Girl Happy ** (1965, Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Harold J Stone, Gary Crosby, Nita Talbot, Mary Ann Mobley, Jackie Coogan, Joby Baker, Fabrizio Mioni) – Classic Movie Review 6234

Director Boris Sagal’s 1965 musical stars Elvis Presley, whose fans are kept happy despite a weak yarn about rock and roll band lead singer Rusty Wells (Presley).

Rusty is hired by Chicago gangster Big Frank (Harold J Stone) to chase his daughter Valerie [Val] (Shelley Fabares) all over Florida’s Fort Lauderdale (the scene of 1960’s Where the Boys Are) during Spring Break, especially when Italian smoothie Romano Orlada (Fabrizio Mioni) moves in for the kill.

It is minor Elvis Presley but, with Presley on bright form, it passes the time painlessly, even pleasantly, although there is not a single memorable song, certainly not ‘Do the Clam’.

Also in the cast are Gary Crosby, Nita Talbot, Mary Ann Mobley, Jackie Coogan, Joby Baker, Jimmy Hawkins, Peter Brooks, John Fiedler, Chris Noel, Lyn Edgington, Gale Gilmore, Pamela Curran, Rusty Allen, Beverly Adams, Milton Frome, Dan Haggerty, Tommy Farrell, Ralph Lee, Hank Jones and Kent McCord.

It is written by Harvey Bullock and R S Allen, shot by Philip H Lathrop, produced by Joe Pasternak, scored by George E Stoll and designed by George W Davis and Addison Hehr.

Mobley was promoted to main co-star for the follow-up, Harum Scarum, which also recasts Gilmore.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6234

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