zardoz-13 Gene Nelson's "Kissin' Cousins" qualifies as an average Elvis musical. The two things, however, set it apart from the usual nonsense. First, Elvis plays dual characters, something that he had never done and would never repeat. He is black-haired Air Force Lieutenant who flies F-84s, and later he is a blonde hillbilly. Mind you, Elvis was an adequate actor, but this duality is a genuine stretch for the King of Rock and Roll. Second, despite its cornball comedy plot, "Kissin' Cousin" acknowledge the perils of the Cold War. Now, this is something that you won't find in any other contemporary Elvis movie. Moreover, the idea that the setting of an Elvis movie is nothing but rainbows, which describes all his efforts, except "Love Me Tender," "Flaming Star," and "Charro." All those epics were westerns. Unfortunately, these two strengths don't overwhelm the general air of frivolity that permeates "Kissin' Cousins." More often than not, it amounts to just another silly, stupid, and shallow Elvis opus. Furthermore, it borrows a trope from the movie "Lil Abner" with aggressive women it hot, hormonal pursuit of men. All the women-except Ma Tatum-are lively little dishes in need of a man. The songs are all substandard, and the film itself looks rushed. Indeed, producer Sam Katzman produced it after Colonel Parker saw the excesses of "Viva Las Vegas." It is also interesting to note that "Kissin' Cousins" was finished before George Sidney's "Viva Las Vegas" illuminated movie screens. Katzman was known for making film not only quickly but as cheaply as possible. Nevertheless, the idea of negotiating with moonshining hillbillies who own land in the Great Smokey Mountains for the site of an ICBM missile base puts the entire fracas into a different category. The deployment of Elvis in to roles was done mostly in camera as the filmmakers relied on the old technique of over-the-shoulder shots rather than employing expensive special effects. You see Elvis talking to the other Elvis, but neither are shown face to face. Often, the stunt guys look too old to be Elvis. At the end, however, director Gene Nelson uses a long shot so that we can see both Elvis characters in the same image looking at each other. This was probably ambitious, considering that the notoriously frugal Sam Katzman produced this goofy nonsense. The predictable plot finds Elvis eventually getting Pappy Tatum to sign a lease for the Pentagon to install the ICBM missile base. "Kissin' Cousins" winds up better than most of the other contemporary Elvis movies because it reflects the tension that existed during the Cold War between Soviet Russia and the United States.

geoffmcauliffe-60295 Kissing Cousins is based on Presley playing two parts, one as an army officer and the other as a country hillbilly. Both characterisations fail. This was a dud script with lots of hillbilly nonsense with an excruciating dialogue. Presley doesn't have the ability to put across these dual roles and Albertson who can act, shows how wooden Presley in this daft film. Even the songs are frankly poor, except for the eponymous song, which introduces the film. Presley did have some acting ability but clearly His manager Parker didn't think they were good enough for a wider critical audience , otherwise he wouldn't have pushed Elvis into these crass films. Yes, they made lots of money at the box office, but essentially they were wasting his time and talent! I feel that Parker should take the blame since these films undermined Preley's reputation as an actor and singer.

moonspinner55 Army Lieutenant Elvis Presley is assigned to infiltrate the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee to sweet-talk a hillbilly family into letting the government lease their mountain for a missile base; turns out Presley is distant kin-folk to the wrasslin' hick clan and bears a striking resemblance to the resident blonde hellraiser. Grubby-looking semi-musical manages to give us two Presleys for the price of one, but the script, direction, and production values are strictly third-rate. The bevy of squealing gals who chase Elvis through the woods have a much better time than most viewers will, seeing as how nobody cared enough to write a single decent song for the soundtrack--and E.P. himself walks through the picture looking non-plussed. Lovely Yvonne Craig, TV's Batgirl, is very frisky (until she goes all coy and demure) and has a fun scene proposing marriage to Elvis, but for a comedy this is awfully glum stuff. *1/2 from ****

noyb cutshall Not only does Kissin' Cousins contain a bad script for Presley but this Presley outing contained a bad script for two Presley's. This movie was made in 17 days and it is obvious that the old saying is true, "put forth your best effort or it will be a flop." Presley plays two character's in this 1964 attempt, date's his own cousins and sings to everyone about being barefoot. Not a movie for academy award fans but Presley fans will enjoy. Presley couldn't have been proud of this one.If you decide to watch this movie just be careful not to fall in love with your cousins after you watch it.You may be a redneck, if you go to a family BBQ to find a date.