Live a Little, Love a Little 1968

Romance

Comedy

Music

Runtime

89 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Norman Taurog

Made by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

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Live a Little, Love a Little Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Live a Little, Love a Little (1968). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Elvis Presley stars as Greg Nolan, a newspaper photographer whose carefree life takes a sudden turn the moment he meets Bernice, an eccentric, lovelorn woman lingering on the beach. Bernice introduces herself to Greg as Alice, but to the grocery delivery boy she’s Susie, and to the milkman she’s Betty.

After Bernice’s dog Albert chases Greg into the water when he insults her after a kiss, she invites him to stay at her beachfront home. Bernice later causes Greg to lose his job and be evicted from his apartment after drugging him, leaving him in a deep sleep for days.

However, Bernice manages to find Greg another home. Greg wants to repay her, so he lands two full-time photographer gigs: one for a Playboy-like magazine run by Don Porter as Mike Lansdown, and the other for a conservative advertising firm co-owned by Rudy Vallee as Louis Penlow.

The two jobs are located in the same building, forcing Greg to dash from one shoot to the other without being detected, all while navigating Bernice’s peculiarities and trying to keep both lives straight. Through these dizzying days, Greg discovers that he has begun to fall in love with her.

Live a Little, Love a Little Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Greg meets Bernice on the beach and learns of her changing identities

Greg Nolan, a carefree newspaper photographer, meets Bernice on the beach. Bernice introduces herself under several personas—'Alice' to Greg, 'Susie' to the grocery boy, and 'Betty' to the milkman—hinting at her volatile personality. The encounter foreshadows a complicated romance driven by mystery.

beach

Bernice's dog chase and invitation to stay

After a kiss is followed by an insult, Bernice's Great Dane Albert chases Greg into the water. Seizing control of the moment, Bernice invites him to stay at her beachfront home. The invitation marks a shift from casual meeting to an entangling living arrangement.

Bernice's beachfront home

Bernice drugs Greg and he falls unconscious

Bernice drugs Greg, leaving him unconscious for days. The incident cuts into his livelihood as he misses work and falls behind. The drugging signals Bernice's destabilizing hold over his life.

Bernice's beachfront home

Greg wakes to find he has been fired and evicted

On awakening, Greg discovers he has been fired from his job and evicted from his apartment as a result of Bernice's manipulation. His life is destabilized, forcing him to seek a new place and a fresh start. The episode marks a turning point in their chaotic relationship.

city

Bernice helps Greg find another home

Despite the chaos, Bernice manages to locate Greg another place to live, keeping him in the game despite the upheaval. This gesture allows him to regroup and continue pursuing his career. The dynamic between them remains tense but continues to evolve.

city

Greg lands two photographer jobs to repay Bernice

To repay her, Greg lands two full-time photographer jobs: a Playboy-like magazine run by Mike Lansdown and a conservative advertising firm run by Mr. Penlow. The two gigs are in the same building, creating an ironic double-duty scenario. He pushes himself to juggle both roles to please Bernice.

building with Lansdown's office and Penlow's firm

The double job forces him to dash between offices

The two jobs require him to run from one floor to another without being detected. He must balance his schedule to keep both assignments running smoothly. Bernice's presence adds a complicated emotional layer to this professional juggling.

two offices in the same building

Bernice's eccentricities continue to complicate life

As Greg copes with the demanding schedule, Bernice's quirky habits and ever-changing moods complicate every day. He learns to navigate her unpredictable personality while keeping up with the photography work. The relationship grows more tangled as he tries to understand her.

various locations around the building

Greg begins to fall in love with Bernice

Amid the chaos of juggling two jobs and Bernice's lifestyle, Greg finds himself drawn to her. The affection complicates his professional focus and tests his priorities. He begins to realize that his feelings might be stronger than he anticipated.

various locations

Realization: Greg accepts his love for Bernice

By the story's progression, Greg recognizes that he has fallen in love with Bernice. He continues to manage the two jobs while grappling with this emotional revelation. The timeline ends with this acceptance, suggesting a turning point for both of them.

various locations

Live a Little, Love a Little Characters

Explore all characters from Live a Little, Love a Little (1968). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Greg Nolan (Elvis Presley)

A carefree newspaper photographer who lives for the moment, Greg is drawn to Bernice's charm but soon finds himself entangled in her games. His optimism and resourcefulness let him adapt to chaotic situations, including juggling two demanding photo jobs in the same building. His emotional arc moves from flippant detachment to genuine affection as he confronts the consequences of Bernice's manipulation.

🎯 Photographer ❤️ Romantic 😎 Carefree

Bernice

An eccentric, lovelorn woman who continually shifts names and personalities (Alice, Susie, Betty) at the mood's command. She exerts magnetic charm while orchestrating Greg's downfall through manipulation. Her unpredictable behavior drives the comedy and romance, revealing both vulnerability and a penchant for mischief.

