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Directed Gordon Douglas
Writing Credits Richard Powell (III) (Novel), Charles Lederer
Producer Kavid Weisbart
Art Direction Mal Bert
Music Hans J Salter

Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Toby Kwimper, Arthur O'Connell.... Pop Kwimper, Anne Helm .... Holly Jones, Joanna Cook Moore.... Alisha Claypoole, Jack Kruschen .... Carmine, Simon Oakland .... Nick, Roland Winters .... Judge, Alan Hewitt .... H. Arthur King, Howard McNear .... George, Frank DeKova .... Jack, Herbert Rudley .... Endicott, Gavin Koon .... Eddy Bascombe, Robin Koon .... Teddy Bascombe, Robert Carricart.... Al

When the Kwimper family car runs out of gas on a new Florida highway and an officous state supervisor tries to run them off, Pop Kwimper digs in his heels and decides to do a little homesteading. He and his son Toby and their "adopted" children - Holly, Ariadne and the twins - start their own little community along a strip of the roadside.

The fishing is good and the living is easy until the mob sets up a gambling operation and the state supervisor sticks a sexy social worker on the Kwimpers in an effort to take away Ariadne and the twins.

Good performance from E' and some great (albeit few) songs especially the title track and Angel.

Musical Soundtrack

"WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE"
Written by Sid Wayne & Jerry Livingston, Performed by Elvis Presley
A light hearted rendition that was popular with Elvis fans for it's happy go lucky quality. Released on the soundtrack EP (1962). Later on the RCA Camden LP I Got Lucky (1971). Again on the Elvis Double Features CD Flaming Star/Follow That Dream/Wild In The Country (1993).

"I'M NOT THE MARRYING KIND"
Written by Sherman Edwards & Mack DAvid, Performed by Elvis Presley
Delivered with a brisk tempo with a change in the middle eight. Released on the soundtrack EP (1962). Again on the Elvis Double Features CD Flaming Star/Follow That Dream/Wild In The Country (1993).

"SOUND ADVICE"
Written by Bill Giant & Anna Shaw, Performed by Elvis Presley
Pleasant jog along tune with guitar backing by Hank Garland. Released on the LP Elvis For Everyone (1965). Again on the Elvis Double Features CD Flaming Star/Follow That Dream/Wild In The Country (1993).

"FOLLOW THAT DREAM"
Written by Bernie Weisman & Fred Wise, Performed by Elvis Presley
The rocking title tune to the the film, energetic and high pitched. Released on the soundtrack EP (1962). Again on the Elvis Double Features CD Flaming Star/Follow That Dream/Wild In The Country (1993).

"ANGEL"
Written by Sid Tepper & Roy Bennett, Performed by Elvis Presley
Soft ballad with the Jordanaires. Released on the soundtrack EP (1962). Again on the Elvis Double Features CD Flaming Star/Follow That Dream/Wild In The Country (1993).

Recorded at:
RCA Studios, 17th Avenue, South Nashville. July 1961.

Musicians:
Elvis Presley (vocals), Scotty Moore, Hank Garland & Neal Mathews (guitars), Bob Moore (bass), D.J Fontana, Buddy Harman (drums), Floyd Cramer (piano), Millie Kirkham and the Jordanaires (vocals)

A unique session in that it was held in Nashville for a Hollywood movie. The song "A Whistling Tune" was dropped from this movie, but later re-recorded and used for the film Kid Galahad.

Trivia

Working titles for this movie were "Pioneer Go Home", "Here Come The Kwimpers" and "What A Wonderful Life".

The weather in Florida was very humid and Elvis relaxed between shooting the beach scenes in his air conditioned white Cadilac. The heat got so bad that during the shooting of the courthouse scene towards the movies finale Elvis had to change his shirt twenty two times with the temperature peaking at 130 degrees F.

Thousands of crickets made so much noise that some scenes for the movie had to be re-shot several times as the buzzing sound drowned out the dialogue.

Ann Helm, Elvis' leading lady in the film fought off stiff competition from Hollywood starlets Connie Stevens and Tuesday Weld.

Years later when Director Mark Rydell wanted Elvis to star in the movie "Midnight Cowboy" and couldn't get him because the Col. vetoed the idea of Elvis playing a role totally unsuitable to his image, he got Jon Voight to play the role. Jon had played the Elvis role of Toby Kwimper in a TV version of "Follow That Dream".

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