United Artists, 1966. An Edward Small Production. Directed By Frederick de Cordova. Screenplay by Alex Gottlieb. Based on a story by Nat Perrin.

* The song "Frankie And Johnny" dates back to the early 19th century when it was known as "Francoise et Jean."

* Filming began on May 24, 1965, at the Goldwyn Studios. The film was shot entirely on the Culver City Lot in Los Angeles, California.

* The premiere of "Frankie And Johnny" was at the Gordon Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on March 31, 1966.

* Variety reviewed the film by saying "Elvis sings and acts, apperently doing both with little effort." It reached #48 in their top-grossing chart for 1966.

Petunia, The Gardener's Daughter

What Every Woman Lives For

* Still on the set Elvis donated $50,000 to the Motion Picture Relief Fund in a special ceremony where Frank Sinatra  showed up to accept the cheque.

* It was Elvis who suggested to United Artists that they should make a film based on this very old “Love Song.”

* Cast; Elvis Presley, Donna Douglas, Nancy Kovack, Sue Ane Langdon, Anthony Eisley, Harry Morgan, Audrey Christie, Robert Strauss.

* This 1955 musical was based on the popular folk song of the same name. Sue Ane Langdon represents his love interest, while Nancy Kovack plays the red-headed  Nellie Bly. Harry Morgan, before "Mash" fame, makes an interesting cast addition.

Songs; Come Along, Petunia The Gardener's  Daughter, Chesay, What Every Woman Lives For, Frankie And Johnny, Look Out Broadway, Beginner's  Luck, Down By The Riverside, Shout It Out, Hard Luck, Please Don't Stop Loving Me, Everybody Come Aboard

"Frankie loves Johnny, but he loves gambling almost as much as he loves Frankie. She refuses to marry him until he stops betting and losing every cent he makes. Together they earn a living singing on the Mississippi gambling-showboat owned by Clint Braden.

When a gypsy fortune teller tells Johnny that he can losing streak with a new redhead who is coming into his life, Johnny becomes interested. The readhead turns out to be Braden's old flame, Nellie Bly. Frankie becomes jealous of Nellie and Braden becomes jealous of Johnny, especially when Nellie uses Johnny to try to get Braden to marry her.

Just as the fortune teller predicted, Johnny wins a fortune with Nellie beside him, but Frankie angrily throws all the money away. At the end of this movie, Frankie decides that she loves Johnny no matter how much he gambles.