User reviews

Elvis returns to the military comedy genre a few years after 'GI Blues' in this hillbilly romp about a pilot recruited to help convince his kin folk to let the S.A.C. put a missile silo on their land. Elvis also plays a secondary role as his look-alike hillbilly cousin.

The material is straight out of Li'l Abner - man-crazy half-dressed hillbilly females, disgusting possum based cuisine, a mournful coon hound and a patriarch named Pappy, not to mention moonshiners with a powerful dislike for 'Revenuers'. It's pretty familiar stuff, but dished up with enough energy and amiability that for once the whole exercise manages to rise above the usual (low) formulaic quickie level of the 'Elvis movie'. There are a few half decent songs and a couple of rousing musical numbers in the spirit of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (albeit much less elaborately choreographed). Of interest - leading actress Yvonne Craig became famous two years later as Batgirl.

Elvis Presley's first truly bad movie. Produced by low-rent Sam Katzman, "Kissing' Cousins" (1964) saddles the King with a sitcom- level script, forgettable songs and cheap sets. Presley and the supporting players try their best, but it's a hopeless situation.

This movie is good value for money if you like Elvis, 'cos you get two of him at the same time. How you ask? Ah well, that's technology for you !! But it's 1964 technology, so don't expect to be totally blown over with it.

The first twenty minutes of the movie are very promising. And there are some quite funny moments as the US army is bowled over by a wild gang of man-hungry bikini- clad mountain girls when the army tries to invade their mountain - and thats's the story line!!

Anyway, an all round fun movie.. . it is worth a viewing - for a few laughs and a couple of good songs, you understand...

My rating: 6/10

This movie is all about fun and laughs. Very humorous, with a several good lines [What're you doin' with my face?]. The songs were toe-tapping, up-beat songs with that Elvis flair. Although it did have a very understated plot, Kissin' Cousins was a very enjoyable ride [if you like that kind of thing].

Now, the way I rate movies...This one was great for fun and little thinking, but it obviously was not a masterpiece of filming or anything like that...

Fun for oldies music lovers!

--

Elvis had to work overtime in this flick because he plays two parts. Did Marlon Brando ever play two parts? Did Montgomery Clift? Did James Dean? Nope, only Elvis could handle such a challenge. Actually I'm not even sure if Brando, Clift and Dean did double duty, but even if they did, there is no way they could be as good as Elvis. In the 1960s seeing double was hot in the television and motion picture business. Hayley Mills, Patty Duke and Bob Denver all took on duo roles in their respective projects. It only made sense to have Elvis do it too. He seems to have fun playing Jodie Tatum since he is liberated from having to play "the Elvis movie character" that he pretty much was forced to do in all his other movies. He's allowed to be a bit of a rascal. Elvis also gets to fight himself which is always fun to see an actor do. The biggest weakness of this film is that Yvonne Craig did not get to play two parts. I wouldn't have minded seeing two of her.

I've seen most of Elvis' films by now, though I do have some more to go... but I think I'm pretty secure in my feeling that KISSIN' COUSINS is surely one of the worst of them all. It's a dumb comedy that's not even funny, with Elvis playing twin cousins, one a dark-haired army man and the other a blond hillbilly. Presley is in the army when he's sent along with his commander (Jack Albertson) to the backwoods mountains to convince his redneck relatives to allow the government to install a missile base on their property. Yvonne Craig plays one of the many hillbilly gals who's sweet on her own cuz. All of the songs here are pretty awful, though the fast version of the title track works during the closing dance sequence. But I was often so bored that I found myself regularly checking out the dual Elvis characters whenever they were in the same shot to see if I could spot the stand-in, who shifts duties from blond to brunette, as needed. *1/2 out of ****

Poor Elvis. This is one rotten movie. By 1964, Colonel Parker had figured out that, if he and Elvis were getting a percent of the movie, the lower the budget, the better. I wonder how Elvis was able to get up in the morning and put on that blond wig. And we ask ourselves why this man was a substance abuser.

