Charro! - National
General 1969
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By: For Elvis Fans Only
Source: EPE
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Charro! |
"Charro!" was Elvis Presley's
twenty-ninth movie and the only one in
which he did not sing. His singing voice
is heard only over the credits
performing the title song. The song "Charro!"
was written by Billy Strange and Mac
Davis and released as the B-side of the
single "Memories" from Elvis' 1968 TV
special. "Charro!" the song was recorded
on October 15, 1968 at the Samuel
Goldwyn Studio in Hollywood. The session
was conducted by Hugo Montenegro, who
was known for his work on the theme to
another western movie, "The Good, The
Bad and The Ugly", starring Clint
Eastwood. Playing drums for this session
was Carl O'Brien, who, in his youth, had
been a Disney Mouseketeer known as
Cubby.
"Charro!", filmed in Arizona during
July and August of 1968. At the time,
Elvis had just finished taping his 1968
television special, "Elvis",
which would air in December. He was
looking great and grew a full beard for
this rugged role. Elvis' entourage, as
well as his manager Colonel Parker, got
into the spirit and also grew beards.
The working title of the film was "Come
Hell, Come Sundown".
"Charro!", a western was set in 1870 and
based on a story written by Frederick
Louis Fox. Elvis plays Jess Wade,
a reformed gunslinger who is framed by
his former associates for the theft of a
cannon used in Mexico's fight for
independence. The prized Mexican relic
had been plated with gold and was very
valuable. In Spanish the word "charro"
means "rough, coarse, and unpolished".
In keeping with this theme Elvis as Jess
Wade sports a full beard and Charro is
Wade's nickname.
Elvis' leading lady was Ina
Balin, who worked in such films
as "The Black Orchid", "The Young
Doctors" and "The Greatest Story Ever
Told". She was an advocate for the
orphans of Vietnam, helping hundreds to
evacuate. She adopted three Vietnamese
girls in 1976. Balin died in 1990.
The late Victor French played the
villain Vince Hackett. His many roles
included his working with Michael Landon
on television as a regular on "Little
House on the Prairie" series and co-star
on the "Highway to Heaven" series. He
also starred in the series "Carter
Country". French took a turn at
directing on various TV series including
"Fame", "Father Murphy", "Dallas" and
"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". He
was the son of a stunt man and made his
debut with a small role in the
television series "Lassie".
Barbara Werle played Sara Ramsey, the
sherriff's wife. This was not Werle's
first time to work with Elvis - she had
had roles in the Elvis films "Tickle Me"
and "Harum Scarum". This
long-time
character actress played many roles in
both film and television productions.
Among her credits are the films "The
Battle of the Bulge" and "The Rare
Breed" and television series such as
"The Virginian", "Ironside", and
"Laredo".
Paul Brinegar played the town barber
Opie Keetch. Although he had a long
career as a character actor in shows
like "Perry Mason", "Guns of Will
Sonnett", "Petrocelli" and "Matt
Houston", he might be best remembered
for his role of Wishbone in the TV
series "Rawhide" with Clint Eastwood.
A number of other veteran character
actors played roles in this film. The
role of Billy Roy Hackett was played by
Solomon Sturges, son of celebrated film
director Preston Sturges.
Billy Strange, whose
early career was as as session guitarist
in Hollywood, wrote the song "Charro!".
This was not his first time to work with
Elvis. Among his gigs had been to play
on the soundtrack sessions for the Elvis
films "It Happened At The World's Fair",
"Viva Las Vegas" and "Roustabout".
Strange became a writer and producer. He
often collaborated with Mac Davis, with
whom he co-wrote the songs "A Little
Less Conversation", "Nothingville",
"Memories" and "Clean Up Your Own
Backyard", all of which were recorded by
Elvis. Strange produced the soundtrack
session for the Elvis movie "Live a
Little, Love A Little".
Costumes for "Charro!" were by Robert
Fuca, whose work also included the
earlier Elvis film "It Happened At The
World's Fair". Among his other film
credits are "Mutiny on the Bounty", "How
The West Was Won", "The Music Man" and
"Planet of the Apes". His television
credits include the series "Mod Squad"
and "Hawaiian Eye".
Rodd Redwing played Lige, a member of
the Hackett gang. Mr. Redwing was well
known as a Hollywood "fast draw artist"
and often taught other actors, including
Elvis, how to handle guns for their
acting roles. He also made leather gun
holsters. Redwing made the one that
Elvis used in this film. It is tooled
inside with an inscription to Elvis.
From time to time, the holster has been
on display in exhibits at Graceland
along with the costume Elvis wore in the
film.
The movie was written, directed and
produced by Charles Marquis Warren, who
had a long career in western movies. He
is credited with writing such films as
"Streets of Laredo", "Oh! Susanna", and
"Springfield Rifle" and writing for such
TV series as "Gunsmoke" and "Rawhide".
Many times he would direct and produce
material he had written.
The movie was shot at the Apacheland
Movie Ranch in Apache Junction, Arizona
near the Superstition Mountains, site of
many paranormal stories including the
famous "Lost Dutchman Gold Mine".
Promotions for this film included
twenty-five Southwestern cities which
held "Charro Girl" contests, with
finalists appearing in Dallas and
Austin. In Austin, "Charro! Day" was
hosted by the then Governor Preston
Smith. Likewise, the governors of
Oklahoma and Louisiana declared "Charro!
Day" in honor of previews in their
states. A number of actors from the film
traveled to appearances at these sneak
previews. The film opened nationwide on
March 13, 1969.
Soundtrack
- Charro!
- Let's Forget About The Stars (Cut)
Recorded at Samuel
Goldwyn Studios, Los Angeles. November
1968.
Musicians : Elvis Presley
(vocals), Tommy Tedesco, Ralph Grasso,
Howard Roberts (guitars), Carl O'Brien
(drums), Don Randi (piano), Emile
Radocchia (percussion), the Jordanaires
(vocals).
Charro! - National General
1969
Directed Charles
Marquis Warren
Writing Credits Frederick Louis
Fox (story), Charles Marquis Warren
A National General Production
Overview
Elvis Presley .... Jess Wade, Ina Balin
.... Tracey, Victor French .... Vince,
Barbara Werle .... Sara Ramsey, Solomon
Sturges .... Billy Roy, Lynn Kellogg
.... Marcie, James Sikking .... Gunner,
Paul Brinegar .... Opie Keetch, Harry
Landers .... Heff, Tony Young ....
Lieut. Rivera, James Almanzar ....
Sheriff Ramsey, Charles H. Gray ....
Mody, John Pickard .... Jerome Selby,
Garry Walberg .... Martin Tilford, Duane
Grey .... Gabe.
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