Short plot
summary |
|
Chad Gates (Elvis
Presley) has been serving his country (in his previous movie GI Blues - and, of
course, in real life too) and has just flown back to picture postcard perfect
Hawaii with his centre fold perfect model girlfriend Maile Duval (Joan Blackman)
waiting for him at the airport. His
Daddy's rich, he's good looking, he's got a great girlfriend, he's got a shack
by the sea, the only cloud on the horizon is THE WORLD'S
MOST ANNOYING MOTHER, played by Angela Lansbury, and then, later on in
the movie, you come across his employer at the Travel Agency and you realise that
somewhere in this movie was when Elvis movies started to go all wrong... |
What our
panel of critics thought |
|
"I
did me some checking on that dang internet thang and got me a scandal... Angela
Lansbury was born in 1925, Elvis Presley was born in 1935. That means that in
1961, when this movie was made, Elvis Presley was 26, and Angela Lansbury, who
played his mother, was 36." "Is
this the last of the good, or the first of the bad Elvis movies? Watch closely
and you can see the fusion taking place." "The
great thing with Elvis is that no matter what kind of stupid useless dopey drippy
situation or characters they put him with he comes out of it with a smile." "One
of my favourites, although it's such a sad moment when Elvis sings 'Can't help
falling in love [with you]' to a 78 year old grandmother - although singing 'Hound
Dog' to that floppy eared dog in a top hat on TV came close." "Elvis
has never been more buff." "Elvis
sings: 'I was minding my own business, I was drinking Daddy's juice...' Now, I
am willing to accept that in the early 1960's nothing wrong was seen in this line,
however in the porn round every corner 2000's this is just plain wrong." "I
always thought The King had wimpy arms. This movie only confirms my worst fears.
Was he too busy shagging to get down to the gym?" |
Please tell me the ending
|
| Mailie
and Chad marry in picture postcard perfect Hawaiian marriage on a slow boat down
a river which is glasslike. |
Justify
this movie's existence in the classic strand. From
theVoiceof Reason.com's Veritable Cornucopia |
|
Common
wisdom says that this is the first of the bad Elvis movies, and it's hard to dispute
that. However it is enjoyably bad, with some very good moments, saved by 26 year
old Elvis and the scenery. Audiences around the world had just seen G I Blues
which was quite good, and, before that, Jailhouse Rock which the same common wisdom
says is probably Elvis's best movie. After Blue Hawaii watch Elvis movies at your
peril. On
the positive side, when looked upon as a piece of Elvis memorabilia, this movie
beats the pants out of that mosaic made out of sea shells of Elvis' face. This
movie is woefully let down by the Angela Lansbury mother character, and the Travel
Agent manager. However Elvis is so good the brown stuff just drips off him leaving
no mark and you can't help loving him even more. Believe
me when I say this is, chronologically, the last Elvis movie you will ever want
to watch because, even though there are some bad bits here, there are slightly
more good things about this movie - that can't be said for many later Elvis movies. |
Quotable
quotes (real) |
|
"I was
almost always true to you." "Do
you think you can satisfy a school teacher and four teenage girls?" "I
was minding my own business. I was drinking Daddy's juice." Singing
about a fight he had just got into and was jailed for punching a guy in the face:
"Till someone shoved his face against my hand." |
What snack should I eat while watching this movie?
|
| Pineapples. |
If
I were to watch this at home how best should I sit? |
|
In the classic
Hawaiian hoola-hoop hip swivel position, with flower necklace. |
Could this
movie be improved with more song? |
|
No. Elvis belts
out some classics. 'Almost Always True to You', 'No More', 'Can't Help Falling
In Love' (sang to a 78 year old), 'Rock A Hula Baby', and 'Beach Boy Blues' (apart
from a few of the lyrics) are all very good. |
OH COME ON! There were no bad Elvis numbers in this
movie at all? |
| OK:
"Ito Eats", and "Slicin Sand" are dismal. |
Is there enough
lip synching in this film? |
|
There is a new
restored sound version out on DVD. In the musical numbers the lips don't exactly
match the words, however the sound is much better. |
Are there any kick ass fighting techniques I can take from this movie next time
I am involved in a bar brawl? |
|
Elvis does tend
to leave himself a bit open with his swingy punch, however watch the guy who kicks
off the fight in the bar brawl as he hits the guy with his forearm. |
What can I
take from this movie to make me a better person? |
| Don't
try 'slicin sand' when the sand is wet. Probably
best not to go off with your mates as soon as you see them when you are out for
a swim with your girlfriend unless you are Elvis, even if your mates have remembered
to put a guitar on board for you to sing with. |
Estimate number
of dance moves in this movie. |
|
450 |
Are there any good performances by animals in this movie?
|
| A
corgi plays a pivotal role in helping cover Maile's boobies when her skimpy costume
(for it's time) comes off mid-swim. Thankfully the corgi does not sing. |
How
much would you pay for a copy of this movie in goods? |
| A
small papaya tree (or bush or whatever they grow on). |
Would the trailer
to this movie entertain or annoy? |
|
Quotes
from
original theatrical trailer... "The
Gateway to the South Pacific Opens Up... for Elvis Presley And You..." "Elvis
sings his greatest moonlight and sunshine songs!" |
Other comments
|
| Some
fantastic scenery, some excellent songs and a few hilariously dumb Elvis movie
numbers. The Angela Lansbury character is atrocious and the travel agent manager
is idiotic, but apart from that this movie has much to recommend in it. The
debate amongst Elvis fans as to whether this is the first bad Elvis movie, or
the last good one, will run and run. It has elements of both. It
is a fun outing and it is quite amazing how Elvis gives a form of credibility
to what is, at times, a truly awful screenplay. |
Date of review |
| September
11, 2004 |