1h 31min | Musical, Comedy | 15 June 1966 | Color, ws
Director: Michael D. Moore (as Michael Moore)
Stars: Elvis Presley, Suzanna Leigh, James Shigeta.
Jack Regas ... stager: musical numbers
11 songs in the Soundtracks.
Pleasant surroundings, lots of songs, more individual girls than I could track (maybe 5?).
He's not making friends along the way. These are all established relationships, including the 5 girls around the islands. He cultivates them to send business his way; they all work where they meet people who want transport.
Drama is added by a charter of 5+ dogs, not in crates. The helicopter is a 2-seater, and the dogs are hungry and demanding attention, climbing all over EP and useful girl #n. They get in the way of flying the chopper, so he buzzes some pineapple pickers, an aviation official and his wife in a car, and also angers the dog owner since they get some cuts and bandages midflight on their way to a dog show.
So EP's partner is away all day trying to smoothe these troubles, and EP goes on a trip with his partner's 8 yo daughter. They meet another of EP's useful girls, who wants too much attention and tosses the copter key in the sand. They search for hours, only to find it when worried father also finds them. He angrily dissolves their partnership.
But on the way back home, pappa forgets to refuel, and crash lands, then breaks his leg. EP gets notified he's grounded for 30 days, but goes up anyway to find his friend. The aviation official forgives him. All the useful girls show up at the same party, and EP sings another song.
It's tripe, but it's fun tripe.
Wallis-Hazen, distr. Paramount, dir. Moore; 6
