FIRST POST ARMY FILM Trailer for G I Blues CONTINUED G I BLUES With slow-level jitterbug dancing, Elvis's first post-Army movie has more of a World War II musical feel, rather than a movie created to mirror the late 1950s and early 1960s, where the Twist and the Madison were the dances of the era. While swing music and military numbers played, there were only two numbers in the entire movie reflecting a man whose developmental years consisted of Black American culture. The first time occurred during Elvis's ballad, "DOIN THE BEST I CAN." The second time is when another soldier disturbs the performance by playing "BLUE SUEDE SHOES" on the jukebox right before the barroom brawl. G I BLUES "G. I. BLUES" was to be the Elvis film that would appeal to a larger more mature audience. The use of his military service was supposed to be the way of removing the degenerate persona described by bigoted critics. Critics created this false narrative against his earlier films and music. Except for the properly placed "G.I. BLUES", "DOIN THE BEST I CAN", "WOODEN HEART", and "BIG BOOTS" the rest of the music selected for the movie was sub-standard for an artist like Elvis. Click here to see Elvis and the Jordanaires performing "Frankfort Special" "THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER: THE BETRAYAL OF ELVIS PRESLEY" (Chapter 8 - page 285) PREVIOUS DIRECTION Compared to earlier films, the storyline for "G.I. BLUES" was immoral and the cast of characters were shallow. Even with all the triviality of the film, G.I. BLUES could have been a fun movie to remember had it not become the first in a series of bad carbon copy films, which unfortunately Elvis became known for. DIRECTION G I BLUES In a scene at Cafe Europa with Juliet Prowse. According to the Hal B. Wallis papers at the AMPAS Library, Michael Cortiz, director of "KING CREOLE" was originally set to direct the film, but instead, Norman Taurog was the chosen director. The tanks and vehicles used in the film were supplied by the U.S. Army. Public Information Officer, John J. Mawn, who handled Elvis's Army press conferences, was named Military Technical Advisor for the film. For some strange reason, Tom Parker was named Technical Advisor, something which happened on every Elvis film with one exception, "VIVA LAS VEGAS." PREVIOUS MISSING MUSIC MUSICAL MISSING PARTS Songwriting team, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote two songs for the movie, "DOG FACE" and "TULSA’S BLUES." They withdrew their songs when they didn’t like the royalty payment contract which Elvis’s manager, Tom Parker, insisted they sign. G I BLUES DIRECTION MISSING ARTIST MUSICAL MISSING ARTIST G I BLUES The duet "POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS" was lip-synced by Juliet Prowse to soprano Louile Jean Norman, who spent most of her career as a behind-the-scenes and background singer. Louile Jean Norman is missing from the films’ credits. MISSING MUSIC WORKING TITLES Loulie Jean Norman was born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 12, 1913. As a soprano, she had the vocal range suited for opera. In the 1930s her voice was heard on radio stations which got her noticed. She moved to New York City where in addition to having a beautiful voice, she was attractive enough to begin a modeling career. While modeling, she continued to pursue her singing career. Norman soon began to get bit parts in singing ensembles. She appeared on several musical variety shows, including one with Bing Crosby. She also provided studio background vocals to top artists like Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, and Elvis Presley. Eventually, she made it to television and frequently appeared on "THE DINAH SHORE SHOW," "THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW," and was a backup singer on "THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW." In 1964, Gene Roddenberry, creator of "STAR TREK," hired Alexander Courage to write the theme music. Courage included a voice in his composition which didn’t have any words. Norman was known for her studio work and had the range Courage needed to make the tune work. When "STAR TREK’s" ratings fell in their third year, Roddenberry wasn’t able to pay Norman her royalty cut. So the theme was re-recorded without any vocals. Louile Jean Norman died at the age of 92 on August 2, 2005. STAR TREK THEME "POCKETFUL OF RAINBOWS" (Click Here for Movie Scene) WORKING TITLES G I BLUES On location with Juliett Prowse and Hal Wallis. Again, just like "LOVE ME TENDER" and "JAILHOUSE ROCK" this film went through two working titles. The first was "CHRISTMAS IN BERLIN" which made absolutely no sense because it wasn't Christmastime; not a decorated tree was in sight and nobody in the film was dressed for the colder season. The second was "CAFE EUROPA" before finally settling on "G. I. BLUES" which is also the name for another theme song Elvis recorded. MISSING ARTIST LOCATION LOCATION G I BLUES Exterior shots were filmed on location in Germany before Elvis was discharged from the U.S. Army. Production used stand-ins and all of the main cast scenes were filmed in Hollywood on Paramount Pictures' indoor sets and on their back lots. WORKING TITLES BOX OFFICE BOX OFFICE G I BLUES Movie Poster Paramount Pictures released the film on Wednesday, November 23, 1960. However, the sneak preview was shown in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, August 18, 1960. It finished the year's fourteenth biggest box office film grossing $4.3 million. LOCATION CAST CAST G I BLUES Juliet Prowse as Lili Elvis Presley as Specialist 5 Tulsa MacLean Scene still with Juliet Prowse. BOX OFFICE CAST (CONTINUES) Robert Ivers as Private First Class Cookie James Douglas as Specialist 5 Rick Nicholas Leticia Roman as Tina Sigrid Maier as Marla Arch Johnson as Master Sergeant McGraw Mickey Knox as Jeeter Kenneth Becker as Mac Carl Crow as Walt CAST (CONTINUES) G I BLUES Scene with G.I.s concealing their bet. BOX OFFICE CAST (CONTINUES) Beach Dickerson as Warren Trent Dolan as Mickey Fred Essler as Papa Mueller, Club Owner John Hudson as Captain Hobart Edson Stroll as Sergeant “Dynamite” Bixby Jeremy Slate as Turk G I BLUES CAST (CONTINUES) CAST CAST CONTINUES Scotty Moore as the guitar player at Papa Mueller’s club D.J. Fontana as the drummer at Papa Mueller’s club Jordanaires as backup singers Mickey Knox as Jeeter Erika Peters as Trudy Ron Starr as Harvey Ludwig Stössel as Owner of the puppet show Gene Roth as Klugman Marilyn Gladstone as the blonde Liz Dubrock as the Brunette Britt Ekland as Britta the Redhead David Paul Rankin as Tiger Donald Paul Rankin as Tiger Kerry Ray as Tiger Terry Ray as Tiger David Clark Wise as Tiger Donald Clark Wise as Tiger CAST (CONTINUED) "BIG BOOTS" (Movie Scene - Click Here) Even though the Blue Moon Boys no longer existed as the backup band for Elvis, Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana had a small part in the scene at the Papa Mueller's club, where they donned German Lederhosen. G I BLUES The Jordanaires also received a small part in the movie when they accompanied Elvis during the song "FRANKFORT SPECIAL." CAST PLOT Ursula Andress tested for the role of Lili which eventually went to Juliet Prowse. May Britt and Elke Sommer were considered for the role as well. Carleton Carpenter was originally cast as Cookie but was replaced by Robert Ivers. Anna Maria Alberghetti was originally set for the role of Tina which went to Letícia Román. PLOT G I BLUES SOUNDTRACK CAST RETURN TO MOVIE DIRECTORY While stationed in Germany, Army Specialist 5 Tulsa McLean (played by Elvis Presley), forms a band called The Three Blazes with two other G.I.s, Private First Class Cookie Kimball (played by Robert Ivers) and Specialist 5 Rick Nicholas (played by James Douglas). The band wants to open a nightclub in America upon their Army discharges, but opening the club requires money they don't have. Tulsa cunningly talks Master Sergeant McGraw (played by Arch Johnson), into a $300 investment and partnership for the nightclub. In an attempt to double the Sergeant's investment, Tulsa uses the invested money in a wager to see if the Army’s playboy, Sergeant Dynamite (played by Edson Stroll), can spend a whole night with a nightclub dancer named Lili (played by Juliet Prowse), whom he's never met. When Dynamite's womanizing reputation forces the Army to transfer him far away from Germany, Tulsa is coaxed into taking Dynamite's place in the bet. CLICK FOR MOVIE RENTAL SOUNDTRACK The soundtrack for the 1960 movie "G.I. Blues" was a commercial hit that marked Elvis Presley's shift from the 1950's rock and roll music to a acceptable "Hollywood entertainer". Released by RCA Victor in October 1960, it became his longest-charting album, remaining on the Billboard charts for 111 weeks. SOUNDTRACK CONTINUES PREVIOUS SOUNDTRACK CONTINUED The album was at the #1 position on the Billboard Top Pop Album chart for 10 weeks. It received two nominations in 1960 for Best Sound Track Album and Best Male Vocal Performance. Elvis didn't often re-record songs in the studio. However, he did so for “Blue Suede Shoes” for this soundtrack to create a stereo version of his 1956 hit. PREVIOUS BACK TO MOVIE DIRECTORY