Elvis plays twins. One of his characters is in the army and sent on a mission to secure a lease for a missile base on a mountain top owned by his relatives - one of whom is the blond cousin. It may sound strange, but neither character seems to have much to do, and the result is a strange lack of an Elvis presence. Hard to explain. You'd have to see the movie, which I don't recommend you do.

One of the last scenes is an outdoor party, and it is only there that the film picks up and the lamentable soundtrack improves. There is some terrific dancing and good energy. Pity we have to wait till the end, by which time, most people are no longer watching.

Sarcasm aside, this film tears at the heart - Elvis so wanted to be in good films and have an opportunity as a serious actor. But the Colonel was all about money. I blame both of them - Elvis for not standing up to the Colonel and the Colonel for being the greedy guts that he was. He didn't do Elvis any favors.

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.

That review summary may seem like a subjective statement, as there are people that like 'Kissin' Cousins' or don't think much of Elvis' earlier efforts, but count me in as somebody who considers Elvis' films before 'Kissin' Cousins' pretty good. 'Wild in the Country', 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' and 'Fun in Acapulco' were average or just slightly above that, but 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Loving You' in particular were close to great. Elvis certainly made worse films than 'Kissin' Cousins' but there is a lot here that made his later films less good.

Of course, 'Kissin' Cousins' isn't unwatchable. Glenda Farrell is sweetly affecting as Ma, while Arthur O' Connell makes much of little as does a suitably blustering Jack Albertson. Yvonne Craig has a pretty vapid role but has a perky charm and shares decent chemistry with Elvis. Didn't think much of the soundtrack this time round, but there are a few good ones with the title song, the rousing "Catching on Fast" and aptly named "Tender Feeling" coming off best.

Despite singing beautifully, Elvis himself looks awkward and disinterested in a dual role that do nothing to play to his strengths (quite the opposite). His hillbilly character especially is a waste of film celluloid. While there are bright spots in the cast, most of them are at best forgettable as tamely stereotypical characters. A few good songs aside, the best the rest of the soundtrack gets is eminently forgettable, with "Smoking Mountain Boy" and especially "Barefoot Ballad" worse than disposable.

'Kissin' Cousins', unlike Elvis' earlier films, doesn't even have the distinction of looking good, with the film evidently looking as though it was made in a rush and on the cheap judging from the phoney and un-evocative sets, Elvis' tacky blond wig and scrappy photography and editing. The script is badly out of date, unfunny and sappy sitcom-level, while the story feels over-stretched, sluggishly paced and painfully predictable. Gene Nelson directs without interest, energy or distinction.

All in all, not unwatchable but a misfire. See Elvis' earlier efforts to see that he was capable of a good performance when allowed and that he did make good films. 4/10 Bethany Cox

This movie, tho not one of Elvis' best, certainly isn't as bad as some reviews have stated. Those who say it is Elvis' worst film have obviously never seen "Double Trouble", "Clambake", "Speedway", "Stay Away Joe" and a couple others. The movie is fun, if not brilliant and the blond wig he wore is tacky and a couple of the songs are pretty horrible (Barefoot Ballad). However, the supporting cast is quite good headed up by Oscar winning actor Jack Albertson. It also features the wonderful character actor Arthur O'Connell and Glenda Farrell. Batgirl from TV's "Batman", Yvonne Craig, is in fine form as Elvis' love interest. As for the music, the title tracks are pretty good. "Tender Feeling" is a wonderful ballad and "Catching on Fast" is a lively rock tinged number that goes down quite well. It is also apparent from many of those who did not like the film at all that they did not pay attention as they all claim one of the Elvis characters, Josh, is an army officer. Not so. He is an air force officer. Go back and look folks. At any rate, I've seen every Elvis movie ever made many times and this one is worth a watch.

