In 1927, a "Chautauqua" (traveling troupe of entertainers and speakers) led by Elvis Presley (as Walter Hale) livens up an Iowa town. "The Trouble with Girls" ("...and How to Get Into It" for promotional lure) seems like the usual Elvis film for most of the running - flirty romances, cute kids, and plenty of songs in a carnival-type setting. A murder involving Dabney Coleman occurs later on, which doesn't mix well with the attempted comedy. Vincent Price turns up in a small "guest star" role. John Carradine gets to deliver the film's best line - about "pre-marital relations" in the Des Moines company...
After a couple of promising films, Mr. Presley appears to have given up on acting. Looking great in tailored suits and smoking brown cigarettes, he shows zero evidence of having any idea about the film's setting and plot; he simply walks on set and says his lines. There are enough songs to fill a double soundtrack album, but few of them are sung by Presley. The first solo number is delivered by "Brady Kid" Susan Olsen. Elvis' hit from the film is the musically anachronistic "Clean Up Your Own Back Yard". Little Anissa Jones, her likewise cute pal Pepe Brown, and the folksy songs head up a limited appeal.
*** The Trouble with Girls (9/3/69) Peter Tewksbury ~ Elvis Presley, Marlyn Mason, Sheree North, Edward Andrews
