Elvis Presley

[ClassyCo]

I agree @ClassyCo, Do you also have Elvis Presley films on DVD?, I will soon start collecting all Elvis flms as soon as I have finished selecting my DVD cabinet. Maybe a nice idea to judge them by film, what you like about the movie, and what you don't like about it, and how many stars you would rate them.

I wish I had all of his films, too. I quite simply don't have the cabinet space to support such a large collection pertaining to one actor, either.

Actually, yes, I do have a few Elvis movies on DVD. I have a four-film pack that includes Jailhouse Rock, It Happened at the World's Fair, Charro!, and Stay Away, Joe. I also have separate editions of Viva Las Vegas, Kissin' Cousins, and I believe Tickle Me.

The two better ones that I have watched are Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas. The first one, Jailhouse Rock, was his third feature film. This was still rather early into the Elvis-mania phase, and perhaps the peak of his popularity with teenage America. During this era, Elvis was rather open about his desire to be a movie actor with a still molded after the influences Marlon Brando and James Dean had on him. Jailhouse Rock was a popular critical and financial success, and many critics and film hot-shots seemed to express favor that Elvis showed a future as an actor. Viva Las Vegas, which was made six years later, comes after the switch he made to the "Elvis formula" that consumed his film career after the early 1960s. Of course, Elvis and his co-star Ann-Margret have solid chemistry together, and they naturally photograph well together. The film has nothing more than a thin plot at best, but the vibrant coloring, songs, and star quality comes across more than well.

 

[Payton Cross]

I wish I had all of his films, too. I quite simply don't have the cabinet space to support such a large collection pertaining to one actor, either.

I have that problem too because I do not really have much room for other dvd's left, but there are also a lot of dvd's that I do not like or proberly never will see again. So I'm definitely going to sort my dvd's out, so there will be more room for a lot of Elvis movies.

Actually, yes, I do have a few Elvis movies on DVD. I have a four-film pack that includes Jailhouse Rock, It Happened at the World's Fair, Charro!, and Stay Away, Joe. I also have separate editions of Viva Las Vegas, Kissin' Cousins, and I believe Tickle Me.

I love "Jailhouse Rock", "Viva Las Vegas" and "It Happend At The World Fair", those are my favorite movies as well. But I think that I will also buy my favorite Elvis movies first, before they are no longer available.

The two better ones that I have watched are Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas. The first one, Jailhouse Rock, was his third feature film. This was still rather early into the Elvis-mania phase, and perhaps the peak of his popularity with teenage America. During this era, Elvis was rather open about his desire to be a movie actor with a still molded after the influences Marlon Brando and James Dean had on him. Jailhouse Rock was a popular critical and financial success, and many critics and film hot-shots seemed to express favor that Elvis showed a future as an actor. Viva Las Vegas, which was made six years later, comes after the switch he made to the "Elvis formula" that consumed his film career after the early 1960s. Of course, Elvis and his co-star Ann-Margret have solid chemistry together, and they naturally photograph well together. The film has nothing more than a thin plot at best, but the vibrant coloring, songs, and star quality comes across more than well

I agree with you, "Jailhouse Rock" was Elvis best movie he ever made and also favorite by many Elvis fans, i wish he had some better roll after this movie, and "Viva Las Vegas" was a great movie, the songs the colours in this movies was looking wonderful, I belive Elvis ans Ann-Margret also had a short time affair, because they has a huge chemistry together on pictures and film.

 

[ClassyCo]

This discussion is derived from the documentary linked below. Although his film career was full of stinkers, Elvis made more than thirty full-length motion pictures during his life time.

Let's discuss them here.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Elvis died of Bad Manager.

 

[ClassyCo]

Elvis died of Bad Manager.

Well, his movie career was certainly squandered by awful management by Colonel Tom Parker. He made a handful of decent movies at the beginning of his career ─ Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, and King Creole ─ and it was felt, as it appears, that he'd have a reasonably successful film career. Sure, he was a long way from the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean, two of his idols, but with the right script, director, and management, he could have had a more rewarding filmography than he has.

His first post-service movie, G.I. Blues, laid the foundation for what was to become of Elvis' movie career. Elvis himself tried to edge in some depth with Wild in the Country and Flaming Star in 1961, but the indifferent box office return of those movies urged Elvis and his management to stick to the "Elvis formula". From Blue Hawaii onward, all the movies were flashy, musical comedies with little depth, all circling around songs and Elvis singing to women.

 

[Karin Schill]

I love watching Elvis movies and am collecting them on DVD. I have all movies except for three now. The ones I am missing are "Loving You (1957), Follow That Dream (1962) and Charro! (1969). Except for for those I have watched or rewatched the other movies in the past decade or so.

I would say that I am an Elvis fan. But it's because of Priscilla, I saw her on Dallas and that's why I watched my first Elvis documentary that she hosted. Then I discovered Elvis music.