Kissing Cousins is based on Presley playing two parts, one as an army officer and the other as a country hillbilly. Both characterisations fail. This was a dud script with lots of hillbilly nonsense with an excruciating dialogue. Presley doesn't have the ability to put across these dual roles and Albertson who can act, shows how wooden Presley in this daft film. Even the songs are frankly poor, except for the eponymous song, which introduces the film. Presley did have some acting ability but clearly His manager Parker didn't think they were good enough for a wider critical audience , otherwise he wouldn't have pushed Elvis into these crass films. Yes, they made lots of money at the box office, but essentially they were wasting his time and talent! I feel that Parker should take the blame since these films undermined Preley's reputation as an actor and singer.

Glenda Farrell was in some of the greatest films of the early 1930's, including, "Little Caesar," "I Was Fugitive From a Chain Gang," "Mysteries of the Wax Museum," and "Gold Diggers of 1935". It was delightful to see her as a hillbilly mammy in this film. The director, to his eternal credit, even gave her a song to sing without Elvis. It was the best song in the film. I wonder if anybody else ever got to sing a solo in an Elvis picture?

It was also nice to see Yvonne Craig, she because famous a couple of years later when she became a regular on the "Batman" television series as "Batgirl". It was a gimmick that helped save the rapidly fading series for a short while. She was rather adorable and perky in the role, as she was in this movie. Unfortunately, her career went nowhere, except for occasional television guest spots.

Pam Austin also looked great in this film. She became famous for a Dodge television commercial a couple of years later, inviting people to join the "Dodge Rebellion." She starred in "the Perils of Pauline" with Pat Boone two years later. It was quite an amusing and sweet movie, but sadly her career also went nowhere afterward.

We have to remember that three of the most popular television series at the time this film was made were 1) The Patty Duke Show (Patty Duke playing cousins with opposite personalities), 2) Petticoat Junction (rural comedy) and 3) Hootenanny (music variety show). It must have seemed like a great idea to combine all three themes in one movie. The conflicted cousins theme comes off the worse. Air Force Major Elvis is fine, but Hillbilly Elvis just stands around looking grouchy. The Petticoat Junction theme is transformed into a "Little Abner" theme, but there is no Julie Newmar (Stupifying Jones)to focus on. The Hootenanny that takes up the last 25 minutes is the only part that sort of works. It would have been nicer if there was more time for the choreography. It looks like they only had a couple of days to get it together, but everyone seems to be having a good time and it does send the audience out of the theater tapping their toes.

While not a good film, it is fun and worth seeing for Elvis and Glenda Farrell fans, and people who enjoy 1960's television sitcoms. I thought this was much better than the other Elvis film that Gene Nelson directed, "Harum Scarum". That one really is only for die-hard Elvis.

Elvis Presley plays Brunet Lieutenant Josh and his Blond "hillbilly" cousin Jodie. Brunet Elvis has to secure the family of Blond Elvis' land for an important U.S. Army base. The Elvises wrestle and stuff; but, they never actually kiss. Yvonne Craig stands out among the busty mountain women; later, she was one of Batman's TV Catwomen.

The fun in "Kissin' Cousins" is not in the situation; but in picking out the Elvis "double" in the scenes where they both appear. It's fairly easy to spot the fake Elvis. There are a lot of very well-proportioned women in bikinis running around and squealing; today, there are more satisfying ways to find that kind of entertainment.

I enjoyed the song "Tender Feeling"; but, it's actually the song "Shenandoah" with different lyrics. "Barefoot Ballad" is the most embarrassing song. The musical highlight is the song "Kissin' Cousins"; but, watch for the superior version at the end, not the beginning, of the film. The material in "Kissin' Cousins" would make one good music video. As a full-length feature film, it's shameful.

