Underrated and deviates from the "Elvis formula"

This was Elvis’ 23th movie of the 31 he did. It was one of his first films to really flirt with the growing counter-culture movement of the mid/late 60s, which can also be observed in “Clambake” (1967) and “Live a Little, Love a Little” (1968). As such, there are entertaining sequences featuring go-go dancing, yoga, eccentric artists and a reference to beatniks, who would immediately be re-christened hippies.

Speaking of the counterculture, Elvis' character comes across some protesting hippies carrying placards wherein he looks at the sign of one woman and asks with a grin, "What are you protesting against?" In other words, Elvis was poking fun at Libs' offense-prone nature and their idiotic 'protests' way back in 1966/67 when the film was shot.

Another thing that distinguishes this one is the lack of romancing, aside from a kiss at the end. It’s more plot-driven with a good mix of drama/comedy, sea action, upbeat music and pretty girls.

Speaking of the latter, Dodie Marshall plays the main female character, Jo, with Pat Priest not far behind as Dina (Pat, of course, is known for her role as Marilyn Munster). While these women, and others, are agreeable enough they’re not on the voluptuous level of Anne Helm from “Follow That Dream” (1962), Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas” (1964) or Michele Carey in “Live a Little, Love a Little” (1968).

Skip Ward is notable as the impressive Aryan rival while Pat Harrington Jr. (the handyman on One Day at a Time) and Frank McHugh are also on hand. I suppose the flick could’ve done without McHugh’s Captain Jack, but it’s just silly fun.

At the end of the day this is an obscure Elvis flick, but it shouldn’t be. It’s unique in his filmography with an entertaining emphasis on the 60’s counter culture offset by Elvis’ role as a military man.

Around the time of its release, Presley was starting to struggle with his weight and turned to diet pills. He was also disenchanted by the fluff Col. Parker was steering him to do and wanted to do more serious pictures. But you wouldn’t know that from his performance here as he never looked better; very lean, beaming with his cheery charisma.