In Florida, girl-shy singer Elvis Presley (as Toby Kwimper) and his family are out driving on a road "closed to the public" when they run out of gas. The undereducated group, including heavily "on the dole" father Arthur O'Connell (as "Pop" Kwimper) and four orphans, decide to homestead on the sunny beach where their car conks out. Despite warnings from the highway supervisor, Mr. Presley and the gang build a home. Knowing all except the "nines", Presley recites multiplication tables to keep his sex drive in check. But, Presley still notices pretty 19-year-old Anne Helm (as Holly Jones), who both agree is "well built." The other three kids are pre-teens. As their beach community grows, Presley is elected "Sheriff" and must battle gambling gangsters...This is a very typical and feather-weight film for Presley, who was comfortably sandwiched between John Wayne and Jerry Lewis in the "Quigley Publications" list of money-making stars for 1962. No chances were taken with the lucrative Elvis formula. Here, the main strength is in the colorful widescreen location. The title song is a highlight, but "Follow That Dream" is presented in dreadful manner; mouthed by Presley after the camera established it is from a radio, it accompanies an attempted seduction by Joanna Moore. The song, and others are much stronger on disc. Originally released on a 4-track RCA Victor "EP" record, the soundtrack eventually sold a million, with "Follow That Dream" becoming a major hit single on airplay strength alone.*** Follow That Dream (4/11/62) Gordon Douglas ~ Elvis Presley, Arthur O'Connell, Anne Helm, Joanna Moore

Being a fan of The Andy Griffith Show (TAGS) and The Beverly Hillbillies, I find an uncanny resemblance between Toby Kwimper and Andy Taylor as well as Jethro Bodine.While not quite the simpleton that Jethro was, Toby was ignorant to a lot of the ways of the world. Both were known espouse their superior intellect and high education and to recite their times tables. Jethro called it cyphering. And like the other 'sheriff without a gun', Andy Taylor, he outwitted his adversaries using cunning and intellect. One wonders if he really wasn't as simple as he appeared to be. It could have been his way of putting people at ease and his adversaries off their game.It made me wonder if TAGS and BH were patterned after this movie or vice versa. Turns out they were released at about the same time. Probably happenstance.... or not. There are a several "Follow that Dream" alumna on TAGS. I'll let you figure out who they are.The most memorable part of the show was the candy bar scenes. I remember watching a movie back in my teens and thought it was extremely hilarious. I remembered the scenes, just not the name of the movie. I wondered for years what the name of the movie was. I stumbled upon a VHS copy a year or two ago in a bargain bin. I figured, "Elvis? for a buck? can't go wrong." At first viewing, the first time the big brother bites off the long piece of candy bar to even things up, I said, "THAT'S IT!"

Although I had long been aware of this particular film from seeing a poster of it in one of my father's film books as a child, it was only when I heard it being described as a "black comedy" here that I truly became intrigued...This often very funny satire (adapted to the screen by Charles Lederer – who worked most often with director Howard Hawks!) was surprisingly and somewhat uneasily turned into a star vehicle for Elvis Presley. He's a simple-minded country-boy (not that he was ever the kind of guy to truly convey intelligence) who, along with dad Arthur O'Connell and a slew of adopted siblings, gets caught in the middle of a 'diplomatic' incident over ownership of a newly-inaugurated strip of land.The family sets up house there and even starts to profit by charging the public for fishing on their property. Meanwhile, government and (again) social welfare officials try to have them evicted – but mobsters Simon Oakland and Jack Kruschen, traveling in a sort of mobile gambling-house, also make a stop at the location and which they subsequently find a convenient safe haven from the law. The two, therefore, decide to buy off the land from the hick family but will have just as little luck doing so!The songs this time around feel like an afterthought, merely serving as a prerequisite – and only the title tune sticks out at all. Several gags and scenes are undeniably hilarious, however: the twins' idea of sharing, the over-pressurized "john", Presley's first trip to a bank (which inadvertently turns into a near hold-up), the equally 'innocent' disarming of Oakland and Kruschen's thugs – specially brought in from Detroit (and culminating in the destruction of their casino), etc. The film is capped by a moralistic, but ultimately stirring, Capra-esque courtroom sequence.The supporting cast is well-served by the character actors – with the stuffy government official, the friendly bank manager and the benevolent judge all scoring nicely. Unfortunately, despite a good showing here, Joanne Moore's career (playing the social worker who seduces Elvis) would soon be overshadowed by that of her husband and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O'Neal!All in all, this is one of Presley's more entertaining films – but, on a preliminary viewing, the lack of good songs and the general low-key nature rob it of a higher rating (though I wouldn't exclude getting it on DVD in future).

i grew up being a huge Elvis fan. when your young you don't discern. so Elvis was like a god. he has done some really outstanding stuff and also some things that have been incredibly bad. follow that dream is a movie in which Elvis actually acts. he is very funny in it. it puts me into mind some of the characters John Travolta plays. it would have been nice to see Elvis play a character with some innocence and also with an edge to him. this is a sappy movie, but it is fun to watch Elvis in it. another good Elvis movie is The Trouble With Girls. He strolls in with extreme coolness. great camera work, too. Check out the song, Tomorrow Is A Long Time.