And now for a long-overdue look at the rude and probably racist grocery manager of Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley‘s last feature film. He has just realized that the mild-mannered nun he just sold a mop handle to is in fact his crusading nemesis, Sister Barbara (Jane Elliot).
Timothy was directed here by the late William A. Graham, who also guided him through Waterhole #3 (1967) and The Name of the Game episode “Fear of High Places” (9.20.68).
EDITOR’S NOTE 10/01/14: Another one blocked on copyright grounds. Sorry about that.
Today, the 79th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley, we present Change of Habit (1969), his final feature film and the only one in which he and Timothy both appeared (not together, to our great misfortune). Tim’s scenes as the irascible grocery store manager begin at 33:50 and 1:08:17.
During filming, “[Elvis] came up to me and said, ‘Aren’t you Timothy Carey? Didn’t you do The World’s Greatest Sinner?”” Tim told Grover Lewis in the Film Comment interview. “I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I always wanted to see that show. Do you have a 16mm version?’ I only had a 35mm, but we proceeded to talk about it. He knew all about it. I only had four prints. That was one of the reasons that I didn’t send it.” All hail the King! Oh, and Elvis too.
Better late than never, today’s pic revisits Change of Habit (1969), Elvis Presley‘s last feature film. Timothy’s grocery store manager is about to give Sister Barbara (Jane Elliot) a deal on a mop handle, not realizing that she is his activist nemesis.
This was also the last feature film for Richard Carlson, who portrays the nuns’ superior Bishop Finley. Most remember him from such 1950s horror/sci-fi classics as Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), It Came from Outer Space (1953) and The Magnetic Monster (1953). He also did several educational shorts for Bell Labs that were directed and/or co-written by Frank Capra.
Greetings from Pasadena, California! Our pic for today revisits Elvis Presley‘s last feature film, Change of Habit (1969), directed by William A. Graham. Timothy’s unnamed and uncredited market manager pauses in his labors to chow down. He’s a real class act.
More to come as our California adventure continues! This is Tweet’s Lady of Pasadena signing off. Toodle-oo!
In honor of today being Elvis Presley’s 78th birthday anniversary, today’s pic is another from his last theatrical film, Change of Habit (1969). Timothy appears in an uncredited role as the manager of the Ajax Market, who is not very sympathetic to his customers.
It’s a shame Elvis and Tim shared no screen time together, but they did have an encounter on the set. As Tim related in the Grover Lewis interview, “[Elvis] came up to me and said, ‘Aren’t you Timothy Carey? Didn’t you do The World’s Greatest Sinner? I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘I always wanted to see that show. Do you have a 16mm version?’ I only had a 35mm, but we proceeded to talk about it. He knew all about it. I only had four prints. That was one of the reasons that I didn’t send it.” I’m sure Elvis was dying to check it out, given that God Hilliard’s rock and roll persona was obviously inspired by Elvis. I wonder if he ever got a chance to see it?
Ending the work week is another look at “Fear of High Places,” the kickoff episode of The Name of the Game which premiered on September 20, 1968. Timothy skulks around looking mysterious and saying nothing as hitman Jules Forel.
The episode was directed by William A. Graham, who also directed Tim in Waterhole #3 (1967) and Change of Habit (1969). This unusual and ground-breaking series is long overdue for an official commercial release. Let’s get with it, NBC Universal!
Here’s hoping all of you here in the US relaxed and had a good time this Labor Day weekend. However you earn your keep – even ringing up groceries at the neighborhood market (from Change of Habit [1969]) – may you enjoy the fruits of your labors!
Kicking off the week is another look at Hilb, the seemingly part-man part-goat character portrayed by Timothy in Waterhole #3 (1967). Here we see him making a grab for Claude Akins‘ share of the much-sought-after stash of gold, as trussed-up James Coburn and Carroll O’Connor look on.
William A. Graham was at the helm; he also directed Tim in The Name of the Game episode “Fear of High Places” (1968) and Change of Habit (1969). He’s been a hard-working film and television director since the late 1950s. Recently he has been sidelined since a serious motorcycle accident. We here at The Timothy Carey Experience wish him all the best.
EDITOR’S NOTE 10/01/14: Another one bites the dust on copyright grounds. My apologies.
Our video(s) for this week highlight Tim’s appearance in the Elvis Presley vehicle Change of Habit (1969). He portrays the probably racist manager of the Ajax Market who gets his comeuppance in a manner I’m sure he was not expecting. Tim first appears at about 7:16 in the first video, and 7:23 in the second.
Jane Elliot, seen here as spunky social activist Sister Barbara, is another of Timothy’s co-stars who has been a busy television actor for nearly 50 years. She’s been a General Hospital mainstay since 1978.
Our pic for today (click for the embiggening) is from one of two of Tim’s appearances on the unusual television series The Name of the Game. This one is from the premiere episode, “Fear of High Places.” It was first broadcast on September 20, 1968, and was directed by William A. Graham, who also directed Tim in Waterhole #3 (1967) and Change of Habit (1969). Tim has no dialogue as mysterious bad guy Jules Forel, who sports an empty cigarette holder, an overly hip pair of shades, and an unusual facial hair configuration.
The other episode of this series that he appeared in, “Aquarius Descending,” has been utterly impossible for me to dig up. If and when it ever turns up, you’ll be the first to know!
The Timothy Carey Experience 