Elvis Shines in “There’s Gold in the Mountains” from Kissin’ Cousins (1964)
In the 1964 musical film “Kissin’ Cousins”, Elvis Presley performed the song “There’s Gold in the Mountains.” The song was written by Fred Wise and Randy Starr and was featured in the film’s soundtrack. In the movie, Elvis plays dual roles as Josh Morgan and Jodie Tatum, who are both cousins and rivals for the affections of a beautiful mountain girl named Azalea. “There’s Gold in the Mountains” is one of the songs that Josh performs to impress Azalea and win her over. The song has a catchy beat and features Elvis’s signature rock and roll style.
“Kissin’ Cousins” is a 1964 musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley in a dual role as Josh Morgan, a dark-haired mountain man, and Jodie Tatum, a blonde-haired cousin from the city. The film tells the story of Josh, who is sent on a mission to convince his double cousin Jodie and her father to sell their land for a missile base. However, when Josh meets Jodie, he finds himself falling in love with her.
The film features a number of songs, including the title track “Kissin’ Cousins,” “Barefoot Ballad,” “Tender Feeling,” “One Boy, Two Little Girls,” and “Echoes of Love.” While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success and reached #11 on the Variety National Box Office Survey.
Elvis Presley’s performance in the film was praised by some critics, who noted his ability to play both comedic and romantic roles. The film also marked the first time Elvis appeared on screen with actress Yvonne Craig, who would later go on to play Batgirl in the 1960s Batman TV series.