Elvis Movies

G.I. Blues

"G.I. Blues," released in August, 1960, was the first film Elvis made after his army service and it was his first film in two years. It co-starred Juliet Prowse and it was filmed in both Hollywood and Germany. The screenplay was by Edmund Beloin and Henry Garson and it was directed by Norman Taurog and Michael D. Moore and produced by Hal B. Wallis for Paramount Pictures. [read more...]

Elvis Movies: Start of Formula Musicals

Elvis Presley made 27 movies in the 1960s and most of them fit a formula that included some set elements. In this post, I review two of Elvis' early 1960s films that established the formula for most of the subsequent movies he made. "Blue Hawaii," released in 1961, cast Elvis as a rich young man trying to succeed on his own. A year later, in "Girls! Girls! Girls!" Elvis was a poor man trying to make it on his own. In both films, Elvis rejects the help and money of people close to him, determined to prove that he can take care of himself. Both movies include the typical fight scene and, of course, Elvis romancing a young woman. [read more...]

Elvis Movies: Child Scene Stealers - Part I

Several of Elvis' films in the 1960s featured young talented children who always stole the scenes in which they appeared. The first Elvis film that co-starred a child was "It Happened at the World's Fair" in 1963. This was followed a few months later by "Fun in Acapulco," which again co-starred a talented child star. In this post, I'll give some information on the two young co-stars, Vicky Tiu and Larry Domasin, and briefly review "It Happened at the World's Fair" and "Fun in Acapulco." [read more...]

Elvis Movies: Child Scene Stealers - Part II

Elvis made four films that co-starred young children. In an earlier post, I discussed the first two of these films, "It Happened at the World's Fair" and "Fun in Acapulco," both made and released in 1963. Several years later, Elvis' films once again featured adorable young co-stars, first, Donna Butterworth in "Paradise Hawaiian Style" in 1966 and then Victoria Meyerink in "Speedway," filmed in 1967 but not released until 1968. [read more...]

Roustabout

Although most Elvis movie musicals of the 1960s had silly plots, terrible songs and wasted time on car or boat races, a few of his films were better than the typical Elvis film. Some of these movies had exceptionally talented co-stars, reasonably well-developed plots or better than average songs. This week, I'll profile some of these films and give my reasons for why I think they are better than most of Elvis' movies of the 1960s. My first choice is "Roustabout." [read more...]

Girl Happy

"Girl Happy" has a silly plot and many of the other elements from typical Elvis 1960s movies, but it also has some good features to it. The movie was released in 1965, at the time of most of Elvis' formula films and "Girl Happy" does fit the standard plot of boy chases girl. But in this film, there are no car or boat races and the girl Elvis chases, Shelley Fabares, doesn't reject him. [read more...]

Double Trouble

"Double Trouble," released in 1967, was unusual for an Elvis film in the 1960s because it actually had an interesting plot. It is a mystery, filled with intrigue, suspense and excitement. It also has a humorous subplot about two bumbling diamond thieves. [read more...]

Change of Habit

"Change of Habit," Elvis' last movie, released in 1969, is my favorite Elvis film. It was a dramatic move away from the previous eight years of meaningless Elvis musicals. "Change of Habit" has the strongest plot of any of Elvis' films in the 1960s. In addition, it is the only one of his films that addressed social issues relevant to life in the United States in the 1960s. [read more...]