🎭 Capricious 🌀 Mysterious 🐕 Dog-lover

Mike Lansdown (owner of Playboy-like magazine)

Owner of a Playboy-style magazine who hires Greg for provocative photography work. His presence represents the glamorous, permissive side of media culture and contrasts with the conservative ad firm. His ambitions and taste for sensational imagery contribute to the movie's satirical tone.

💼 Media Mogul 🎉 Flamboyant 🤑 Money-focused

Louis Penlow (Mr. Penlow) (Rudy Vallee)

Co-owner of the conservative advertising firm where Greg must juggle a second job. He embodies the respectable, conventional business world that clashes with the more liberal, glamorous magazine world. His partnership with Lansdown helps fuel the film's workplace comedy and social critique.

💼 Advertising 🗣️ Conservative 🧭 Pragmatic

Albert the Great Dane

Bernice's Great Dane who chases Greg into the water after an insult, triggering key comic and plot-driven moments. The dog acts as a catalyst for misunderstandings and chaotic humor. He represents the unpredictable but loyal companion in Bernice's world.

🐕 Dog 🐾 Chaotic 🧍‍♂️ Supportive

Milkman

Sterling Holloway's Milkman delivers more than dairy—his presence intersects with Bernice's world and Greg's misadventures through the neighborhood. He mirrors the interconnected, everyday life of the seaside community. A small, recurring figure who amplifies the film's light, comic tone.

🚚 Messenger 🥛 Everyday 🗺️ Neighborhood

Delivery Boy (Eddie Hodges)

A delivery boy who interacts with Bernice's changing identities, embodying the everyday service roles that thread through the plot. He witnesses the unfolding chaos as the two jobs pull Greg in opposite directions. His presence underscores the movie's playful social vignette.

🎒 Courier 🧩 Minor role 🗣️ Witness

Live a Little, Love a Little Settings

Learn where and when Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1960s

The events unfold in the late 1960s, a era of pop culture upheaval and changing social mores. The plot's carefree photography career and nightclub-like energy echo the era's fashion, attitudes, and media boom. The juxtaposition of indulgence with consequences mirrors the period's tensions.

Location

Beachfront town

A sun-soaked coastal town serves as the backdrop for Greg's carefree days. The setting centers on a beachfront home and a busy street that leads to a building housing both a Playboy-like magazine and a conservative ad firm, highlighting the film's satirical milieu. The sea, sand, and casual glamour shape the mood of late-1960s leisure and romance.

🏖️ Beach town 🌊 Coastal life

Live a Little, Love a Little Themes

Discover the main themes in Live a Little, Love a Little (1968). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

💖

Romance

Romance propels the narrative as Greg falls for Bernice, only to navigate the complexities of her shifting identities. The relationship explores sincerity versus illusion, revealing how desire can blur boundaries and expectations. Love becomes both a liberating force and a source of vulnerability for the characters.

🎭

Identity

Bernice's habit of adopting different names and personas highlights the film's interest in masks and self-invention. Greg's experience with her chases and disguises shows how easily perception can be manipulated. The movie uses this dynamic to question authenticity in relationships and in the media-saturated world.

📸

Media & Image

The two photography-based jobs in one building—one for a Playboy-like magazine and one for a conservative advertising firm—frame a satire of mid-century media culture. Greg's double exposure across rival worlds reflects how image and publication shape identity. The film comments on glamour, commodification, and the costs of chasing fame.

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Live a Little, Love a Little Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Live a Little, Love a Little (1968). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a sun‑kissed seaside town where the rhythm of waves matches the hurried pace of city‑slickers trying to make ends meet, everyday life feels both casual and precarious. The streets hum with the chatter of cafés, the clatter of newspaper presses, and the occasional splash of a surfer, creating a backdrop that blends carefree leisure with a subtle undercurrent of urgency. Humor and romance swirl together like the salty breeze, promising a story that winks at the absurdities of modern hustle while keeping a warm, human core.

_ Greg Nolan _ is a talented photographer whose knack for capturing moments on film belies a personal juggling act. Pressed by rent and the relentless tick of bills, he finds himself holding down not one but two full‑time gigs, each demanding a different style and set of expectations. By day he snaps candid shots for a glossy, seductive publication, and by night he lenses polished campaigns for a conservative advertising firm—both housed in the same towering block, forcing him into a dizzying sprint from one studio to the other. The constant threat of being caught in the act fuels a frantic, comic energy that defines his every move, turning simple schedules into elaborate, near‑theatrical performances.

Enter _ Bernice _, an eccentric, free‑spirit beach dweller whose presence is as colorful as the sunrise she chases. She greets the world with a different name for every acquaintanceship, a whimsical habit that both charms and confounds those around her. Their first meeting on the sand is a collision of worlds: his tightly scheduled existence and her delightfully unpredictable lifestyle. As Greg becomes entangled in her quirky rituals and magnetic allure, the line between professional obligations and personal desire begins to blur, setting the stage for a series of comedic misadventures that promise both laughter and a tender, lingering romance.

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