Stay Away Joe

Released March 8th 1968

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 102 minutes

Produced by Douglas Laurence

Directed by Peter Tewksbury and Robert Goodstein

Music by Jack Marshall

Written by Michael A. Hoey and Burt Kennedy

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Joe Lightcloud), Burgess Meredith (Charlie Lightcloud), Joan Blondell (Glenda Callahan), Katy Jurado (Annie Lightcloud), Thomas Gomez (Grandpa), Henry Jones (Hy Slager), L.Q. Jones (Bronc Hoverty), Quentin Dean (Mamie Callahan), Anne Seymour (Mrs. Hawkins), Douglas Henderson (Congressman Morrissey), Angus Duncan (Lorne Hawkins), Mike Lane (Frank Hawk - as Michael Lane), Susan Trustman (Mary Lightcloud), Warren Vanders (Hike Bowers), Buck Kartalian (Bull Shortgun), Dick Wilson ( Car Salesman), Joe Esposito (guitar player Charlie Hodge - uncredited).

Story:

A Native American rodeo-rider, Joe Lightcloud, returns to the Navajo reservation in order to look after the herd of cattle bestowed upon the tribe by the government as a resourcing experiment, using a white Cadillac to herd cattle. He meets up with a few of his old chums and after a night's hard drinking they decide to have a bit of a barbecue. Unfortunately, the beast they choose for a few steaks turns out to be the only bull in the herd and the rest of the film documents Joe's attempts to find a replacement. On the way he makes some romantic conquests and has a few problems with his sister, who is about to marry into a wealthy family. Joe is able to borrow a bull, Dominick, but the bull shows no interest in the heifers, being more interested in hibernating than mating. In order to raise money for housebuilding and replacing the herd, Joe organizes a contest in which riders have to stay on Dominick. Joe wins the contest and receives the prize money but the film ends with a huge punch-up that brings the house down - literally.

Notes:

Working titles: 'Born Rich' and 'Bumblebee, Oh Bumblebee'. Based on 'Stay Away, Joe' by Dan Cushman, the screenplay was adapted from a failed Broadway musical called 'Whoop-Up'. Although released before Speedway, this film and soundtrack were actually made afterwards. Two additional songs were also recorded - 'Goin' Home' by Joy Byers and a different song called 'Stay Away', based on the tune of 'Greensleeves' by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett, but were not used. Elvis made his record producer Felton Jarvis promise not to release the song written for him to sing to the bull, but is instead incongruously sung to two women.

Songs:

Stay Away / Stay Away Joe / Lovely Mamie / Dominick / All I Needed Was The Rain

Speedway

Released June 12th 1968

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer   94 minutes

Produced by Douglas Laurence

Directed by Norman Taurog and Robert Goodstein

Music by Jeff Alexander

Written by Phillip Shuke

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Steve Grayson), Nancy Sinatra (Susan Jacks), Bill Bixby (Kenny Donford), Gale Gordon (R.W. Hepworth), William Schallert (Abel Esterlake), Victoria Paige Meyerink (Ellie Esterlake - as Victoria Meyerink), Ross Hagen (Paul Dado), Carl Ballantine (Birdie Kebner), Poncie Ponce (Juan Medala), Harry Hickox (The Cook), Christopher West (Billie Jo), Beverly Powers (Mary Ann - as Miss Beverly Hills), Richard Petty (Himself), Buddy Baker (Himself), Cale Yarborough (Himself).

Story:

Steve Grayson, a champion stock car racer (ignore the title - the Americans speak a different language!), has trouble with his taxes when his manager Kenny Donford puts in false returns to help fuel his (Kenny's) gambling habits. According to IRS calculations he owes them $145,000 in back taxes and a government agent is sent to investigate in the form of the delectable Susan Jacks whose job is to strip a few of his assets and put Steve on a budget that will allow him to pay off the debt in installments. Although Steve tries to soften the all-business IRS girl with romance and music, she continues to think of him as irresponsible and frivolous until she finds out that Steve is helping to financially support a former stock-car driver with five daughters who has fallen on hard times and the almost inevitable romance ensues.

Notes:

Petula Clark turned down the female lead and Annette Funicello was also considered before offering it to Nancy Sinatra. Racing scenes were shot at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, using ten cameras and featuring guest appearances by many top (NASCAR) drivers including Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough and Tiny Lund. Nancy Sinatra's song 'Your Groovy Self" is the only song by another artist ever to be released on an official Elvis Presley record. The script was originally offered to Sonny and Cher.

Songs:

Speedway / Let Yourself Go / Your Time Hasn't Come Yet Baby / He's Your Uncle / Who We Are / There Ain't Nothing Like A Song / Your Groovy Self

Live A Little, Love A Little

Released October 23rd 1968

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer   90 minutes

Produced by Douglas Laurence

Directed by Norman Taurog and Al Shenberg

Music by Billy Strange

Written by Michael A. Hoey

Cast:

Elvis Presley (Greg Nolan), Michele Carey (Bernice), Don Porter (Mike Lansdown), Rudy Vallee (Penlow), Dick Sargent (Harry), Sterling Holloway (Milkman), Celeste Yarnall (Ellen) Eddie Hodges (Delivery Boy), Joan Shawlee (Robbie's Mother), Mary Grover (Miss Selfridge), Emily Banks (RKC&P Receptionist), Michael Keller (Art Director), Merri Ashley (1st Secretary), Phyllis Davis (2nd Secretary), Ursula Menzel (Perfume Model).

Story:

Has this film got a story line? Such as it is, Greg Nolan, a newspaper photographer, leads a lavish and carefree life until he meets Bernice, a crazy, lovelorn girl, and her dog on the beach, building up a zany relationship as she assumes different personalities and names depending on her mood. Greg knows her as 'Alice', the milkman knows her as 'Betty' and she is 'Susie' to her delivery boy. When she feels rejected after Greg kisses her but fails to show sufficient affection, she has her dog, Albert, chase him into the water but relents and invites him to stay at her beach-front home. Greg loses his job and his apartment after sleeping for two days when she drugs him and and has to find alternative employment, taking on two full-time jobs simultaneously - one as a photographer for a Playboy-type magazine owned by Mike Lansdown and one for a very conservative advertising firm part-owned by a Mr. Penlow. As the two companies occupy the same building, Greg spends a lot of time secretly running from office to office as well as having to handle the eccentricities and strange activities of Bernice.

Notes:

Working title: 'Kiss My Firm But Pliant Lips', based on the novel of the same name by by Dan Greenburg. Elvis' father Vernon appears in a cameo role. The Great Dane in the film, Albert, was reported to be Elvis' dog Brutus in real life although Priscilla Presley has since stated that it was a trained dog used specifically for the film. This was Norman Taurog's final film as he went blind shortly afterwards.

Songs:

Wonderful World / Edge Of Reality / A Little Less Conversation / Almost In Love

Also see Bill Harry's Sixties: 'Live a Little, Love a Little'