Comments on: Adventures of a Movie Tourist

By: Ross

Ross — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:01 +0000

In the film they are on a hwy and they turn right on the new highway and there is if I remember right a road block at the beginning of the new highway that had just been built. Was that new highway the one they call Follow That Dream Parkway. I believe it was hwy 40. Is that where Hwy 40 started? What highway did they turn off of? I am trying to find it on a map. The sign said you travel 7 miles to the Gulf of Mexico and 5 1/2 miles to Bird Creek but was that 7 miles from where they turned off the hwy on to the new hwy way or was that 7 miles from where the sign in Englis is posted? If anyone knows my email address is rsmith6670@msn.com

By: richard

richard — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:52:54 +0000

this site is only about 10mi from me i just moved from mich girlfriend just took me to the spot wensday what a great feeling also my favroiot film

By: David

David — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:16:01 +0000

thanks for all the info as i was actually searching for where “Follow That Dream” was filmed.It is by far one of my favorite ELVIS movies.All the songs were great and his character is really very funny and the whole movie was well written and cast.Thanks again.”Long Live The KING”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:40:57 +0000

What a wonderful article. When I was 10 and living in Orlando where I was born, my best friends father invited me to go with them to watch the filming of Follow That Dream. Florida is a very special place to me. My first ancestor born in Florida was in 1805 and my mother made sure I knew my heritage and also taught me to be proud of it. I have a copy of the movie on VHS and DVD and watch it quite often because it does remind me of the ‘old Florida’ I remember growing up. A number of years ago I was in the area fishing and saw the brown Elvis Presley sign and wanted to go see the site where the homestead was. I was hesitant because I didn’t know if the area, like so many others in Florida, had been built up and I wanted to remember it like it was during the filming. I was pleased to find the site had been reclaimed by the native vegetation and not by a high rise condo or country club. I parked and fished off the bridge hoping to catch a tarpon. I didn’t and maybe it was because I wasn’t using a piece of string and a diaper pin. Yes, there is something to be said for simplicity even if only fictitious. I often take my canoe and launch it from the area and totally get lost in my thoughts daydreaming I’m back in the old Florida then I open my eyes and I’m there.
The shots in the opening credits reminds me of the days when I drove on the old overseas highway in the Keys where some of the shots were filmed. Days when you could find a sandy area right on Florida Bay, pull over and set up a camp. The song playing during the opening credits, “What a Wonderful Life” says it all.
Follow That Dream is my favorite Elvis movie not only because of the location but because it’s one of the few movies he plays himself because after all, he was a fun loving country boy.
Thanks suzidoll for the comments.

By: Hope

Hope — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:18:28 +0000

does anyone know the location of the sign?? I live in Ocala and have relatives coming in that are asking about it….if it is still there I would love to take them.

By: james

james — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:10:39 +0000

my home town is yankeetown and i recentley moved back it was were the movie was made and it is the best place ever and i have lived all over the us and nothin tops it the biggest our town has ever been was 999 people we are back to 637 people now

By: Meri

Meri — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:14:05 +0000

This is great! I actually took a picture of that highway sign as well. I am president of the Historic Polk Theatre in Lakeland Florida (20 min east of Tampa) and Elvis played on our stage in 56. We still have the microphone and piano he used. Scotty moore has pictures of our theatre with elvis on his web site! We are running Clambake this coming weekend in honor of his birthday. Wish we could have gotten Follow That Dream! Will try for next year. http://www.polktheatre.org

By: maureen

maureen — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:05:48 +0000

A Star is Born…………missed out.

By: Gloria M.

Gloria M. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:04:22 +0000

This was one of my favorite Elvis films as a teenager mainly because it was character driven and had an engaging story unlike so many of his formulaic movies. Loved the theme song too. Plus Elvis was still attempting to create a performance and not just going through the motions.

By: Maryann Dahlen

Maryann Dahlen — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:18:43 +0000

I must admit that this was never one of my favorite Elvis films. I have enjoyed many of his other ‘travelogue’ films but not this one. After reading your review I’ll have to take another look especially because of the Florida locations. I’m also very curious about the song that he does lying down. Thanks again for your great insight.