Clambake - United
Artists 1967
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By: For Elvis Fans Only
Source: EPE
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Clambake |
Elvis' twenty-fifth film was the 1967
United Artists movie "Clambake," a story
perhaps inspired by Mark Twain's "The
Prince and The Pauper." In "Clambake"
Elvis plays the rich young Scott Heyward,
who trades places with the poor but
happy Tom Wilson, played by Will
Hutchins. Scott is eager to be accepted
for himself and not his money, while Tom
seeks to know the lifestyle that money
can bring.
The beaches of Florida are the
setting for "Clambake" and the movie
culminates with the running of the
Orange Bowl International Power Boat
Regatta. Actual footage from the
January 1967 race was used in the
movie. In the actual race the "Scarlet
Lady" was owned and raced by Jim Stough
of Florida and the "Raw Hide" was owned
and raced by Lou Brummett of
California. The 250-mile race was held
at Miami's Marine Stadium, which was
built for boat races, concerts and
firework displays. The stadium was
closed in 1992 after being severely
damaged by Hurricane Andrew. The
location scenes in Miami were done with
doubles for the actors, and Miami water
ski champion Jim David was used for
stunts. All of the actors' scenes were
filmed in California.
When Elvis Presley became interested
in something he typically immersed
himself in it completely. Such was the
case when he developed an interest in
riding horses in the 1960s. He bought
horses and equipment for himself and the
members of his inner circle. Soon, the
barn and pastures at Graceland were too
small for the operation, so Elvis bought
a ranch in nearby Walls, Mississippi and
dubbed it the Flying Circle G ("G" for
Graceland). Elvis and the gang then
spent a lot of their time there. Elvis
had grown frustrated with his film
career and the ranch was a welcome
diversion for him. In February 1967,
while Elvis and his friends were doing
their cowboy bit, it was very hard for
his manager Colonel Tom Parker to get
Elvis to leave the ranch to make his
twenty-fifth film, which was the United
Artists movie "Clambake," originally
titled "Too Big For Texas."
Parker, knowing of Elvis' disenchantment
and concerned about his disinterest, was
making an effort to get the studios to
improve their scripts. In
correspondence he was working to get
them away from the "bikini girls,
nightclubs, etc." formulaic approach to
Elvis's films. However, for now he
needed to persuade Elvis to honour his
existing contracts and make
"Clambake." There were numerous delays
and finally Elvis, dressed in his cowboy
chaps, came to soundtrack recordings in
Nashville on February 23, 1967.
Elvis flew home on the 25th, making sure
the pilot flew over the ranch. By the
26th Elvis' saddle sores caused yet
another delay in filming. On March 5,
1967, Elvis was feeling better and left
for California. The next day he reported
to the studio where he met with the
producers and the director and finished
overdubs on the soundtrack. (Tirivia
note: Jordanaires member Ray Walker
provided the vocal for Hutchins's
onscreen duet with Elvis.) The film's
editor Tom Rolf thought the song "How
Can You Lose What You Never Had" was the
best song recorded for the movie but
couldn't find an appropriate place for
it to fit into the story line of the
film, but he requested that it be
included on the album. Elvis and
Priscilla Beaulieu were married on May 1,
not long after this film was
finished. As a bonus item for fans, the
soundtrack album contained a colour photo
from the wedding.
At his home in California, Elvis
suffered a slight concussion on March 9,
1967 when he tripped over a TV power
cord and fell during the middle of the
night. This pushed start of production
back to March 20, 1967 when he was well
enough to start rehearsals. Principal
photography began on March 22, 1967. The
movie wrapped by April 27, 1967 and it
opened on November 22, 1967, reaching
#15 on that week's "Variety" magazine
film list.
Elvis' leading lady for this movie was
Shelley Fabares, one of
his favourite actresses to work
with. This was their third film
together, having previously worked
together on
"Girl
Happy" and
"Spinout". She
had achieved stardom as cast member of
"The Donna Reed Show" before getting
into movies. A big highlight of her
career was co-starring in the TV series
"Coach" in the 1990s. As of late she has
been recovering from an illness that
required her to undergo a liver
transplant in 2000. However, she
recently appeared on a reunion special
celebrating the hit 1970s/80s TV series
"One Day At A Time," in which she had a
supporting role.
Supporting actor
Will Hutchins
had also worked with Elvis in "Spinout."
He has starred in his own TV series
"Sugarfoot" and has traveled the world
on various other projects. His varied
career includes a number of years
working as a circus clown. Hutchins has
more recently been working behind the
scenes at NBC.
Actor
Bill Bixby
played Elvis' competition for both the
girl and the speedboat race in the film
"Clambake." Bixby, a sixth generation
Californian who grew up in San
Francisco, had a lifelong interest in
acting. He studied law for a while at
the University of California at Berkley,
but three credits shy of graduation, he
moved to the Los Angeles area where he
began doing commercials and modelling
work. Best known for starring in
several TV series including "My
Favourite
Martian," "The Courtship of Eddie's
Father," "The Magician" and "The
Incredible Hulk," he also was a producer
and director. He directed a 1993 TV
movie entitled "The Woman Who Loved
Elvis." He had been directing the TV
series "Blossom" in 1993 when he lost
his battle with cancer and died. He was
an accomplished painter and magician.
He once recalled that on the set of
"Clambake" there were the usual
practical jokes with Elvis and his guys,
but that Elvis was also very fascinated
by an album of recitations by Charles
Boyer called "Where does Love Go?" and
played one particular piece over and
over for everyone. It was "Softly As I
Leave You," which, years later, Elvis
would add to his 1970s concert shows.
