Elvis Presley Movies - Elvis Presley Pictures

Elvis Movies. Elvis films can be divided into 3 distinct categories. His pre-army films, the 60’s travelogues & two documentaries. When Elvis signed a 7-year movie deal in ‘58, Hollywood was still run under the old studio system which disallowed an actor any creative input. With the void created by James Dean’s death, Hollywood cashed-in on the lucrative teenage market. Pre-Army Movies: Love Me Tender - Loving You - Jailhouse Rock - King Creole. Post-Army Movies: Twenty-Seven Special Duds? Elvis 60’s films say more about Hollywood then Elvis’ acting abilities. The answer to why Hollywood sanitized Elvis the actor can simply be called greed. Because Blue Hawaii set a precedent of not stretching Elvis as an actor & filling the genre with lots of songs and it made millions -the studio just repeated the formula 27 times until even the most loyal Elvis fans stayed away. The question often asked would Elvis have given an Oscar award-winning performance had he taken up Barbra Streisand’s offer to co-star in A Star is Born.   

5     G.I. Blues (1960) 
6     Flaming Star (1960) 
7     Wild in the Country (1961) 
8     Blue Hawaii (1961)
9     Follow That Dream (1962)
10   Kid Galahad (1962)
11   Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) 
12   It Happened At the World’s Fair (1963) 
13   Fun in Acapulco (1963) 
14   Kissin’ Cousins (1964) 
15   Viva Las Vegas (1964)
16   Roustabout (1964) 
17   Girl Happy (1965) 
18   Tickle Me (1965) 
19   Harum Scarum (1965) 
20   Frankie & Johnny (1966) 
21   Paradise Hawaiian Style (1966)
22   Spinout (1966)
23   Easy Come, Easy Go (1967) 
24   Double Trouble (1967)
25   Clambake (1967)
26   Stay Away, Joe (1968) 
27   Speedway (1968) 
28   Live A Little, Love A Little (1968) 
29   Charro! (1969)
30   The Trouble With Girls (1969) 
31   Change of Habit (1969)  

Elvis Documentaries
32 Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (1970)
33 Elvis on Tour (1972)

“Singers come and go. But if you a good actor you can last a long time , ” Elvis Presley (1956) By the time Elvis arrived in Hollywood, he had already conquered the music business with 2 hits, Heartbreak Hotel and Hound Dog. He had also stirred a national controversy on television with his gyrating performances. His fame was now set to rise to a new plateau - motion pictures. Elvis always loved movies. In high school, he worked as an usher in a local theatre. Even after he started his singing career, he longed to be an actor as well. When music skyrocketed him to fame the dream of Hollywood suddenly came within reach. Elvis truly believed that being a successful actor would bring him longevity as a celebrity. As it turned out, his movie appearances combined most effectively with his unprecedented musical success established him as the most important entertainer of our time. 

This Is Elvis (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Elvis Presley’s first four films, Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock & King Creole influenced the metamorphosis of popular entertainment in the 50’s. This was a precious, fleeting time in Elvis’ life and career - long before the tabloid image of the aging rock star. Barely out of his teens, Elvis burst onto the movie screen with formidable poise and conviction. He came across as moody and charismatic - a mix of sexual dynamite and enormous charm. Elvis was the rebel who instantly picked up where James Dean left off. But the image of untamed youth that Elvis projected in his first four movies would soon be history. By the time he returned from the Army in 1960 to make GI Blues & Blue Hawaii , he was no longer the rebellious, anti-hero of just a few years before. His hair was shorter, his sideburns were gone - even his music was subdued. Elvis had definitely changed - and it showed.  

LOVE ME TENDER ( November 1956) a story set during the Civil War and Elvis plays Clint, the youngest of the Reno Brothers. On the first day of shooting, Elvis arrived with the entire script memorized - his lines plus those of the other actors. He told reporters: “I wouldn’t care too much about singing in the movies.” Love Me Tender was not an Elvis vehicle. He did not get top billing and he does not appear until 20 minutes into the film. He has no screen kiss but he does sing 4 songs. The movie was a major box-office smash, clearly due to Elvis’ appearance. It earned back its million-dollar production cost in less than a week. Faster than any previous Hollywood film, despite critics’ skepticism about Elvis’ acting ability. Watching Love Me Tender Elvis’ mother walked out during her son’s death scene and said that she never, ever wants to be witness to that image again. Memorable Scenes: Elvis’ first screen appearance is ploughing a field. His character introduced as young and innocent, and Elvis promotes a sincere image.

