Ann-Margret, Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. Photo: Courtesy Turner Classic Movies.
I can only think of one Elvis Presley song I like: "Can't Help Falling in Love." I don't know if he sings it in any of his films.
In other words, Turner Classic Movies' "Summer Under the Stars" day dedicated to Elvis Presley isn't exactly my cup of Hawaiian punch. But for all those Elvis fans out there, TCM's Sunday, Aug. 16, programming is a whole tastier smorgasbord, I'm sure.
I've seen a handful of the movies listed below and they all look and sound the same to me. The leading ladies, however, do vary, even if I can't quite figure out why they bothered since Elvis' gals were just about interchangeable — though admittedly, some went on to bigger and better things (Ann-Margret); others went on to bigger but not necessarily better things (Ursula Andress); while others yet just kept on going (Stella Stevens, Shelley Fabares, Juliet Prowse, Diane McBain). But hey, they're all great to look at, so who's complaining?
As a plus, Elvis flicks even offered some class acts every now and then — people like Barbara Stanwyck (Roustabout), Angela Lansbury (Blue Hawaii), and Carolyn Jones (King Creole). And Bill Bixby (Clambake), of course.
And there was prestige behind the cameras as well. Several of those Presley vehicles were directed by Academy Award winner Norman Taurog (who won for Skippy back in the early 1930s); while Viva Las Vegas was directed by George Sidney (he of Show Boat and Kiss Me Kate); Jailhouse Rock and Fun in Acapulco were directed by Richard Thorpe (he of Night Must Fall and Ivanhoe); and King Creole by another Oscar winner, Michael Curtiz, the director of Casablanca.
Pacific Time
16 Sunday
3:00 AM Viva Las Vegas (1964)
A race-car driver falls for a pretty swimming instructor who wants him to slow down his career. Cast: Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova. Dir: George Sidney. C-85 mins.
4:30 AM Spinout (1966)
A singing race-car driver has to choose among three amorous females. Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Diane McBain. Dir: Norman Taurog. C-93 mins.
6:15 AM Blue Hawaii (1961)
A Hawaiian playboy defies his possessive mother to take a job with a tourist agency. Cast: Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Lansbury Dir: Norman Taurog. C-101 mins.
8:00 AM Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
A Hawaiian fisherman is torn between a sexy nightclub singer and a nice girl with a secret. Cast: Elvis Presley, Stella Stevens, Jeremy Slate Dir: Norman Taurog. C-99 mins.
10:00 AM Jailhouse Rock (1957)
After learning to play the guitar in prison, a young man becomes a rock 'n roll sensation. Cast: Elvis Presley, Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy. Dir: Richard Thorpe. BW-96 mins.
11:45 AM Fun in Acapulco (1963)
A trapeze artist tries to use love to conquer his fear of heights. Cast: Elvis Presley, Ursula Andress, Elsa Cardenas Dir: Richard Thorpe. C-97 mins.
1:30 PM Girl Happy (1965)
A rock singer is hired to chaperone a gangster's daughter in Fort Lauderdale. Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Gary Crosby. Dir: Boris Sagal. C-95 mins.
3:15 PM Clambake (1967)
A playboy switches places with a water-skiing instructor to find a woman who isn't just after his money. Cast: Elvis Presley, Shelley Fabares, Bill Bixby. Dir: Arthur H. Nadel. C-99 mins.
5:00 PM It Happened At The World's Fair (1963)
A pilot's efforts to help a lost girl at the Seattle World's Fair lead to love. Cast: Elvis Presley, Joan O'Brien, Gary Lockwood. Dir: Norman Taurog. C-105 mins.
7:00 PM King Creole (1958)
A singer with a criminal past gets drawn back into the mob. Cast: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau. Dir: Michael Curtiz. BW-116 mins.
9:00 PM G.I. Blues (1960)
An American stationed in Germany bets that he can make an icy entertainer fall for him. Cast: Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse, Robert Ivers Dir: Norman Taurog. C-104 mins.
11:00 PM Roustabout (1964)
A female carnival owner hires a hot-blooded young singer to save her touring show. Cast: Elvis Presley, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Freeman. Dir: John Rich. C-101 mins.
1:00 AM Trouble With Girls, The (1969)
A traveling show's star gets involved in a small-town murder case. Cast: Elvis Presley, Marilyn Mason, Sheree North. Dir: Peter Tewksbury. C-99 mins.
Elvis is gone, but he will always be with us.
There will never be another like him.
He is the king of entertainment.
George Vreeland Hill
No one will beat the king which is Elvis Presley..""
Elvis movies are escapism. You can just sit back, smile and sing along, and they're not trying to ram a message down your throat. Add light humour and great locations, and they are a feast for the senses without being a drain on your brain. Show one every week!
I have to agree with Brian, Elvis Presley's movies were meant to sell a lot of tickets, and they did, because they were all about a good time. Elvis' music was great fun to listen to, and his movies brought that fun to the big screen.
Susan,
Thanks for writing.
I guess I need to take another look at "Blue Hawaii."
"Can't Help Falling in Love" is from BLUE HAWAII. I am the author of ELVIS FOR DUMMIES and have spent a lot of time examining his film career. If you are interested in learning more, check out my articles on ROUSTABOUT and GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS on the TCM website. Also, I am a regular TCM blogger. Yesterday, I wrote about several excellent documentaries on Elvis. There is so much more to Elvis-related cinema than most people give credit for.
That's true.
Evlis movies were just pure FUN.
Elvis Presley's movies were never meant to win awards. They were vehicles for fans to see Elvis on the big screen as it was obvious he was not going to tour the World doing personal appearances. All of the films were successful and are constantly shown on TV throughout the world.
Some of his films were really good and are a credit to him e.g. 'Love Me Tender'; 'Loving You'; 'Jailhouse Rock'; 'King Creole'; 'G.I. Blues'; 'Blue Hawaii'; Viva Las Vegas';'Kid Galahad; 'Wild In The Country';'Flaming Star'; 'Follow That Dream' and
'Change Of Habit'.
They should show that one with Mary Tyler Moore as a nun.