Recorded at: United Recorders, Los Angeles.
October 1968.
Musicians: Elvis Presley
(vocals), Gerald McGee, Morton Marker, Joseph Gibbons
(guitars), Max Bennett (bass), Frank Carlson, John
Guerin (drums), Don Randi (piano), Marilyn Mason & the
Mello Men (vocals).
The
Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) - MGM 1969
Directed
Peter Tewksbury
Writing Credits Dwight V.
Babcock (novel), Arnold Peyser
Producer
Lester Welch
Panavision and Metrocolor
Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Walter Hale,
Marlyn
Mason .... Charlene, Nicole Jaffe .... Betty,
Sheree
North .... Nita Bix, Edward Andrews .... Johnny,
John Carradine .... Mr. Drewcolt, Anissa Jones ....
Carol Bix, Vincent Price .... Mr. Morality, Joyce Van
Patten.... Maude, Pepe Brown .... Willy, Dabney Coleman
.... Harrison Wilby, Bill Zuckert .... Mayor Gilchrist,
Pitt Herbert .... Mr. Perper, Anthony 'Scooter' Teague
.... Clarence, Med Flory .... Constable.
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