I agree with you that there is definitely an "Elvis forumula" as a lot of his movies are similar to each other in style, plots and genre. Therefore when I watch an Elvis movie I know what to expect and I expect to be entertained. I don't exactly expect the movie to be good. But I expect it to make me laugh and feel good. There are some movies that surprise me that are really good movies, great even. But they are few and far in between. Then there are others that are favorites like" Tickle Me". Not because it is the best movie out of the bunch but because it is charming and endearing and I have loved that one since I was a teenager.

Also I do think that Elvis is a much better actor than he is given credit for. It's really a shame that he was denied the possibility of a more serious role such as the one in "Westside Story" that his manager supposedly turned down.

 

[ClassyCo]

I love watching Elvis movies and am collecting them on DVD. I have all movies except for three now. The ones I am missing are "Loving You (1957), Follow That Dream (1962) and Charro! (1969). Except for for those I have watched or rewatched the other movies in the past decade or so.

I would say that I am an Elvis fan. But it's because of Priscilla, I saw her on Dallas and that's why I watched my first Elvis documentary that she hosted. Then I discovered Elvis music.

I agree with you that there is definitely an "Elvis forumula" as a lot of his movies are similar to each other in style, plots and genre. Therefore when I watch an Elvis movie I know what to expect and I expect to be entertained. I don't exactly expect the movie to be good. But I expect it to make me laugh and feel good. There are some movies that surprise me that are really good movies, great even. But they are few and far in between. Then there are others that are favorites like" Tickle Me". Not because it is the best movie out of the bunch but because it is charming and endearing and I have loved that one since I was a teenager.

Also I do think that Elvis is a much better actor than he is given credit for. It's really a shame that he was denied the possibility of a more serious role such as the one in "Westside Story" that his manager supposedly turned down.

Those three movies you're lacking should be fairly easy to find on DVD. I'm not sure they got official releases, but I'm almost positive some bootleg website has them out there somewhere. When I worked at Fred's a couple of years ago, they would regularly have Elvis' movies in stock. Every time a new one came in, I bought it. Some of them still have the plastic around them. I've yet to watch any of them. I just wanted them to have them. They weren't but three dollars each, so the money spent was small.

I'm on the fence as to how good of an actor Elvis actually was. I certainly think his legacy as an actor is clouded by the host of considerably weak and quite frankly bad (in some cases) movies his filmography is cluttered with, although his earliest efforts were quite subtle and rewarding of the talents he did have. None of them necessarily stretched or tested his range, but instead fed his image has teenage heartthrob splashing across the silver screen. Elvis himself always felt the movie King Creole contained his best work as an actor, although I've yet to see it. I've often wanted to, but just haven't gotten around to it.

I think we've all heard rumors he was wanted for other roles, many of which Tom Parker allegedly turned down without Elvis knowing it. Elvis was apparently very interested in possibly doing West Side Story in 1961, but the Colonel stepped forward and crushed that dream right off the bat. Barbra Streisand initially wanted Elvis as her self-destructive mentor-turned-husband in her version of A Star Is Born in 1976, but the Colonel's salary demand was turned down flat by producers.

Certainly he could have achieved better things, acting-wise, had he had proper training and been placed in better vehicles. The Colonel was only concerned about those dollar signs, however, and his receiving fifty percent of Elvis' earnings (so I've heard) geared him toward the tiring formula that weakened the King's reputation as a film actor. Awards or any kind of critical favoritism was tossed out of reach, and after a while, the box office success had dipped significantly. Eventually, he decided to stop making movies because I personally think he knew a reversal had long been off the table.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

50% ???

 

[ClassyCo]

50% ???

If you watch the documentary I linked above, there's a piece towards the end where a member of Elvis's Memphis Mafia says that the Colonel got 50% of his earnings.

I'm not saying it's entirely true, but that's what was said in the interviews in the Hollywood-centric biography.

 

[ClassyCo]

An exhaustive overview of Elvis' entire filmography, from 1956 to 1969.

A ranking -- from worst-to-best -- of Elvis' 31 feature films.

 

[ginnyfan]

Enjoyed that first video. I've seen quite a few of his movies but only when you go through all of them, in a video like that, do you realize just how bad most of them are. Especially the mid 60s stuff. I think all of his 50s movies are fine, some of them almost great. King Creole is def his acting/movie making triumph.

One thing I don't understand is why he let that nasty old manager control his life like that. Was Elvis such a weak character? No rebellion or any sort of resistance to the fat crook? Or maybe I don't know. Sadly I could not go through that awful movie from last year, gave up after 20 minutes or so when I realized I'm watching the worst biopic ever.

 

[ClassyCo]

Remembering Elvis Presley on his birthday: The legacy of the king of rock and roll

Explore Elvis Presley's lasting impact on music and entertainment. From his electrifying performances to cultural influence, discover the legend's enduring legacy.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

Elvis turns 90!

 

[Karin]

Oh wow! Didn't think of that it was 90 years ago that he was born this year.
But it makes sense since Priscilla will be 80 in may and they had a 10 year age gap.
I just began reading Lisa Marie's book last night. It's been pretty interesting so far.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Todays "performers" ,with dual careers in music and film, couldn't begin to approach Elvis' talent and stature

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Elvis turns 90!

That could explain why this just popped up in my suggestions: