Follow That Dream (1962)

_**Elvis goes to backwoods Florida to set-up a makeshift home & business**_ A family of hicks from rural Georgia run out of gas on the northwest coast of the Florida peninsula and decide to homestead there. They have to deal with annoying bureaucrats and gangsters who run a mobile gambling ring. Elvis Presley, Anne Helm, Arthur O'Connell, Simon Oakland and Joanna Moore are all on hand. “Follow That Dream” (1962) was Elvis’ 9th movie of the 31 he did. I didn’t like it the first time I saw it because of the (seemingly) eye-rolling premise. Viewing it again after many years, I appreciated it more because (1) I knew it wasn’t supposed to be taken too seriously and (2) the movie, albeit farcical, does reveal interesting data on the concept of homesteading with the corresponding establishment of civilization, government, laws and lawbreaking. Moreover, the film is an interesting commentary on the naiveté & goodwill of backwoods types in contrast to the corruption of big city people. Of course, “Deliverance” (1972) would change this perception forever, but “Follow That Dream” is closer to reality. Anne Helm is easily one of the top females to costar in a Presley flick along with Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas” (1964) and Michele Carey in “Live a Little, Love a Little” (1968). She’s all-around winsome and fills out a pair of jeans exquisitely. While the film is overlong at 1 hour, 49 minutes, I didn’t mind. It was shot completely in Florida at Crystal River, Inverness, Yankeetown and Ocala. GRADE: B-/B