Taglines: See the kittyhawks the most beautiful collection of mountain cuties ever!
Kissin’ Cousins movie storyline. The U.S. Federal Government has run into a dead end trying to negotiate the lease of mountaintop land owned by Pappy Tatum, in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, for use as an ICBM missile base. U.S. Army General Alvin Donford gives Captain Robert Salbo seven days to secure the lease, or face permanent assignment to Greenland.
After a quick computer search of military records, Salbo requests that U.S. Air Force pilot Second Lt. Josh Morgan, born elsewhere in the Great Smoky Mountains, be assigned as his number two. When they arrive in Tennessee with a small platoon, dark-haired Josh is surprised to meet his look-alike third cousin Jodie Tatum, a blond hillbilly.
Josh also meets his two beautiful country cousins, Azalea and Selena, who compete to win his affections. Josh eventually chooses Azalea and pairs off Selena with his friend, Master Sgt. William Bailey. Jodie, on the other hand, falls for Private Midge Riley, a beautiful but fiery soldier. There are also a group of 13 mountain maidens called the Kittyhawks who create havoc when they set their sights on the marriage-eligible soldiers.
Josh persuades Pappy Tatum to lease the mountaintop to the government for a monthly payment of $1,000 ($8,200 today) as long as an access road is built from the far side and the military provide security to prevent government employees from accessing Tatum’s side – which will prevent “revenoors” from interfering with Pappy’s moonshining.
Kissin’ Cousins (stylized onscreen as Kiszin’ Cousins) is a 1964 American musical Panavision Metrocolor comedy film directed by Gene Nelson and starring Elvis Presley. Written by Gerald Drayson Adams and Gene Nelson, the film featured Presley playing two roles: an Air Force officer, with dark hair, and his look-alike hillbilly distant cousin, with blond hair. The film, and its accompanying soundtrack album, were Presley’s last professional projects before the arrival of Beatlemania.
Kissin’ Cousins (1964)
Directed by: Gene Nelson
Starring: Elvis Presley, Arthur O’Connell, Glenda Farrell, Jack Albertson, Pamela Austin, Cynthia Pepper, Yvonne Craig, Donald Woods, Beverly Powers, Tommy Farrell, Bobby Stone
Screenplay by: Gerald Drayson Adams, Gene Nelson
Cinematography by: Ellis W. Carter
Film Editing by: Ben Lewis
Set Decoration by: Budd Friend, Henry Grace, Wayne Hartunian
Art Direction by: George W. Davis, Eddie Imazu
Music by: Gene Nelson
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: March 6, 1964 (USA)
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