Change of Habit (1969)

Director:

William A. Graham

Writers:

James Lee (screenplay) &
S.S. Schweitzer (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 January 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Music

Tagline:

When the King of Rock Meets the Queen of Comedy, Romance Rules. [DVD tagline]

Plot:

Only a few songs as Elvis plays it straight as Dr John Carpenter. Mary Tyler Moore stars opposite as...

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Doctor | Song | Acting Musician | Cult Film

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Dr. John Carpenter
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Sister Michelle
Barbara McNair	...	Sister Irene
Jane Elliot	...	Sister Barbara
Leora Dana	...	Mother Joseph
Edward Asner	...	Lt. Moretti
Robert Emhardt	...	The Banker
Regis Toomey	...	Father Gibbons
Doro Merande	...	Rose
Ruth McDevitt	...	Lily
Richard Carlson	...	Bishop Finley
Nefti Millet	...	Julio Hernandez
Laura Figueroa	...	Desiree
Lorena Kirk	...	Amanda
Virginia Vincent	...	Miss Parker
David Renard	...	Colom
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Hawk
William Elliott	...	Robbie (as Bill Elliott)
Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.	...	Mr. Hernandez (as Rodolfo Hoyos)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mario Aniov	...	1st Young Man (uncredited)
Ray Ballard	...	Ice Cream Clerk (uncredited)
Jim Beach	...	Father Witkowski (uncredited)
Timothy Carey	...	Ajax Market Manager (uncredited)
Rita Conde	...	Woman in Market (uncredited)
Steve Conte	...	Man in Scene 166 (uncredited)
Frank Corsentino	...	2nd Man (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	1st Underling (uncredited)
Robert De Anda	...	Teammate (uncredited)
Tony De Costa	...	Chino (uncredited)
Paul Factor	...	3rd Man (uncredited)
Linda Garay	...	Expectant Mother (uncredited)
Stella Garcia	...	Maria (uncredited)
Pepe Hern	...	Man in Scene 93 (uncredited)
Darlene Love	...	Backup Singer (uncredited)
A Martinez	...	2nd Young Man (uncredited)
Troy Melton	...	2nd Underling (uncredited)
Lilith Miles	...	1st Stiletto Deb (uncredited)
Lenny Montana	...	Grocer (uncredited)
Araceli Rey	...	Senora Gavilan (uncredited)
Ruben Rodriguez	...	Church Drummer (uncredited)
Stanley Schneider	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Harry Swoger	...	Fat Man (uncredited)
Alex Tinne	...	Tony (uncredited)
Alex Val	...	Tomas (uncredited)
Roberto Vargas	...	Cuban Mainliner (uncredited)
Len Wayland	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Caitlin Wyles	...	2nd Stiletto Deb (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Graham		(as William Graham)

Writing credits
James Lee		(screenplay) &
S.S. Schweitzer		(screenplay) and
Eric Bercovici		(screenplay)
John Joseph		(story) and
Richard Morris		(story)

Produced by
Joe Connelly	....	producer
Irving Paley	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg		(as William Goldenberg)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Douglas Stewart

Casting by
Bob Edmiston		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Frank Arrigo
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Ruby R. Levitt		(as Ruby Levitt)
John McCarthy Jr.		(as John McCarthy)

Costume Design by
Helen Colvig

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Clair Holgate	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
James Lee McCoy	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Thomas Tuttle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph E. Kenney	....	unit production manager (as Joseph Kenny)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director
Richard C. Bennett	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Walt Gilmore	....	dga trainee (uncredited)
Jack Terry	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joe Alves	....	assistant art director
William Nunley	....	property master (uncredited)
Bill Smallback	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lyle Cain	....	sound
Ronald Pierce	....	sound
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound
Perry Devore	....	boom operator (uncredited)
James V. Swartz	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Wilbur Gossman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ollie Hansel	....	grip (uncredited)
Edward Hobson	....	gaffer (uncredited)
William John Ranaldi	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
May Booth	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Austin Felious	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Stanley Wilson	....	music supervisor
Cubby O'Brien	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Other crew
Diana N. Loomis	....	script supervisor
Walter Woodworth	....	production coordinator
Robert W. Zaslow	....	supervisor: rage reduction scene (as Dr. Robert W. Zaslow)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• Koch Media (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Ritek Digital Studios  DVD created by
• Universal Pictures Professional Cosmetics  cosmetics by
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:G | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Mayfield Senior School - 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Last cinema film of Richard Carlson.

Quotes:

Sister Michelle:[after she reveals herself to be a nun, Dr. Carpenter is shocked] Say something.
Dr. John Carpenter:I'll be damned.

Movie Connections:

Featured in White Noise 2: The Light (2007)

Soundtrack:

Let Us Pray

Predictable romp about hot-to-trot nuns!

Noteworthy because it was Elvis' last film, Change of Habit is a Sister Act for the sixties, as issues of the day are portrayed in this story about three nuns who move to the inner city.

Elvis Presley plays a hip and happening doctor. His New York City practise is over run with sex starved teen agers, abused children and stubborn parents, all seeking help from this hunk o' burning love. Mary Tyler Moore leads a trio of nuns who forsake their habits when they set up shop with the doctor to help out these people.

From the outset Mary suggests that they not wear their traditional garb, so instead we see three bodacious babes donning mini skirts and funky handbags, walking down Fifth Avenue.

The ladies have a difficult time coping with the myriad of problems that face them in their new digs. Their apartment is a wreck and the neighbors aren't taking to them very well. Even the Cardinal that they report to is disgusted with them.

Change of Habit makes a Disney-like attempt at tackling the issues of the day. Racism is a hot topic as one of the nuns comes under pressure for being black. The film takes place in a hispanic community and there is some discussion about literacy, teenage pregnancy and even drugs, but nothing that the kids couldn't watch.

Change of Habit is not a bad film; certainly its heart is in the right place. The problem is that it's dated. The subject matter is handled with care, (a bit patronizing to be honest) however the issues, while still relevant, look different today. The music was fun. At the time this film was made Elvis was just about to reach his fat stage and his music was becoming silly. 'Rubbernecking' kicks off the film and it's just fabulous!

The cast is good enough to make the trite story line work. This is Elvis eight years before the end, and Mary only a couple of years away from starring in one of the best television sitcoms ever made. Even though Moore makes it clear that she didn't sleep with Elvis, their is no denying that the chemistry between them is ... interesting.