Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles; some filming took place in Big Bear Lake. The film was produced by Sam Katzman for Four-Leaf Productions, and was distributed in the United States by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was released in the United States on March 6, 1964 and reached #11 on the Variety National Box Office Chart, earning $3 million, and finished at #26 on the year end list of the top-grossing movies of 1964. Presley's film, Viva Las Vegas, filmed during the summer of 1963 before Kissin Cousins, was released after Kissin' Cousins. Both Arthur O'Connell and Jack Albertson were cast alongside Presley, thus providing the film with 'double-barreled curmudgeons,' per Variety. Sam Katzman produced an unsuccessful 1965 MGM Television television pilot starring Edd Byrnes for the NBC television network. In 1988, Kissin' Cousins made its home video debut, released on VHS. When it was reissued on VHS in 1997, the song "Smokey Mountain Boy" was deleted. It was later restored to the film when it made its DVD debut in 2007. Soundtrack The song "Kissin' Cousins", which was performed as the movie's finale, reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the RIAA. Plot faux pas The foundation for the film's plot centers around acquiring private land for government use. This is easily accomplished through the necessary justification of eminent domain with just compensation due to the private sector owner(s). But, as General Donford's initial desire—clearly expressed at the start of the film—was for the deal for the base to remain top secret, it could be somewhat plausibly surmised that usage of eminent domain might have led to wide-ranging publicity from negotiations in open court. A point that became moot after the story became front-page news shortly after PFC Riley joined the field team at Big Smoky Mountain. Reception Howard Thompson of The New York Times wrote, "With the flavor of 'Fun in Acapulco'—and that it was—fairly fresh, Elvis Presley's movie status takes a nosedive in his latest, 'Kissin' Cousins' ... Sam Katzman's production is tired, strained and familiar stuff, even with double-barreled Presley." Variety wrote, ""This new Elvis Presley concoction is a pretty dreary effort, one that certainly won't replenish the popularity of Sir Swivel. Presley needs — and merits — more substantial material than this if his career is to continue to flourish as in the past." One of the review's primary criticisms was