Elvis's twenty-sixth film was the rollicking 1968 MGM comedy "Stay Away,
Joe." It was based on the best-selling novel by award winning author Dan
Cushman. The novel became the Book-of-the-Month Club selection for April 1953.
Mr. Cushman based his book on his own native Montana where, after graduating
from college, he first became a prospector and geologist before becoming a
writer of over thirty novels and winning a number of writing awards. The novel
became the basis for both a Broadway musical and Elvis's movie and all three
were both praised for their hilarious comedy as well as panned for their
negative depiction of Native Americans.
Burt Kennedy and Michael A. Hoey adapted the book for the screenplay. Mr.
Kennedy began performing as a child with his parents. A decorated WWII veteran,
he used his Army training to become a stunt fencer in films, then eventually
began writing scripts for TV and movies specializing in westerns.
Peter Tewksbury was the director and would also direct Elvis in "The Trouble
With Girls." He had previously received Emmy nominations and awards for
directing the TV series "Father Knows Best" and "My Three Sons." He died in 2003
after having retired to Vermont where he became a well known cheese expert
working with local food producers.
On October 1, 1967, Elvis recorded the songs "Stay Away, Joe", "All I Needed Was
The Rain" and "Dominick." Elvis hated the song "Dominick," which he was to sing
to a bull. He made producer Felton Jarvis promise that it would never appear on
a record. Since the movie called for only three songs, this would be the first
time in Elvis's movie career that there would not be a soundtrack album or EP
released along with the film. MGM and Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker decided
to have Elvis record another song that could be played over the opening credits
and released as a single. The song "Stay Away" was written by Sid Tepper and Roy
C. Bennett and based on the melody of the song "Green sleeves." Elvis recorded
it January 16, 1968 and it was released as the B-side of a single along with
"U.S. Male."
Filming began in Sedona and Cottonwood, Arizona on October 9, 1967. Sedona,
known for its incredible beauty and photographic opportunities, is a favourite
spot in the motion picture industry for location shooting.
Academy Award winner Fred J. Koenekamp was the cinematographer.
Over 100 Navajo extras from the reservation at Tuba City were used in the movie.
The cast for Elvis's twenty-sixth film "Stay Away Joe" was anchored by
several longtime actors including Burgess Meredith, who played Charlie
Lightcloud, the Native American father to Elvis's character Joe Lightcloud.
Educated at Amherst, Burgess Meredith became a stage actor in New York in 1933
before serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. After
the war he turned to making movies until the late 1950s when, as a liberal
thinker, he was blacklisted from films due to Senator Joseph McCarthy and the
McCarthy hearings targeting Hollywood. In the 1960s the raspy voiced actor was
able to find work again and became known for his role as "The Penguin" - a
villain in the "Batman" television series. He also was the voice for many years
for Skippy Peanut Butter commercials. He was nominated a number of times for
Academy Awards and Emmy Awards and is probably best remembered for his roles as
trainer Mickey Goldmill in the "Rocky" movie series and as Grandpa Gustafson in
the films "Grumpy Old Men" and "Grumpier Old Men." An ardent environmentalist,
he died in 1997 after suffering with Alzheimer's.
Mexican actress Katy Jurado played Annie Lightcloud. She was an award winning
actress in her native Mexico as well as having received accolades in the U.S.
from both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. She gained over 20 pounds
for her role of Annie and just before filming she broke her foot. She had her
cast removed prematurely and thus she walked with a limp in the movie. She wore
her own jewelry in the film, much of it gifts from other actors with whom she
had worked, including Spencer Tracy, John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes.
She died in July of 2002.
Thomas Gomez, known for playing brooding heavies, played Grandpa. He had not
planned on an acting career, however, after graduating from school in 1923 he
answered a help wanted ad that lead him to become a part of a traveling theater
group. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1948 for his supporting role in
"Ride The Pink Horse." He served more than 40 years on the board of directors of
the Screen Actors Guild. His last film was the 1970 release "Beneath the Planet
of the Apes." He died in a car accident in 1971.
Veteran actress Joan Blondell played Glenda Callahan. Known as the big-eyed,
wisecracking blonde, Ms. Blondell was born into Vaudeville and toured with her
parents, performing from the age of 3. Debuting with the Ziegfeld Follies in New
York, she began her Broadway career which lead her to star with James Cagney on
Broadway as well as in six films. Eventually she married actor Dick Powell and
they worked together in ten musicals. Later, divorced from Dick Powell, she was
married for a time to producer Michael Todd. She received an Academy Award
nomination for the 1951 film "The Blue Veil" and two Golden Globe nominations
for her supporting roles in "The Cincinnati Kid" and "Opening Night." Her TV
credits include roles on the series "Here Come the Brides," "The Real McCoys"
and "Banyon." She died of leukemia in 1979.
The cast for Elvis's twenty-sixth film "Stay Away Joe" was anchored by
several longtime actors including Burgess M
Character actress Anne Seymour played the Lightcloud family's much anticipated
guest Mrs. Hawkins. Ms. Seymour was a part of the seventh generation of actors
in a theatrical family that began acting in Ireland in 1740. Her two older
brothers were writer James Seymour and actor John Seymour. After making her
Broadway debut in 1928, she became a radio heroine playing "Mary Marlin" and
other such roles in radio dramas of the day. She made her film debut in the 1949
release "All The King's Men." She was on the boards of both the SAG and AFTRA
acting unions.
Young Quentin Dean played Mamie Callahan. She had debuted in the 1967 film "In
The Heat of The Night," winning a Golden Globe nomination for her supporting
role. Her career included three movies in 1968 including her role in "Stay Away
Joe" as well as a handful of TV guest appearances. Her acting credits end in
1969 and no further information is known at this time.
Susan Trustman made her movie debut in "Stay Away, Joe" playing bank teller Mary
Lightcloud. She went on the have a regular role as Pat Matthews on the daytime
TV drama "Another World."
Dick Wilson played the befuddled car salesman stuck with Joe Lightcloud's horse
as trade-in for a shiny convertible. He had many roles on TV and became a
familiar face on shows such as "Hogan's Heroes," "Bewitched," "Ben Casey,"
"Checkmate" and "Maverick." However, Americans might remember him best as "Mr.
Whipple" in Charmin tissue commercials - a role he had for 25 years.
Elvis's film "Stay Away Joe" was filmed in the Arizona town of Sedona and it was
one of the rare times that Elvis's wife Priscilla and the wives of his entourage
attended a location shoot. They left Memphis on October 26, 1967. Meanwhile,
back home, Elvis's interest in horse ranching was losing its luster and there
was an auction held at Elvis's Circle G Ranch on November 4, 1967 to dispose of
the equipment that was no longer needed.
Location filming for "Stay Away, Joe" continued until November 22, 1967 when the
production company moved back to the studio to finish the production. The movie
wrapped on November 27, 1967 with a lunch Elvis had catered for the cast and
crew. Elvis entourage members Joe Esposito and Charlie Hodge each had small
roles. After Elvis was released from the movie, Joe, Charlie and fellow
entourage member Marvin "Gee Gee" Gambill went to Las Vegas to vacation before
returning to Memphis.
"Stay Away, Joe" opened nationally on March 8, 1968 and was #65 in ranking on
Variety's list of money-making movies for 1968.