Girl Happy (1965)

A Chicago mobster hires a rock and roll singer and his band to keep an eye on his daughter during Spring Break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Director:

Boris Sagal

Writers:

Harvey Bullock, R.S. Allen

Stars:

Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Harold J. Stone

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elvis Presley	...	Rusty Wells
Shelley Fabares	...	Valerie
Harold J. Stone	...	Big Frank
Gary Crosby	...	Andy
Joby Baker	...	Wilbur
Nita Talbot	...	Sunny Daze
Mary Ann Mobley	...	Deena
Fabrizio Mioni	...	Romano
Jimmy Hawkins	...	Doc
Jackie Coogan	...	Sgt. Benson
Peter Brooks	...	Brentwood Von Durgenfeld
John Fiedler	...	Mr. Penchill
Chris Noel	...	Betsy
Lyn Edgington	...	Laurie
Gail Gilmore	...	Nancy (as Gale Gilmore)

Storyline

Elvis Presley is in fine form as singer Rusty Wells, who is hired by Big Frank to watch over his daughter, Val, while on her first girly holiday. Much mayhem ensues when heart throb Romano tries his luck with the hapless girl, and Elvis et all have to intervene.

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Plot Keywords:

spring break | slip the undergarment | beach | cross dressing | police custody | 

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Taglines:

Over his head in LOVE, GIRLS, SONGS and LAUGHS!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Loco por las chicas

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,100,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Euterpe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When released on VHS in the 1990s, the musical number "Starting Tonight" was cut out of print. It has since been reinserted into the film as of 2007.

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Goofs

When Elvis is playing the bass guitar (club scene right before the brawl) he sets the bass down, but you can hear the bass riff continue to play.

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Quotes

Sgt. Benson: [over the sounds of construction] Are those girls giving you any trouble?
Officer Jones: Nope, they're all quiet now.
Sgt. Benson: Will you speak up? I can't hear you.
Officer Jones: [louder] Everything's fine.
Sgt. Benson: Well, what's all that racket?
Officer Jones: I dunno. I guess they're fixin' the streets out there.
Sgt. Benson: They're what?
Officer Jones: [louder] I said I guess they're fixing the streets out there!
Sgt. Benson: Fixing the streets? At night?
Officer Jones: Yeah, I guess all those college kids get in the way during the daytime.

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Connections

Featured in Elvis Found Alive (2012)

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Soundtracks

I've Got to Find My Baby
(uncredited)
Written by Joy Byers
Performed by Elvis Presley

User Reviews

Elvis in Fort Lauderdale

Elvis Presley and his band are "Girl Happy" in this 1965 film starring Shelley Fabares and featuring Gary Crosby, Mary Ann Mobley, Harold Stone, Nita Talbot, Joby Baker and Fabrizio Mioni. Presley and his band are hired by the club owner (Harold Stone) they work for to go to Fort Lauderdale and make sure that his daughter (Fabares) doesn't get into trouble. This often means cutting the romantic evenings of the band short, but Rusty (Elvis ends up combining business with pleasure.

This is pleasant enough Elvis fare. It's not the kind of movie he wanted to make, but thanks to Colonel Parker, we have a slew of them, part travelogue, part music video. Elvis looks great; the film has a lot of youthful energy and catches the spring break atmosphere. After the success of Ricky Nelson on television, TV stars had to sing, and Fabares is no exception, and she makes a darling costar for Elvis. (Her description during an interview of being told she had to sing by the producer of "The Donna Reed Show" is quite funny. She refused and was asked, "Do you want to do the show next year?") Former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley is the knockout Rusty tries to romance while on guard duty. Rusty's band, consisting of Crosby, Baker and Hawkins, do well in their roles as lascivious lads.

I wasn't as taken with the music as some on the board. It was nice, but I missed a big hit like "Return to Sender." Elvis wanted to leave a more important film legacy. I for one am grateful for any chance to see him perform.