Follow the Boys (1963)

Interesting facts

• Filmed in: Cannes and Nice

Follow the Boys is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss, and Janis Paige, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Shot on location on the French and Italian Riviera, Follow the Boys was MGM's second film vehicle for top recording artist Francis following Where the Boys Are (1960). While Francis' role in the earlier film had been somewhat secondary, she had a distinctly central role in Follow the Boys playing Bonnie Pulaski, a newlywed traveling the Riviera.

Production

The movie followed the success of MGM's Where the Boys Are, which was about four women seeking romance in Fort Lauderdale during spring break. It starred Connie Francis and Paula Prentiss, who would be in Follow the Boys.

MGM producer-writer Lawrence P. Bachmann had a vacation home in the south of France. While staying there, he met several Navy wives who lived in Villefranche-sur-Mer and spent a lot of their time following their husbands from port to port. This gave him the idea for the movie. The film was made by MGM's British arm, of which Bachmann was production head.

In April 1962 MGM announced the leads would be Connie Francis and Bobby Vee. In May, further cast announcements included Paula Prentiss, Russ Tamblyn and Tom Tully, with Richard Thorpe attached to direct. Jim Hutton was also to star. Ron Randell was cast off the back of his success in MGM's King of Kings. In the end Hutton or Vee did not appear in the final movie.

The film was shot in the south of France and at London's Elstree Studios in August 1962. At the same time, MGM were also making a similar "three girls" romantic comedy featuring a star from Where the Boys Are, Come Fly With Me.

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