** Kissin' Cousins (3/6/64) Gene Nelson ~ Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Yvonne Craig, Jack Albertson

I think this is a good movie, it does what it is suppose to do make you chuckle and listen to Elvis sing. The cast is totally into the "backwoods characters" they play. Elvis himself (in a dual role) gives a great performance as the backwoods cousin Jody, a Jethro type character but a little sexier and a little smarter. The Air Force pilot cousin Josh is more like the typical Elvis role. Arthur O'Connell is great as Papa Tatem. Jack Albertson(from Chico and the Man fame)was also good as Capt. Salvo. The production was low budget and made in about 14 days. Elvis hated the blond wig. The idea here is fun. Nothing serious just 60's fun.

Elvis is not engaged here at all and who could blame him? by late '63 he surely expected to be making one serious picture after another.

nonetheless, storyline happens to be very entertaining > the Military heads desperate to secure ol' Smoky Mountain for their missile site, while trying not to be swept away from the sexed up "kittyhawks", bring a smile.

did not need "two Elvis(s)"....but whatever. they both sing real good. as one song suggests, "ON(C)E IS ENOUGH".

title tune is particularly strong, shoulda-coulda been a smash...guess the competition from overseas at the time, like, his many imitators, cut down on his airplay. KISSIN' COUSINS/IT HURTS ME (not from film) was as good as many singles from the previous decade!

It should come as no surprise to anyone that, before now, I was only familiar with the two best-regarded of Elvis Presley’s films, namely JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957) and FLAMING STAR (1960). However, since this year marks the 30th anniversary of his death, I made it a point to watch as many of his movies I could lay my hands on…a sort of “it’s now or never” type of situation, if you will!

Actually, I had caught the beginning of this one on local TV several years ago, where it was shown as part of a mini Elvis retrospective. The “citizens vs. missile-base” plot line here is basically the rural version of Leo McCarey’s RALLY ‘ROUND THE FLAG, BOYS! (1958) but, as it turns out, the hillbilly antics get tiresome pretty quickly – especially whenever the man-chasing Kittyhawks turn up, which is too often for my tastes!

The best gag, then, is when Captain Jack Albertson suddenly leaves the farmers’ dinner table – after “Ma” Glenda Farrell describes the stomach-turning contents of the “delicious” meal he has just partaken of, and “Pappy” Arthur O’Connell asks his soldier kin Elvis if something has come up, to which the latter matter-of-factly quips, “Not yet, but I think it might”! For what it’s worth, the songs are variable and unmemorable (except, perhaps, for the title tune) and even Farrell gets her own maudlin number!

This film is perhaps best-known for offering a dual role for The King, one of whom is a brown-haired layabout, but this eventually leads to an unintentionally hilarious ending where the two characters share the screen doing a number, but every time one sings, the other conveniently turns his back to the camera and a longshot exposes Elvis’ double all-too-clearly!

Here is an Elvis picture with something for everyone: The King appearing in a dual role as a soldier and a hillbilly, exciting fist-fights, surrealistically phony mountain and forest studio sets, hapless choreography, and gorgeous Yvonne Craig as one of the backwoods spitfires who tries to capture E's heart. The film's true value, however, is that is accomplishes the touchstone of any Presley flick worth its salt -- it contains a scene in which Elvis takes a pratfall into a body of water. In one song, E croons, "Life's a playful puppy/You can grab by the scruff/And if you live every sec, what the heck?/Once is enough." My thoughts exactly.

Army Lieutenant Elvis Presley is assigned to infiltrate the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee to sweet-talk a hillbilly family into letting the government lease their mountain for a missile base; turns out Presley is distant kin-folk to the wrasslin' hick clan and bears a striking resemblance to the resident blonde hellraiser. Grubby-looking semi-musical manages to give us two Presleys for the price of one, but the script, direction, and production values are strictly third-rate. The bevy of squealing gals who chase Elvis through the woods have a much better time than most viewers will, seeing as how nobody cared enough to write a single decent song for the soundtrack--and E.P. himself walks through the picture looking non-plussed. Lovely Yvonne Craig, TV's Batgirl, is very frisky (until she goes all coy and demure) and has a fun scene proposing marriage to Elvis, but for a comedy this is awfully glum stuff. *1/2 from ****

