Kissin’ Cousins 1964

The U.S. Federal Government hits a snag in its plan to lease a mountaintop in the Great Smoky Mountains for an ICBM missile base, as negotiations stall with the land’s owner, Pappy Tatum Arthur O’Connell. With the clock ticking, General Alvin Donford Donald Woods orders Captain Robert Salbo Jack Albertson to secure the lease within seven days or face permanent reassignment to Greenland. To tackle the hurdle, Salbo arranges for his next-in-command, Josh Morgan Elvis Presley, a capable Air Force pilot born somewhere in the same Smoky Mountains, to join the mission as his number two.

Upon their arrival in Tennessee with a small platoon, Josh is startled to meet his look-alike third cousin, Jodie Tatum Elvis Presley, a blond hillbilly with a quick wit and a keen eye for trouble. The dynamic introduces a curious blend of family ties and frontier romance, as Josh also encounters his two lively cousins, Azalea Yvonne Craig and Selena Pamela Austin. Azalea is drawn to Josh in a warm, friendly way, while Selena’s charm becomes a source of playful competition between the pair. Meanwhile, Jodie’s path crosses with Private Midge Riley Cynthia Pepper, a striking soldier whose fiery spirit quickly sparks a different kind of spark in the camp.

The mountaintop is home to a festive mischief stirred by a group of thirteen mountain maidens known as the Kittyhawks, whose lively presence creates havoc as they set their sights on the most eligible soldiers. Amid the flirtations and rivalries, the plan to lease the land hinges on a practical trade: a monthly payment of $1,000 (about $10,100 today) in exchange for granting a secure access road to the government. In return, the military would provide security to keep outsiders off Pappy Tatum’s side of the ridge, a condition designed to protect Pappy’s moonshining operations from what the locals call “revenoors.”

As the negotiations unfold, the relationships among the Tatums and their extended circle become entwined with the government’s strategic needs. Ma Tatum Glenda Farrell embodies the stubborn pride of the family while supporting the move, and Captain Salbo leans on his stubborn grit to navigate the political and personal crosswinds. The story balances romance, family loyalty, and a touch of rural comedy against the backdrop of a federal mission racing against the clock.

Throughout, the film maintains a light, breezy tone that highlights the charm of its cast—Josh Morgan Elvis Presley, Jodie Tatum Elvis Presley, Azalea Yvonne Craig, Selena Pamela Austin, and Midge Riley Cynthia Pepper—as they navigate attraction, competition, and the practical realities of a government project in a rugged mountain setting. The end result blends romance with a sly sense of frontier wit, anchored by strong character work from a colorful ensemble.