The Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) : MGM 1969


By: Elvis Australia
Source: www.elvis.com.au
July 22, 2004

The Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) - MGM 1969
The Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) - MGM 1969
Elvis Presley's thirtieth 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 an odd mixture of music, comedy, and melodrama, The Trouble with Girls is unique for an Elvis Presley picture because Elvis is only on screen for about a third of the film. Elvis stars as Walter Hale, the manager of a traveling chautauqua. A chautauqua is a school that provides education combined with entertainment. Walter is beset with a number of problems as his show arrives in town for one week.

He worries that he might have to give the mayor's untalented daughter the lead in the children's pageant to stay in the mayor's good graces. He must contend with his assistant, played by Marlyn Mason, who is constantly harping about the union rights of his employees. Finally, someone murders the local druggist, and a member of the chautauqua is accused. These loose ends are tied together during the final show, when Walter cannily reveals the killer's identity and wins the heart of his pretty assistant.

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 Trouble With Girls (And How To Get Into It) - MGM 1969

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.

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'.

'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'.

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

Elvis Presley Lyrics Almost
Elvis Presley Lyrics Clean Up Your Own Backyard
Elvis Presley Lyrics Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Elvis Presley Lyrics Violet
Elvis Presley Lyrics 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.

DVDs

Buy The Trouble With Girls DVD
Buy Elvis 75th Anniversary Collection (17 films) DVD Set [NTSC Format]
Buy Elvis DVD Movies
Buy DVD Movie Box Sets

CDs

The Trouble With Girls CD : Currently unavailable

Books.

The Elvis Files series of book, seven volumes ...

Buy The Elvis Files Volume 1, 1953-1956
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 2, 1957-1959
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 3, 1960-1964
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 4, 1965-1968
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 5, 1969-1970
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 6, 1971-1973
Buy The Elvis Files Volume 7, 1974-1977

Plus the dedicated movie book series, >> Frame By Frame ...

© Copyright 2023 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au

This page. https://www.elvis.com.au/movies/the-trouble-with-girls.shtml

No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission.


-
Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.