Ok I had to fudge a little here on my ‘D’ topic for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. While I do enjoy the song “Do the Clam,” what I am mostly going to blog about today is my favorite Elvis movie Girl Happy. I could not include Girl Happy as my ‘G’ Elvis topic because there are a couple more important topics that begin with ‘G’ in the Elvis world – check back here Saturday to find out.

This is THE movie for me, my favorite Elvis movie since I was little. Elvis movies are very important to me as they were my introduction to Elvis. I knew his movies before I knew his music. I grew up on Elvis movies watching them with my mom on Sunday afternoons. Yes Girl Happy is one of those cheesy Elvis gets girl Elvis loses girl Elvis sings songs beach movie, but I just love it! I am pretty sure why I love it so much and why it is still my favorite today is because when I was little I loved hearing Elvis say my name over and over in it. One of Elvis’ love interests is named DEENA (played by Mary Ann Mobley who also stars with Elvis in Harum Scarum). I can’t tell you how excited it makes me to hear Elvis say my name, call my name – sigh! I met Mary Ann Mobley (and got her autograph) and told her my story and she imitated Elvis saying Deena like he did to her in the movie. She was so sweet!

I also met Chris Noel, who plays Betsy (Valerie’s friend) in Girl Happy, and got her autograph. But I have yet to meet Shelley Fabares, the one costar of Elvis’ I most want to meet (Shelley also starred in Spinout and Clambake with Elvis and also in television shows I loved: The Donna Reed Show, Coach and One Day at a Time). Shelley Fabares is definitely my favorite Elvis costar. Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby’s son, costars with Elvis – and I love Bing Crosby!

In Girl Happy (released in 1965), Elvis plays Rusty Wells, who is a singer paid by his Chicago boss to go to Ft. Lauderdale on Spring Break to keep an eye on his daughter Valerie (played by Shelley Fabares) and not let any guys near her and instead of course Rusty falls in love with Valerie (after first pursuing Deena).

Girl Happy is one soundtrack I listen to over and over again. I actually love “Do the Clam” and “Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce” – and of course “Spring Fever,” “Girl Happy,” “Puppet on a String,” “Do Not Disturb” and “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die.” Girl Happy is like Grease (which is my all time favorite movie) to me – it’s like home. I know it so well it brings me comfort. I watch it repeatedly as I have the dvd and have it downloaded on my phone and kindle fire.

 

What is your favorite movie, song, book about Elvis that begins with ‘D’? Please comment below. Remember to check back tomorrow to see what ‘E’ topic I’ve chosen for Elvis, as my A to Z April Blogging Challenge continues here.