Elvis emotionally confronts his wife (Debra Paget) about her love for his brother. It is powerful scene and Elvis executes his role very convincingly. At a local fair Elvis sings Let Me and Poor Boy. The scene bares a striking resemblance to Elvis’ early performances at state fairs in the South. Torn by love and contempt, Elvis shoots his brother in an emotional culminating moment. Elvis sings Love Me Tender after being killed. His image is superimposed in the sky over the farm. The idea of Elvis dead didn’t seem palatable for audiences so his ‘image’ was kept alive in this reprise of the title tune.

LOVING YOU (July 1957) The success story contained in Loving You closely resembles the rise to fame that Elvis was experiencing at the time. His character, Deke is introduced as a delivery boy who discovers a natural talent for performing and soon reaches national attention as a singer. In contrast to Love Me Tender Elvis appears in nearly all the scenes of Loving You, and it’s the only color Elvis movie from the 50’s. Elvis story is presented on screen in Loving You as a wholesome tale of success helping to transmit the idea that he was not such a threat to middle America after all. The soundtrack is packed with songs, establishing a formula where Elvis’ music promoted his films and vice versa. There are many outstanding musical performances in the film, along with a number of impressive acting moments.

Memorable Scenes: Elvis sings PARTY impressing Lizabeth Scott who becomes his self-appointed manager. This is the first close-up look at Elvis in color that defined a model for rock-n-roll performances that would be imitated by so many other entertainers for generations to come. When Lizabeth Scott asks Elvis to join her traveling show, he accepts. It is the only time on film his performance is as raw and sexy as his stage act. Elvis sings Mean Woman Blues in a restaurant and then beats up the wise guy that challenged him. Although polite Elvis’ character is always quick to aggressively defend what he believes in a trait often portrayed in his movies. When attacked by an over-sexed girl, Elvis gets his first screen kiss.

JAILHOUSE ROCK (November 1957) This is considered by many critics to be Elvis’ most classic film. Coming at the height of his 50’s popularity, he portrays a cynical ex-convict turned pop-singer. Elvis received $250K plus 50% from the profits of the film that grossed just under $4 million, ranking #4 for the year. Elvis' dialogue features the latest slang & his wardrobe was cutting-edge rock-n-roll fashion. His manner and dress did much to reinforce his rebel image. Elvis had told the press when he first came to Hollywood, “I took this screen test where I was real happy, I didn’t like that. Then I did other one where I was mad at this guy and I liked it better. It was me.” Jailhouse Rock must have been the role Elvis was waiting for.

Memorable Scenes: Defending a lady’s honor, Elvis accidentally kills a bar patron. Elvis’ character, Vince is introduced in this powerful scene as especially volatile and ornery. Sent to prison, Elvis is forced to get a haircut, a scene fans did not expect. Stuck in the pen, Elvis performs I Want To Be Free in a variety show. A fitting set-up for the changes that his character will experience in the story. After release, Elvis begins a recording career. In the studio, he performs the hit number Treat Me Nice. Elvis impulsively grabs his new manager (Judy Tyler) and kisses her, claiming “It’s just the beast in me" This is the most sexually charged moment in the movie as he walks away with a sneer. Elvis performs the classic production number Jailhouse Rock. The offbeat choreography and complex staging make this scene highly memorable and is considered the very first "music-video"

KING CREOLE (July 1958) was Elvis’ personal favorite. Based on the Harold Robbins’ novel A Stone For Danny Fisher, King Creole is a dark suspense-filled tale of troubled teenager who grows up quickly after a brush with society’s worst element. The role was reportedly once offered to James Dean. Shot on location in New Orleans, King Creole boasts an all-star cast including, Walter Matthau, Dean Jagger & Carolyn Jones. Michael Curtiz of Casablanca fame was the director. King Creole earned Elvis favorable reviews as an actor, but drew the lowest gross for his 4 films in the 50’s. The script is filled with complex scenes that allowed Elvis to explore a full range of his acting abilities. King Creole hinted at a movie career that was never to be for young Elvis Presley. Many believed that this impressive acting performance, he had opened the door to play additional dramatic roles. Unfortunately, this was never to be the case. 

Memorable Scenes: Elvis sings Crawfish trading notes with a woman wheeling a fish-cart. At school Elvis is expelled for fighting and will not graduate. In a touching soliloquy he tells the principal that he’s ‘a hustler’ not a ‘hoodlum’ who trying to hold his family together because of the death of his mother. At home, Elvis argues with his father (Dean Jagger) who wants him to stay at school. He calls his father ‘a failure’ and stomps off to try and ‘make a buck.’ Elvis walks through a department store singing Lover Doll as a distraction while his friends shoplift. When Elvis meets Dolores Hart , she instantly falls in love. As in Loving You Elvis, play opposite two leading ladies: one young and naive, the other older and more sophisticated.