i've never seen an elvis movie
and I'm thinking about watchin' one. But before I do I want the input of the blogging community. Are they all just crap? Are they all just crap except Jailhouse Rock? If this works out, I will ask you about all my important decisions. But if y'all tell me that Kissin' Cousins or Harum Scarum or something is good and it isn't...well, I'll be very disappointed.
posted by sparklestone at 6:29 PM
10 Comments:
Being someone who has seen every Elvis movie (not all by choice, mind you) I feel I am qualified in saying that's a tough question. You see there are three, maybe four different types of Elvis movies. If you dislike there will undoubtedly be a group you will never like, but you may still like a few others.
I'm trying to think of the groups. I mean there are the beach party story lines you would expect. There's Elvis the idiot, Elvis with kids, Elvis the cowboy, the confederate, the Navy Frogman, the race car driver, and the millionaire race car driver.
Some are good because of their music, some because of the co-stars (Ann-Margaret), most however are 'cheesy good fun'. They're the kind of thing you can show my parents when they show up at your house. Tomorrow I'll send you my short list of Elvis movies to see, along with my justification for why they suck less than the rest.
1. I find it very hard to believe that you have not seen an Elvis movie. I keep learning new things about you.
2. I'm waiting for Sylow to let us know the titles of the Elvis movies that will make his parents come over to our house. That sounded a little like a threat.
From Peter Guralnick's "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley": "On March 15 production began on...a light hearted desert epic called Harum Scarum...Whatever enthusiasm Elvis felt pretty much evaporated on the first day of shooting, as it became instantly clear that the story was a joke, the sets shoddy...At the end of the shoot, elvis presented Gene Nelson (the director) an autographed picture that declared, 'someday we'll do it right.'"
I would suggest you skip this one.
I can't say anything as to which Elvis movies are worth your time, however I would highly recommend both "Careless Love" and the first volume "Last Train to Memphis" as superb reads for anyone.
"Elvis eats boats, Elvis eats boats, ElvisElvisElvisElvisElvisElvisElvis eats boats"
j
Nice call, j.
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
You kind of have to have seen this if you want to claim to know anything about Elvis movies. This is probably the last one where he actually tries to act. After that, he’s just Elvis. I mean how you gonna forget it’s Elvis pretending to be someone else? Just like all 140 John Wayne movies; different hat, same character. The music in Jailhouse was already popular, so you’ll recognize most of the songs.
Viva Las Vegas (1964)
This is typical of the Elvis movies. Ann Margaret is fun to watch. This is probably one of the better ones. Music is better than average. Watch this one before you watch any of the other mid to late 60’s shows.
G.I. Blues (1960)
I’ve seen this one the most of all the Elvis movies. I also own the soundtrack. It is horribly non-PC, but I think that it’s an interesting indicator of the times. It’s third on my list, but you should watch a funnier one in between this and Viva Las Vegas.
Follow That Dream (1962)
Elvis the Idiot; possibly the funniest Elvis movie. But don’t expect to be ROTF.
It Happened at the World's Fair (1963)
This is Elvis with a little kid. The kid is funnier than Elvis, but it’s all entertaining.
Clambake (1967)
This is “Coming to America” without Eddy Murphy. It is humorous enough to deserve being mentioned.
If you’ve seen four of these you’ve pretty much seen them all. Your mission: figure out which four.
As a side note, 9 out of 10 of Elvis’ character names sound like really bad porn stars (e.g. Rusty Wells, Johnny Tyronne, Lucky Jackson, Rick Richards, etc.).
this will not help anyone with their elvismoviewatching, but is worth thinking about...elvis spent parts of his last years writing and filming scenes for a never released martial arts movie starring...Elvis. if not for the drugs, megalomania, and dying, this one would have been a must-see, i am sure.
j
ok, I have nothing to say about elvis, but a little to say about j, who is really a music nerd.
who else quotes from a 2 volume book about elvis? only the same person who, while watching the "sex in the city" about what's-her-face converting to judaism, says "I wonder who is playing the violin in the background?. and then who looks it up on the hbo episode guide.
that would be our j.
the aforementioned violinist is Lisa Gutkin, currently of the Klezmatics. thought you all should know.
j
Redballoon and J win the Team Goofy Award. Kind of an on-going thing.
Sylow wins Best Answer To My Question Award. Jailhouse Rock is in the queue.
I like the one where he sings 'Love Me Tender' to his lady friend....
This is very overdue, but I feel the need to notify LNH that in the movie LOVE ME TENDER, the song 'Love Me Tender' is sung to the character's mother.
ewwwww!
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