The 13 Mar 1962 DV announced Follow the Boys as Connie Francis’s next
starring vehicle for Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Inc. (MGM). The 17 Mar 1962 LAT
referred to the film as I’ll Follow the Boys. A news brief in the 11 Apr 1962
Var stated that production would take place in London, England. The 14 Apr
1962 LAT reported singer Bobby Vee as Francis’s co-star. His role was later
assumed by Roger Perry. An item in the 11 May 1962 edition listed Tom Tully as a
cast member, although his participation could not be determined. According to the 9 Apr
1962 DV, director Richard Thorpe planned to arrive 12 May 1962 in southern
France, where production was scheduled to begin the following month.
       Meanwhile, the 11 April 1962 Var reported that producer Sam Katzman intended
to change the title of his current project, Cyprus Gardens, to Follow the Boys,
pending approval from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). On 4 May
1962, DV announced The Sea Gulls as the new title of Thorpe’s MGM film.
Two weeks later, the 18 May 1962 DV mentioned the picture by its original title.
The 28 May 1962 DV noted that Richard Thorpe was scouting locations in Nice,
France. Producer Lawrence P. Bachmann was also in France, making preparations in the
Nearby city of Cannes, according to the 6 Jun 1962 Var.
       A news item in the 31 May 1962 DV stated that cast member Janis Paige was
required to complete her role in The Caretakers (1963, see entry) within the next
four weeks to ensure her arrival in Nice on 28 Jun 1962. Producer-director Hall Bartlett
rearranged his shooting schedule to accommodate the actress. Also appearing in
Follow the Boys was Eric Pohlmann, as noted in the 21 Jun 1962 DV.
       Principal photography began 9 Jul 1962, according to the 20 Jul 1962 DV. An
article in the 12 Aug 1962 LAT revealed that Elstree Studios in London served as
home office for the production. Filming was completed by 30 Aug 1962, as reported in
the next day’s DV. Editing and musical scoring were scheduled for the Elstree
facility.
       The 13 Feb 1963 Var reported that Connie Francis was embarking the following
week on a personal appearance tour to promote both the film and the soundtrack album.
Stops included Boston, MA, Detroit, MI, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City.
       Follow the Boys debuted 20 Feb 1963 in Boston, Washington, D.C., Cleveland,
OH, Indianapolis, IN, Buffalo, NY, San Francisco, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and
Toronto, Canada, as reported in the 27 Feb 1963 Var. Openings followed on 27 Feb
1963 in New York City, and on 13 Mar 1963 in Los Angeles, CA. Reviews were
generally negative, with the 21 Feb 1963 DV bemoaning the “intolerantly deliberate
tempo” and “discouragingly flat, inept script.” The 6 Mar 1963 Var listed the film
as the eleventh highest-earning current release.
       Songwriter Dramato Palumbo is not included in music copyright listings for his contributions.