Blue Hawaii (review)

Posted by User ImageGreg Treadway | Movie Review, Movies & Cinema | Thursday 8 January 2009 10:23 am

Blue Hawaii one sheet Blue Hawaii half sheet

The original U.S. title for this Elvis movie was Hawaii Beach Boy. I think that title actually fits better. The tagline says it all for this flick with romance, dances and paradise. That almost fits any of The King’s formula movies. This movie catches up with Elvis as he gets out of the Army (in the movies) and wants to get on with his life. His family has one idea but he wants to make it on his own. Don’t feel sorry for him as his life is full of surfing, babes and the beach.

Unfortunately for the audience, Presley’s co-star in G.I. Blues in 1960 pulled out of this movie. Juliet Prowse who starred with Elvis in G.I. Blues would have made a great followup character to add in Blue Hawaii. The story goes that she made so many demands on the studio that she was dropped from the picture. She continued in movies and then mostly in television. She later guest starred in a Murder She Wrote staring Angela Lansbury; Lansbury plays Elvis mother in this picture (she was 35 at the time). Blue Hawaii was the most successful soundtrack albums of the Elvis movie genre. 

Like the other Elvis movies the reason to see this one is Elvis himself and the great music performances he gives. Elvis retuned to Hawaii many times so this must have been a special film for him. Hal Wallis does his usual excellent job of framing this film in his talented way that fuses the music with the story without being too sappy. This is a must see film on the Elvis list. ***/****.

As for the poster… The half sheet of Blue Hawaii is more popular that the one sheet. Mainly this is due to the large musical note that Elvis is singing on top of with the girls. I like the one sheet better with the surfboard but both posters are just great.

Rate this:
2.5

G.I. Blues (review)

Posted by User ImageGreg Treadway | Movie Review, Movies & Cinema | Thursday 8 January 2009 9:34 am

giblu1 giblu2

When you have Elvis Presley in a movie is there a need to have a plot or do you just stick him on screen and say GO! That’s not really fair. Though there is most certainly a formula to making an Elvis picture there is also a lot of talent that went into each movie. Not the least of that talent was Elvis himself. All the Elvis movies have both a timeless quality to them while also presenting an innocence of a filmmaking age. Hal Wallis, who directs many of the Elvis films also directs Blue Hawaii which is a better followup to GI Blues. 

The reason to watch G.I. Blues is not the story, the cinematography nor the direction even though all three are done with precision and no overkill. The reason to watch is Elvis. This movie was made in 1960 when The King was at his prime and starting to feel comfortable on screen. His performances are excellent, musical numbers that is, and we’re all lucky to have them captured. The movie and Elvis are full of charm and you wonder at times how much Elvis’ real life was mirrored with all that charm-like atmosphere around him. ***/**** (for an Elvis flick). 

On a side note if you find an original poster of this movie, call me.

Rate this:
2.5