wes-connors Nightclub singer Elvis Presley (as Rusty Wells) is hired to chaperone sexy Shelley Fabares (as Valerie Frank), with predictable results... While it was not strong enough to have be trumpeted as a significant improvement at the time, "Girl Happy" is a cut above the (then) average Presley movie. Most importantly, director Boris Sagal, along with the writing team of Harvey Bullock and R.S. Allen, effectively make more of a situation comedy with Elvis music, than the more often used, and vacuously plotted, "Elvis travelogue" with tunes. The comedy is well-paced, nicely played, and includes some genuinely funny moments.Ms. Fabares' innocent sexuality compliments Presley, and they play very well on screen together. Fabares was understandably invited to co-star in additional Presley movies (with mixed results, due to weakening material). Also very good are Elvis frantic band-mates Jimmy Hawkins (as Doc), Gary Crosby (Andy), and Joby Baker (Wilbur). Fabares and Mr. Hawkins had been a cute teenage couple on "The Donna Reed Show". Mr. Crosby was one of Bing's sons (which turned out to be less fortunate than you'd think). And, Mr. Baker was in a regrettably short-lived Dick Van Dyke-type comedy called "Good Morning World".MGM wisely used RCA's soundtrack studio record takes for "Girl Happy" (for the most part). In the past, there were sometimes completely separate versions for film and record, with the lamer versions making the film. Presley recorded the "Girl Happy" songs in June 1964; in hindsight, these and the just completed "Roustabout" were the last gasp of Presley as a dependable pop soundtrack singer. Critics weren't enthusiastic about his 1960s film songs, but there were scattered gems throughout. Nothing herein approaches "Return to Sender", but there are no real dogs, either.The speeded-up vocals evident on "Girl Happy" were not uncommon; recording stars and record companies routinely speeded-up recordings. In the 1960s, many radio stations speeded up every record they played; this way, they could play more records, and get in more commercials. Many old TV shows are speeded-up, also… but, back to Presley: His next film, "Tickle Me", featured no newly recorded soundtrack songs. After a long period of inactivity, he recorded "Harum Sacrum", the first wholly substandard soundtrack of his career. That was followed by "Frankie and Johnny". So, dig right in and "Do the Clam".****** Girl Happy (3/27/65) Boris Sagal ~ Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Jimmy Hawkins, Gary Crosby

Callum Gee I recently obtained the newly-remastered DVD of "Girl Happy" and I must admit that I was surprisingly taken aback at how much I enjoyed this rather entertaining 'beach' movie.I first viewed "GH" on TV back in 1986 and suffice to say that it didn't really make a great impression on me due to the somewhat lacklustre material of songs that Elvis performed in it. However, even a few of these managed to charm my tastebuds this second time around.Obviously, it's not one of Elvis' best overall movies but is certainly in the category of one of his best (and much-loved) 60's musicals - it is really entertaining. Elvis is in fine form along with a good supporting cast that includes leading lady, Shelley Fabares along with Bing Crosby's son, Gary plus the sultry Mary Ann Mobley and Harold J. Stone.A particular scene that I found fascinating was the action-packed fight in the club, Elvis appears to be doing so well fending them off with some karate moves and all when suddenly he takes a bottle over the back of the head! An unusual and unpredictable happening in one of his movies at this point."Girl Happy" is not one of my favourite Elvis movie soundtracks but the title track is OK, albeit somewhat faster in speed. There's also the catchy "Cross My Heart, Hope To Die", a duet of "Spring Fever" which wasn't featured on the original album, and the sweet ballad "Puppet On A String".It's worth checking out, and if it doesn't grab you the first time then maybe it will on a second viewing.

JoeKarlosi Thinly "plotted" Elvis Presley comedy with Shelley Fabares, who reportedly was Elvis' favorite of all his leading gals. Elvis is the front man in a vintage '60s pop group who leaves the snowy city of Chicago along with his band mates for a spring break down in the warm and bikini-busy Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He manages to secure the trip by telling his mobster employer that he'll be sure to keep an eye on his boss' college-aged daughter (Fabares, who's cuter in SPINOUT) while she's also vacationing down there with her girlfriends. Typically zany mishaps ensue, but along the way there are some enjoyable songs... "Girl Happy," which is the best of the bunch, "Do Not Disturb," "Puppet on a String", "Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce", and the latest beach blanket rage, "Do the Clam"! Presley still seems to be pretty game. **1/2 out of ****

Joe-290 Although most of Elvis' movies were set in a world of total happiness and joy they were very good and were especially good when someone is feeling low. Girl Happy has some great songs and it also had a very successful sound-track. The main theme in this film is that a gangster hires a singer ( Elvis ) to look after his daughter on a holiday camp.