Although I had long been aware of this particular film from seeing a poster of it in one of my father's film books as a child, it was only when I heard it being described as a "black comedy" here that I truly became intrigued...
This often very funny satire (adapted to the screen by Charles Lederer – who worked most often with director Howard Hawks!) was surprisingly and somewhat uneasily turned into a star vehicle for Elvis Presley. He's a simple-minded country-boy (not that he was ever the kind of guy to truly convey intelligence) who, along with dad Arthur O'Connell and a slew of adopted siblings, gets caught in the middle of a 'diplomatic' incident over ownership of a newly-inaugurated strip of land.
The family sets up house there and even starts to profit by charging the public for fishing on their property. Meanwhile, government and (again) social welfare officials try to have them evicted – but mobsters Simon Oakland and Jack Kruschen, traveling in a sort of mobile gambling-house, also make a stop at the location and which they subsequently find a convenient safe haven from the law. The two, therefore, decide to buy off the land from the hick family but will have just as little luck doing so!
The songs this time around feel like an afterthought, merely serving as a prerequisite – and only the title tune sticks out at all. Several gags and scenes are undeniably hilarious, however: the twins' idea of sharing, the over-pressurized "john", Presley's first trip to a bank (which inadvertently turns into a near hold-up), the equally 'innocent' disarming of Oakland and Kruschen's thugs – specially brought in from Detroit (and culminating in the destruction of their casino), etc. The film is capped by a moralistic, but ultimately stirring, Capra-esque courtroom sequence.
The supporting cast is well-served by the character actors – with the stuffy government official, the friendly bank manager and the benevolent judge all scoring nicely. Unfortunately, despite a good showing here, Joanne Moore's career (playing the social worker who seduces Elvis) would soon be overshadowed by that of her husband and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O'Neal!
All in all, this is one of Presley's more entertaining films – but, on a preliminary viewing, the lack of good songs and the general low-key nature rob it of a higher rating (though I wouldn't exclude getting it on DVD in future).
This often very funny satire (adapted to the screen by Charles Lederer – who worked most often with director Howard Hawks!) was surprisingly and somewhat uneasily turned into a star vehicle for Elvis Presley. He's a simple-minded country-boy (not that he was ever the kind of guy to truly convey intelligence) who, along with dad Arthur O'Connell and a slew of adopted siblings, gets caught in the middle of a 'diplomatic' incident over ownership of a newly-inaugurated strip of land.
The family sets up house there and even starts to profit by charging the public for fishing on their property. Meanwhile, government and (again) social welfare officials try to have them evicted – but mobsters Simon Oakland and Jack Kruschen, traveling in a sort of mobile gambling-house, also make a stop at the location and which they subsequently find a convenient safe haven from the law. The two, therefore, decide to buy off the land from the hick family but will have just as little luck doing so!
The songs this time around feel like an afterthought, merely serving as a prerequisite – and only the title tune sticks out at all. Several gags and scenes are undeniably hilarious, however: the twins' idea of sharing, the over-pressurized "john", Presley's first trip to a bank (which inadvertently turns into a near hold-up), the equally 'innocent' disarming of Oakland and Kruschen's thugs – specially brought in from Detroit (and culminating in the destruction of their casino), etc. The film is capped by a moralistic, but ultimately stirring, Capra-esque courtroom sequence.
The supporting cast is well-served by the character actors – with the stuffy government official, the friendly bank manager and the benevolent judge all scoring nicely. Unfortunately, despite a good showing here, Joanne Moore's career (playing the social worker who seduces Elvis) would soon be overshadowed by that of her husband and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O'Neal!
All in all, this is one of Presley's more entertaining films – but, on a preliminary viewing, the lack of good songs and the general low-key nature rob it of a higher rating (though I wouldn't exclude getting it on DVD in future).