Follow That Dream

This was Elvis beginning to come into his own as good actor. This was one of his funniest movies. His character, Toby is a mentally limited young man with a heart of gold. I like the way that even the Kwimper's own mistakes cannot defeat them. This movie had a strong plot and once again a strong supporting cast, with the late Arthur O'Connell (Kissin Cousins), Anne Helm and the late Howard McNear. If Elvis had made more movies like this, his movie career would have been much better acclaimed.

After years of only knowing about this Elvis Presley flick, I finally watched this with Mom right now. She thought it was weird with the setting staying in mostly one place and perhaps the behavior of a certain female social worker when giving Elvis the "word association" test. Also, there's less of Elvis singing and when he does, it definately looks and sounds like he's miming to his recordings. Still, Presley actually plays a character here as opposed to partially being himself as he acts both naive and perhaps a little smart and brave when his part calls for it. What else to say, well, the supporting cast is well chosen of which one of whom is Howard McNear who has appeared in quite a few of these Elvis pics. And director Gordon Douglas does quite well with the gags which isn't surprising since he started his career at Hal Roach Studios helming several Our Gang shorts and at least one Laurel & Hardy feature. So that's a recommendation for Follow That Dream.

For sheer entertainment and enjoyment, "Follow That Dream" was a great movie. It was one of Elvis' best. To watch it was to restore your vision of all that is good and right in the world. It was truly a great story of the victory of good over evil. I saw it when I was a young man and at age 64 I still enjoy watching it. This is one young people and older should view. We all would be better people by doing so.

This movie is in my top ten of all time. It is a pure romp! Even though you have the "bad guys" from the government to add some drama, and the fact that Elvis character "Toby" and his family are all government freeloaders, this is essentially just a feel good movie.

You can read the plot from the other reviews, but it is essentially about homesteaders coming to Florida with a composite "family" and trying to make their way.

This is Elvis at his best--as he was meant to be in movies--singing and romancing his way through, with a back woods innocence that Max Baer would later use as Jethro Bodine on "The Beverly Hillbillies".

Enjoy this film. It is a delight!

This is one of Elvis's best films in my opinion. And one where he extended his range a bit. Usually he plays he troubled youths, or confident smart people who are trying to prove themselves. Here's he's an innocent in the world and it's a tribute to his acting skills that he was acquiring that he didn't descend into being Gomer Pyle.

Of course the film is greatly helped by the title tune which in my opinion is one of his best movie songs. Follow That Dream rightly belonged among Elvis's golden hits.

With an innocence here that rivals even Stan Laurel or Harry Langdon, Elvis manages to defeat some pretty sharp characters. The film itself has a charming innocence about it that makes it thorough going fun.