Blue Hawaii
Shooting began March 17, 1961 and completed April 17,1961
Opened nationally November 22, 1961
Character: Chad Gates
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Director: Norman Taurog
Plot:
This film marked Elvis' most successful film. Elvis stars as Chad Gates, whose wealthy family owns a successful pineapple plantation in Hawaii. Upon his return from the Army, Chad's family is eager for him to join the family business, but Chad has other plans. He wants to open his own tourist agency someday. He lands a job as a tour guide in the tourist agency where his girlfriend works. This not only allows him to utilize his own knowledge of the islands most beautiful sites but also allows him his freedom to hang with his native Hawaiian buddies. Tensions mount as his mother objects to his job, girlfriend and his friends. Chad eventually discovers success in the tourist business and wins his families approval of his marrying his girlfriend Maile.
Songs:
"Blue Hawaii"-Sung over the opening credits and incorporated instrumentally throughout the film.
"Almost Always True"-Sung to Joan Blackman in a care with car radio accompaniment.
"Aloha Oe"-Sung in a canoe.
"No More"-Sung on the beach with some Hawaiian friends.
"Can't Help Falling In Love"-Sung to Maile's grandmother after giving her a music box for her birthday.
"Rock-a-Hula Baby"-Sung at a party.
"Moonlight Swim"-Sung in a car while escorting Miss Prentice and her four students around Oahu.
"Ku-u-i-po"-Sung at a luau.
"Ito Eats"-Sung at a luau right after someone says, "Ito eats like teeth are going out of style!"
"Slicin' Sand"-Sung at a luau while putting out the campfire.
"Hawaiian Sunset"-Sung at the Island Inn.
"Beach Boy Blues"-Sung while in jail after a fight at the Island Inn.
"Island of Love (Kauai)"-Sung while guiding Miss Prentice and her four students around Kauai on horseback.
"Hawaiian Wedding Song"-Sung during the marriage ceremony at the end of the film.
"Steppin' Out of Line," "La Paloma," and "Playing with Fire" were cut from the film.
Cast:
| Chad
Gates - Elvis Presley
Maile Duval - Joan Blackman Sarah Lee Gates - Angela Lansbury Fred Gates - Roland Winters Mr. Chapman - Howard McNear Enid Garvey - Iris Adrian Ellie Corbett - Jennie Maxwell Patsy Simon - Darlene Tompkins Carl Tanami - Lani Kai Ito O'Hara - Frank Atienza Ping Pong, the Gates' Houseboy - Guy Lee Lonnie, the Bartender - Clarence Edward Lung Lieutenant Gray, the Desk Sergeant - Mike Ross Matron - Lillian Culver General Anthony - George Denormand Specialty Dancers - Ngrua, Tani Marsh Party Guest - Red West
|
Jack Kelman -
John Archer
Miss Abigail Prentice - Nancy Walters Tucker Garvey - Steve Brodie Waihila - Hilo Hattie Selena (Sandy) Emerson - Pamela Kirk Beverly Martin - Christian Kay Ernie Gordon - Jose Devega Wes Moto - Ralph (Tiki) Hanalei Paul Duval - Gregory Gay Harmonic-playing Convict - Richard J. Reeves Lawyer - Roger Clark Bits - Sharon Lee Conners, Veronica Reed Man at party - Thomas Glynn Woman at Party - Kate-Ellen Murtagh Waitress - Irene H. Mizushima Mrs. Maneka, Maile's Grandmother - Flora K. Hayes Bits - George Halas, Yolanda Hughes, Debra M. Kawamura, Robert M. Luck, Robert Kenui Pope, Bella Richards, Elsie Russell, Pat Tackenhall |
Production Notes:
Some of the locations used on Oahu included Waikiki Beach, the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, Honolulu International Airport, the jail at Honolulu's Police Department, the Punchbowl, Ala Moana Park, Hanauma Bay, Tantalus, and the Waiola Tea Room. Locations on Kauai included Kauai Airport, Anahola, Coco Palms Resort Hotel, Lydgate Park, and the Wailua River. Further filming took place at Paramount.
The film was based on the book Beach Boy written by Allan Weiss who was a Los Angeles newspaperman.
Blue Hawaii reached #2 on Variety's weekly list of top-grossing films. Because of a strong showing the last six weeks of 1961, it ranked #18 for the year, with a gross of $2 million. Blue Hawaii also ranked high for the year 1962, placing #14 on the list. Its total gross through 1962 was $4.7 million.
There was a minor incident while filming Blue Hawaii. Rain caused a delay in filming one day, and the crew had to wait for hours for the rain to subside. After the rain let up, the crew began filming once again. Elvis was about to film his scene where he is running out of the surf, and the Colonel yells: "Cut, cut!" Director Taurog and Hal Wallis were flabbergasted and demanded to know what was wrong, as only the director can holler cut. The Colonel, pointed out that Elvis was wearing his own watch and the movie contract outlined that Elvis was not to wear any part of his own clothing which included jewelry. If the director and producer wanted to keep any part of what was just shot, they had to agree to pay an extra $25,000 for Elvis' own attire. They asked Elvis to remove his watch and the shot was redone.
Trivia:
Chad Gates had just served a two year stint in the army based in Italy.
Maile Duval was part French (father) and part Hawaiian (mother).
Chad's father Fred Gates worked as a supervisor at the Great Southern Hawaiian Fruit Company. The company was home based in Atlanta and had 317 salesmen nationwide.
Maile worked at the Hawaiian Tourist Guide Service managed by Mr. Chapman. Chad later went to work there.
In one scene at the Island Inn, Ellie is carrying on with Tucker Garvey. AT this point Chad tells her there's "no use steppin' out of line." This is where the song "Steppin' Out of Line" was originally sung before it was cut from the film.
After they married, Chad and Maile formed the Gates of Hawaii travel agency.
Bloopers:
In the scene at the pineapple fields, the car door is open in one camera shot, but closed in the very next shot.
In another scene, the sign on the door to Mr. Chapman's office indicates that the name of the company is Hawaiian Island Tours. Yet when introducing herself to Abigail Prentice, Maile says she in an associate of the Hawaiian Tourist Guide Service.