Two things save this movie from being a disaster: Elvis and Yvonne Craig. Elvis plays one of his more likable characters, not one of those "bad boy" types but a good guy and that's good because movie bad boys become very boring and very annoying very fast unless you're a woman. Now, the other character he plays, the blonde hillbilly, is a complete waste of space. It's not Elvis' fault, the character is so poorly written he's like a sack of potatoes. All he does is keep saying "I wanna rassle! I wanna rassle!" Borrrrring.

One thing that's definitely not boring is the stunning Yvonne Craig. She has lots of screen time and that was a very smart move by the movie makers because without her the movie would be close to unwatchable. The combination of her beauty (and there are lots of other female beauties too) and Elvis' likability make the movie worth seeing - once anyway. As for the songs, I'd say there is one good one and the rest are nothing memorable.

Elvis plays both cousins... he's in the army again, and the army wants to use the land owned by his country relatives. So the army asks josh to talk to his relatives. Some other big names in here. Art o'connell was twice oscar nominated, and jack albertson won for roses. Glenda farrell was HUGE in the 1930s and 1940s. In the story, the country folk are old fashioned and stubborn, and don't want any outsiders on their land, so josh and the army have a lot of work ahead of them. The songs in this one are pretty boring, and according to the soundtracks link, they cut another three that must have been even worse! This starts with a good story line, but it just kind of stumbles along. Elvis made this about halfway through his movie career. Directed by gene nelson, the first of two films he made with elvis. It's okay. It has a fun premise, but the song and dance numbers are just a big yawn.

An Army lieutenant (Presley) is assigned to the Smokey Mountains to talk a family of hilljacks into allowing the Army to build a missile site on their mountain. Yvonne Craig plays one of the daughters of the owner of the private mountain.

"Kissin' Cousins" (1964) was Elvis' 15th movie of the 31 in his acting filmography. While easily one of the least of his movies, this is a fun tuneful frolic in them thar hills highlighted by Craig and a few peripheral beauties, like voluptuous Beverly Powers as Trudy, the main 'Kittyhawk' girl.

It's obviously not shot in the East, but rather the wilds of Southern California, which was typical, e.g. "Kid Galahad" (1962). What's notable about this movie is that Presley plays a dual role, the officer Josh Morgan and the light-haired hillrod Jodie Tatum. "Kissin' Cousins" is essentially the early 60's precursor to 1993's "The Beverly Hillbillies." It's eye-rolling and can be tedious if you're not in the right mode.

The movie is overlong at 1 hour, 36 minutes. It was shot at Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California.

GRADE: C/C-

Although such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction were topping TV ratings when Kissin' Cousins was released to the movie-going public in 1964, I think this film was taken from an older hillbilly source. The environs here look a whole lot like Al Capp's Dogpatch and like in the movie Lil Abner the natives are having some trouble with our military.

Unlike Dogpatch which has been selected for nuclear annihilation because it's so useless, the property which a family named Tatum owns is wanted for an ICBM silo. But the Air Force can't get near the place to negotiate a deal. Arthur O'Connell and Glenda Farrell don't like the government because the very word means revenuers. General Donald Woods selects Captain Jack Albertson to close the deal and Albertson selects Lieutenant Elvis Presley as his aide. Elvis has good qualifications, he's a distant cousin of the Tatums and in fact has a look-a-like relative also played by Elvis Presley in dyed blond hair.

The film is about the Air Force Elvis and Albertson trying to close the deal and how they do it eventually. You didn't really think they wouldn't? Elvis has only one really good number here, on the way up to the Tatums he sings an ode to the region called Smoky Mountain Boy. That should have done better for him than it did in record sales.

Otherwise the film is somewhat entertaining, but not terribly original. It looks like outtakes from Green Acres and Lil Abner.