Clambake - Plot

Plot

Scott Heyward (Elvis Presley) rebels against the plans and expectations of his father, extremely rich oilman Dusty Heyward (James Gregory). He drives off (in a Chevrolet Corvette) to find himself. When he stops for some food, he runs into Tom Wilson (Will Hutchins), on his way to take a job as a water-skiing instructor at a Miami hotel. A chance remark by Tom gives Scott an idea: he switches identities with Tom so he can find out how people react to him rather than his money. Tom has fun staying at the same hotel and pretending he is rich.

Hotel guest Dianne Carter (Shelley Fabares) insists on taking a lesson minutes after Scott checks in with his new "employer". However, once they are out on the water, she proves herself to be an expert skier, performing fancy maneuvers to gain the attention of wealthy young playboy James J. Jamison III (Bill Bixby). Later, she confesses to Scott she is a gold digger, assuming he is one too. He agrees to help her land Jamison, but in the process falls for her.

Scott persuades boat builder Sam Burton (Gary Merrill) to let him rebuild a damaged high-performance boat and drive it in the annual Orange Bowl race, which Jamison has won the last three years in a row. Scott sends for some "goop", an experimental coating his father spent a lot of money trying (and failing) to perfect. Between his day job and work at night as a chemist, Scott is run ragged, but manages (he hopes) to fix goop's major flaw: losing its strength in water. With no time for testing before the race, he applies it to the boat's hull and prays it will hold the Raw Hide together. Duster learns where his son is, and comes to see what he is doing. To Scott's surprise, his father is enormously proud of what he has accomplished.

Meanwhile, Jamison proposes to Dianne. Scott barges into the suite before she can give Jamison an answer, but the playboy informs Scott they are getting married right after he wins the race.

In the race, Jamison takes the lead in The Scarlet Lady, but Scott passes him at the finish line. Dianne decides to give up her scheme and return home. Scott offers to give her a lift. On the drive, he gives her an engagement ring he bought with the winnings from the race. She insists he take it back, but agrees to marry him. When he tells her who he really is, she faints.