Directors
Norman Taurog……….Blue Hawaii
John Rich……….Easy Come, Easy Go
Richard Thorpe……….Fun In Acapulco
Norman Taurog……….G.I. Blues
Norman Taurog……….Girls! Girls! Girls!
Michael Curtiz……….King Creole
Michael D. Moore……….Paradise, Hawaiian Style
John Rich……….Roustabout
DVD Release Date: August 7, 2007
Rating: PG
Running Time: 792 Minutes on 8 discs
The Movies
Musicals that aren’t quite musicals have always been a favorite of mine. The films that have actual storylines and a plot yet throw in some random songs throughout. Sure they are quite corny at times and there is no real reason for the characters to break out in song, but they are fun. And what better way to have random songs and dance scenes then with the King himself, Elvis Presley?
This collection doesn’t necessarily put together his best known and most popular films, but that’s not to say they aren’t enjoyable. G.I. Blues is a good example of that. It has a good story and goal with Elvis and the boys wanting to get out of the service and start up their night club. It is a good hearted film that is full with some fun music and Elvis actually showing a lot of his more humorous side. His run-ins with the Sarge are quite amusing and it’s really funny how often he makes his superior look stupid. Although the scene on the train where Elvis is singing and surrounded by people bothered me because he was playing only a guitar yet a horn and drum set could be heard. If they’re going to go as far as to include an instrument in the scene, don’t have the sounds of others in the background.
Mostly all of Elvis’ films were focused on music, but this set includes a number of his pictures that dealt with his stint in the military. Actually the only one to be released before he was in the army was King Creole. That would happen to be one of the more serious in this set as it deals with troubled times and some gang thugs, but still isn’t overly violent. Nothing the King ever did was overly violent so all of his films may have seemed a bit risque, but they were truly family friendly.
Lights! Camera! Elvis! captures the King as he truly was between the time he had served his country and then to his death. The films show him in his full glory of enjoying life, being carefree, and doing what he does best and that’s singing. They may not be Jailhouse Rock or Viva Las Vegas, but that doesn’t mean this set can’t be seen as timeless classics.
Elvis Presley……….Chad Gates
Joan Blackman……….Maile Duval
Angela Lansbury……….Sarah Lee Gates
Chad Gates is the son of a rich executive in Hawaii and has now returned home after a stint in the military and wants to start enjoying his life. He has no intentions of actually going home to his parents just yet for he has other plans in mind. His main goal in life is to hang out with his friends on the beach, bum around, and spend time with his girlfriend Maile.
After about a week though, Chad decides it is time to head home and meets up with his parents and right away he regrets that choice. His father welcomes him but his snobbish mother Sarah can do nothing but get on his case about taking over the family business. That is exactly what Chad doesn’t want since he is determined to make it on his own in the world and even interviews for a job as an island tour guide.
Ignoring his parents wishes, Chad gets the job and automatically is thrown into the life he has long wanted. Surrounded by beautiful sights, gorgeous girls, and fun parties, he has found his paradise. Yet even with all the fun, the long-legged beauties hanging all over Chad doesn’t sit well with Maile and jealousy shows its ugly head. Still, the good times are had with some wild parties and excellent music including the famous “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” This would prove to be one of my favorite films in the set.
Elvis Presley……….Lt. Ted Jackson
Dodie Marshall……….Jo Symington
Pat Priest……….Dina Bishop
Pat Harrington……….Judd Whitman
Skip Ward……….Gil Carey
Lt. Ted Jackson is a Navy diver and happens to come across a sunken treasure. Actually it’s a veritable king’s ransom in Spanish gold upon a sunken ship. Unable to get it while in the service, he keeps it a secret until he is discharged. Along with his friend Judd, who owns a go-go dancing bar, Jackson aims to get his treasure. They team up with a Zen expert named Jo who happens to have a key to the treasure, the map of her grandfather who once owned the ship.
It can’t possibly be that easy though as Gil Carey has found out about the treasure and will do anything he can to make it his. Along with his girlfriend Dina Bishop and using her beauty to try and distract Jackson, Gil hopes that he can find the treasure before Jo leads them right to it first.
Elvis Presley……….Mike Windgren
Ursula Andress……….Marguerita Dauphin
Paul Lukas……….Maximillian Dauphin
Mike Windgren is a circus acrobat that is living the good life. The only problem is that he can no longer perform on the trapeze after a tragic accident in which he dropped his partner. The horrible drop gave Mike a severe case of fear of heights so there is no way he can possibly perform high above the crowd anymore.
Needing to do something, Mike heads south of the border in Acapulco at a beachside resort and works as a lifeguard, boat handler, lunge entertainer, and of course a huge flirt. After hearing his voice and being discovered by a young boy, the hotels social manager Marguerita Dauphin gets to hear the amazing pipes of Mike and convinces him to sing for the resort. Their relationship grows as they get closer, and she learns of Mike’s past and is determined to get him over his accident and beat his fear of heights.
Elvis Presley……….Tulsa McLean
Juliet Prowse……….Lili
This was Elvis’ first film after taking a break from all celebrity status for a stint in the United States Army. Tulsa McLean is a G.I. stationed in West Germany and has dreams just like anyone else. He wants to sing all the time and open a nightclub back home in the States as soon as he is out of the army. The only problem is that he doesn’t quite have enough money to fulfill his dream.
A few tricks by Tulsa and his band get them some of the cash, but not nearly the amount necessary to open a nightclub. Willing to risk it all to get what they want, Tulsa places a bet that Sergeant Dynamite can woo the seductive dancer Lili enough to get a private show. But when the sergeant is shipped out, Tulsa is put in his place and sets out to get that one-on-one dance.
