Change of Habit (1969)

Director:

William A. Graham

Writers:

Eric Bercovici (screenplay)
John Joseph (story)
(more)

Release Date:

10 November 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

When the King of Rock Meets the Queen of Comedy, Romance Rules. [DVD tagline]

Plot:

Only a few songs as Elvis plays it straight as Dr John Carpenter. Mary Tyler Moore stars opposite as...

Plot Keywords:

Mother Superior | Priest | Novice | Elvis Presley | Church

Cast

Elvis Presley	...	Dr. John Carpenter
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Sister Michelle Gallagher
Barbara McNair	...	Sister Irene Hawkins
Jane Elliot	...	Sister Barbara Bennett
Leora Dana	...	Mother Joseph
Edward Asner	...	Lt. Moretti
Robert Emhardt	...	The Banker
Regis Toomey	...	Father Gibbons
Doro Merande	...	Rose
Ruth McDevitt	...	Lily
Richard Carlson	...	Bishop Finley
Nefti Millet	...	Julio Hernandez
Laura Figueroa	...	Desiree
Lorena Kirk	...	Amanda
Virginia Vincent	...	Miss Parker
David Renard	...	Colom
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Hawk
William Elliott	...	Robbie (as Bill Elliott)
Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.	...	Mr. Hernandez
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mario Aniov	...	1st Young Man (uncredited)
Ray Ballard	...	Ice Cream Clerk (uncredited)
Jim Beach	...	Father Witkowski (uncredited)
Timothy Carey	...	Ajax Market Manager (uncredited)
Rita Conde	...	Woman in Market (uncredited)
Steve Conte	...	Man in Scene 166 (uncredited)
Frank Corsentino	...	2nd Man (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	1st Underling (uncredited)
Robert De Anda	...	Teammate (uncredited)
Tony De Costa	...	Chino (uncredited)
Paul Factor	...	3rd Man (uncredited)
Linda Garay	...	Expectant Mother (uncredited)
Stella Garcia	...	Maria (uncredited)
Pepe Hern	...	Man in Scene 93 (uncredited)
Darlene Love	...	Backup singer in opening scene at the clinic and closing scene at the church (uncredited)
A Martinez	...	2nd Young Man (uncredited)
Troy Melton	...	2nd Underling (uncredited)
Lilith Miles	...	1st Stiletto Deb (uncredited)
Araceli Rey	...	Senora Gavilan (uncredited)
Ruben Rodriguez	...	Church Drummer (uncredited)
Stanley Schneider	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Harry Swoger	...	Fat Man (uncredited)
Alex Tinne	...	Tony (uncredited)
Alex Val	...	Tomas (uncredited)
Roberto Vargas	...	Cuban Mainliner (uncredited)
Len Wayland	...	Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Caitlin Wyles	...	2nd Stiletto Deb (uncredited)

Directed by
William A. Graham		(as William Graham)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Eric Bercovici		screenplay
John Joseph		story
James Lee		screenplay
Richard Morris		story
S.S. Schweitzer		screenplay

Produced by
Joe Connelly	....	producer
Irving Paley	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg		(as William Goldenberg)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Douglas Stewart

Casting by
Bob Edmiston		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Frank Arrigo
Alexander Golitzen

Set Decoration by
Ruby R. Levitt
John McCarthy Jr.

Costume Design by
Helen Colvig

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist
Clair Holgate	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
James Lee McCoy	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Thomas Tuttle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph E. Kenney	....	unit production manager (as Joseph Kenny)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director
Richard C. Bennett	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Walt Gilmore	....	dga trainee (uncredited)
Jack Terry	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Joe Alves	....	assistant art director
William Nunley	....	property master (uncredited)
Bill Smallback	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lyle Cain	....	sound (uncredited)
Perry Devore	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Ronald Pierce	....	sound (uncredited)
Bill Schwartz	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Waldon O. Watson	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Wilbur Gossman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Ollie Hansel	....	grip (uncredited)
Edward Hobson	....	gaffer (uncredited)
William John Ranaldi	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
May Booth	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Austin Felious	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Dolores Fuller	....	composer: song "Have a Happy"
Stanley Wilson	....	music supervisor
Cubby O'Brien	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Other crew
Diana N. Loomis	....	script supervisor
Walter Woodworth	....	production coordinator
Robert W. Zaslow	....	supervisor: rage reduction scene (as Dr. Robert W. Zaslow)

Production Companies

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Ritek Digital Studios  DVD created by

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Mayfield Senior School - 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Trivia:

Director William A. Graham told in a interview years after making of this film that Elvis Presley was the nicest man he have ever met.

Movie Connections:

Featured in White Noise 2: The Light (2007)

Soundtrack:

Let Us Pray

thanks for nothing, Colonel Parker

Poor Elvis. He was advised to do Midnight Cowboy, Barbra wanted him for A Star is Born - but thanks to the Colonel, his last screen appearance was Change of Habit, so he could complete his contract with the studio. Elvis, it seems, lost a bet with the devil.

Actually, the film is quite pleasant with a familiar and competent cast. Mary Tyler Moore comes off the worst -- we know she's an excellent actress but this role is impossible - eyes heavenward, she resists Elvis' advances as she has her Crisis of Faith. Great to see a young Jane Elliot before her soap opera days.

Elvis does fine, he always does. He looks good and sounds great. And as much as this film has been made fun of, it has more dignity than Harem Scarum or some of the others. What a shame - Elvis had more acting talent than was ever mined, and, had he been challenged, would have lived up to it.