“Clean up your own backyard. You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mine”

The full title of this film is The Trouble with Girls (And How to Get into it), this title was too large to fit in the heading of this blog post. The Trouble with Girls was released September 3^rd, 1969. Based on the 1960s novel Chautauqua by Day Keene and Dwight Vincent Babcock, The Trouble with Girls stars Elvis as Walter Hale. Elvis was paid $850,000 plus 50% of the profits. The Trouble with Girls was released as a double feature with Flareup starring Raquel Welch.

The Trouble with Girls Trailer

In the recording studio, Elvis was in a good place following the ’68 Comeback Special. However, his last three singles: “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet Baby”, and “A Little Less Conversation”, along with the Speedway album tanking, Elvis recording career was diminishing. I personally love “A Little Less Conversation” and “You’ll Neve Walk Alone”. Though it has nothing to do with the film, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” needs to be included in this post.

You’ll Never Walk Alone with Intro

This film was supposed to have been released nearly a decade before. It was announced in June 1959 that an unpublished story would star Glenn Ford, Hope Lang, Arthur O.Connell, and Elvis Presley. By December 1960, the at the time project titled Chautauqua was shelved. The film was also in works in 1964 and Dick Van Dyke had signed up to be a part of the film titled Chautauqua. MGM struggled to make anything of the film and have failed screenplays that they sold the rights to Columbia Pictures in 1965. Finally, in 1968 MGM bought the rights back and lined up Elvis to star under the title of Chautauqua. The title changed because producers were concerned that the audience would not be able to pronounce it.

Elvis stars as Walter Hale in the roaring 20s. Walter is the new manager of a travelling show with experience as a singer. He begins having issues with Charlene (Marlyn Mason), who is constantly fighting for the union rights of the Chautauqua performers. Charlene and Walter are in a constant battle, but begin to admire one another.

Almost

The high spirit of the town drift away when the town druggist’s, Wilby (Dabney Coleman), body is found floating in the lake near the town. Wilby was seeing Nita Bix (Sheree North), but no one suspected her at first. It was Clarence (Anthony Teague) who was arrested for the murder though he claimed his innocence.

Swing Down, Sweet Chariot

Somehow, Walter realizes it was Nita who committed the murder and he gets her to confess during a Chautauqua performance. During her confession, she tells that Wilby sexually harassed her and it was all in self-defense. This frees the wrongly accused Clarence, but Charlene is furious that Walter used the crime to enrich Chautauqua financially and tries to quit. Walter tries to reason with Charlene, but she does not give in. He ends up deceiving her and uses the police to be sure that she leaves on the train.

Clean Up Your Own Backyard

I remember not being interested in this movie when I was younger because it could not keep my attention. The reason being, Elvis was not even in the first 40 minutes of the film. By the time I was in high school, I developed a fascination with Vincent Price. When I realized he was in this film too, that is when I took the time to watch it. Elvis looks absolutely incredible. In my personal opinion, I think he looks best in 1969. He was in his prime.

TCB,

Little Sister