Tulsa takes on the bet knowing that he wants to start his nightclub more then anything, and his charm will easily win him the money. A problem arises though even with his good lucks, charming ways, and miraculous (and random) singing. Tulsa finds out a bit more about Lili and just doesn’t believe he can go through with the bet as planned.
Elvis Presley……….Ross Carpenter
Stella Stevens……….Robin Gantner
Ross lives in Hawaii and loves what he does for a living as he runs a charter fishing business off of the coast. His adopted parents own the business and he keeps control of things and makes sure all runs well. Things are going well until his parents decide to sell the business and move out to Arizona since their health is fading and they know there isn’t much time left for them.
Taking it upon himself to keep things going, Ross wants a chance to keep the business alive and also purchase the sailboat he lives on that was built by his late father. Nothing is ever that easy though as a shrewd business man named Wesley Johnson comes in and buys the boat. Johnson decides to give Ross a chance to buy the boat back though by working in his fleet of fishing boats.
No Elvis film would be complete either without a couple beauties battling for his affection. Ross’ girlfriend Robin is a lounge singer that Ross frequently performs at as well. It is there he meets a girl with a hidden past named Laurel that he starts to get really close to. Ross is on his way to buying his boat and has finally found someone he loves spending time with, but when Johnson sells his boat to an unnamed buyer, Ross’ life takes a whole new turn downward.
Elvis Presley……….Danny Fisher
Carolyn Jones……….Ronnie
Walter Matthau……….Maxie Fields
Here is Elvis’ version of James Dean’s Rebel Without A Cause complete with the look of the white t-shirt and jeans so he looks like a bad ass. Elvis plays the role of Danny Fisher who is a bad kid that just can’t seem to get his act together. He even ends up getting thrown out of high school by a teacher that decided to flunk him the day before graduation. Danny got into a fight and was late for class and his teacher just wasn’t going to sit for his truancy anymore.
Danny needs to do whatever he can to make some money and ends up busing tables at a nightclub in New Orleans. It is at the club that he meets Ronnie, the girlfriend of the night club’s owner, gangster Maxie Fields. Maxie doesn’t take too kindly to someone talking to his girlfriend, so Danny does the only thing he can think of. He sings. And his voice proves to be so good that Maxie wants to hire him, but so does the owner of the King Creole Club, Charlie LeGrand. Danny has a new job and quickly is wanted by everyone.
It’s his sudden popularity that doesn’t sit well with Maxie though and soon the squeeze is put on Danny and he has to hide out. The trouble doesn’t stop there either though as he falls in with a bad crowd that aims to rob the five and dime for some quick cash. Here Danny meets Nellie and falls for her which makes him want to go straight, but things aren’t ever that easy.
Elvis Presley……….Rick Richards
Suzanna Leigh……….Judy Hudson (Friday)
Rick Richards is a smooth talking and good-looking guy that can pretty much persuade his way into anything and also sing. Also knowing how to fly planes, Rick gets together with his friend Danny Kohana to start up a service of transporting customers by plane up and down the coast of Hawaii. Danny needs a bit of convincing though as he knows his old friend is not always the most reliable, but eventually he gives in.
After business has started and goes well for a while, Danny’s cautiousness was merited as Rick is constantly flirting and sweet-talking as many women as possible. Sure it drums up business, but Danny is still nervous that Rick will flake out on him. Danny’s fears start to get a little closer to reality when Judy is hired on as an assistant and she is beautiful. Just the way Rick likes them. And even though Danny tells a little white lie that Judy is already taken to help keep his friend from becoming smitten, Rick is still dead set on winning her over.
Elvis Presley……….Charlie Rogers
Barbara Stanwyck……….Maggie Morgan
Charlie Rogers is a singer who wanders around playing for everyone and trying to get gigs to make some cash. He doesn’t seem to have a problem getting the gigs, but his attitude usually stops him from keeping them. With nowhere else to go, Charlie hits the open road on his motorcycle letting the highways take him wherever he may end up.
Along his travels, Charlie ends up in an accident wrecking his motorcycle and rendering it un-drivable. A few people from a traveling carnival run by Maggie Morgan volunteer to help Charlie fix his bike, but it is going to take a week. It is then that Charlie takes a job as a roustabout with the carnival and does little odd jobs here and there to pass the time and pay for the repairs. But in his down time, he’s going to enjoy the fun times, singing some lively songs, and spending lots of time with many pretty girls.
The Video
The films are all seen in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen and each looks good. Most are seen in color, but there are a few still in black and white. Colors are a bit dull though showing the age of the films, but the black and white really looks much better and shines brighter making it more pleasant to watch.
The Audio
The films are heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, but they really aren’t. The only thing to eve really be heard coming through any speakers other then center front was the music. But considering that all this set is composed of happens to be films dealing with strictly dialogue or musical numbers, then one out of two isn’t bad. Just be forewarned that the surround sound is not very strong at all and it may not seem as if it’s working at all, but it is.
Special Features
Theatrical Trailers – Each disc contains only one special feature and it is the original trailer for the film it is with.
The Inside Pulse
Here is a set that anyone who has ever heard of Elvis Presley can enjoy. Yes, that would mean everyone. His more popular films are the ones usually played on TV and that you hear more about. I recommend that you take this chance to watch a few films that show more depth behind Elvis’ character and showcase some songs that you don’t usually here. It is a shame that there are no special features except for some trailers, but I’m willing to bet that this set was put together with the mindset that each film won’t ever get its own special edition DVD. A bright spot in this set though is the really cool blue suede packaging box that the eight discs come in. But as for the special editions, those will be saved Jailhouse, Love Me Tender, and a few others. In this the thirtieth anniversary year of the King’s death, it is time everyone associate themselves with more of what made him a star then his music and those hips which were considered illegal in fifteen states.