Gary Merrill played Sam Burton and
his many credits include films such as
"Twelve O'Clock High," "The Pleasure of
His Company" and "All About Eve."
Working on "All About Eve" was Merrill's
introduction to the star of the film,
Bette Davis, who became Merrill's second
wife. Their marriage ended after ten
years and two adopted children. He went
on to enter politics and he
unsuccessfully ran for a seat in Maine's
legislature in 1968. He kept busy with
voice-over work in both radio and TV
commercials until his death of lung
cancer in 1990.
James Gregory played Duster Heyward, the
wealthy father to Elvis's character
Scott. A native New Yorker, Gregory
gave up working on Wall Street in the
stock market to become a stage actor in
the mid-1930s. He played many small
towns before his Broadway debut in 1939
in "Key Largo." His successful Broadway
career was interrupted by World War II
and a tour of duty in the Pacific. In
1955 he switched to acting in TV and
movies. His credits are numerous but
include "The Silencers," "PT 109,",
"Capt. Newman M.D.," "The Sons of Katie
Elder," "Beneath the Planet of the Apes"
and the hit TV series "Barney Miller,"
in which he played the crusty Inspector
Frank Luger.
Suzie Kaye played Sally and had among
her previous credits roles in "West Side
Story" and "Tammy and The Doctor." She
went on to play Angel in the TV series
"Love Is A Many Splendour Thing" from
1969 - 1973.
Los Angeles radio personality Sam Riddle
played the race announcer.
Jack Good played Mr. Hathaway the hotel
manager. He had few acting credits, but
he is better known for his being a TV
series producer for 60s TV teen musical
shows such as "Shindig!"
Harold the doorman was played by Harold
Peary, who is best known for his long
running radio and film character
Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve on the
"Fibber McGee and Molly" show and "The
Great Gildersleeve." Known for his
trademark giggle, he also played Herb in
TVs "Blondie."
Actress Marj Dusay played the waitress
who's all ga-ga over Scott Heyward's
sports car. The actress went on to
specialize in playing haughty
villainesses in such daytime TV series
as "Days of Our Lives," "The Guiding
Light" and "All My Children."
Dal McKennon played the bearded gas
station attendant. An actor who has
been in a number of TV westerns
including his role as Cincinnatus on the
"Daniel Boone" TV series, his voice may
be even more familiar. His has been the
voice of numerous cartoon characters
such as Homer Pigeon, Buzz Buzzard,
Gumby, Pokey, Bucky, Pepito, Courageous
Cat, Inspector Wiloughby, Archie
Andrews, Hot Dog, Mr. Weatherbee, and
Joe Hardy.
There is an unaccredited walk-on part
played by Frances Humphrey Howard, the
socialite and politically active sister
of former Vice President Hubert H.
Humphrey. Susie the dolphin, better
known as Flipper and star of the
"Flipper" TV series, had a "swim-on"
appearance in "Clambake."
Watch for several of Elvis's entourage
in this film: Joe Esposito
plays a garage attendant; Red
West is a playful ice cr�me
man; Charlie Hodge is a
barber; and Richard Davis
plays a bartender.
Bloopers: The film is
set in Florida, but the actor's scenes
were all shot in California. Scott
Heyward (Elvis) and Dianne (Shelley
Fabares) enjoy a beautiful sunset over
the ocean. Whoops! This scene is
supposed to be in Florida near the
Atlantic ocean, although it was actually
shot on the west coast near the
Pacific. The sun sets in west over the
Pacific ocean, but a sunset over the
Atlantic is depicted in this film. And
those pesky California mountains keep
popping up on the Florida skyline, first
at the gas station and then as Scott and
Dianne drive along the Florida coastline
admiring his oil wells. Heyward is
spelled Hayward on Scott's drivers
license...whoops again.
The script writer was Arthur Browne,
Jr. and the director was Arthur H.
Nadel. They have worked together on
many TV projects including "Gun
smoke,"
"The Big Valley," "The Virginian," "The
Rifleman" and "The Rebel," which starred
Elvis's friend Nick Adams.
The producers were Arthur Gardner,
Arnold Laven, and Jules Levy. These
three men met in 1943 when they were
serving in the First Motion Picture Unit
if the Army Air Force. They along with
others such as Captain Ronald Reagan,
Captain Clark Gable and Lieutenant
William Holden were making training
films. Gardner, Laven and Levy decided
to form their own production company
after their discharge from duty.
Soundtrack
Recorded at:
RCA
Studios, 17th Avenue South,
Nashville.February 1967.
Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty
Moore, Chip Young, Charlie McCoy
(guitars), Pete Drake (steel guitar),
Bob Moore (bass), D.J. Fontana, Buddy
Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer, Hoyt
Hawkins (pianos),Norman Ray (sax),
Millie Kirkham and the Jordanaires
(vocals)
Clambake - United Artists
1967
Directed Arthur N.
Nadel, Ladislav Smocek
Writing Credits Arthur Browne Jr.
Producers J. Levy, A. Gardner, A.
Laven
Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Scott Hayward,
Shelley Fabares .... Dianne Carter, Will
Hutchins .... Tom Wilson, Bill Bixby
.... James J. Jamison III, Gary Merrill
.... Sam Burton, James Gregory ....
Duster Hayward, Suzie Kaye .... Sally
Harold Peary .... Doorman, Sam Riddle
.... Announcer, Angelique Pettyjohn....
Gloria, Olga Kaya .... Gigi, Jack Good
.... Mr. Hathaway, Lee Krieger ....
Bartender, Amanda Harley .... Ellie, Sue
England .... Cigarette Girl.
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