DVD: Elvis 75th Birthday Collection
Elvis 75th Birthday Collection, seven of his best or worst movies
Collection of Elvis Presley movie classics includes some of his best and worst, except not everyone agrees which is which *** 3 Stars
By Gabrielle Pantera
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 7/3/2010 – Elvis Presley movies were made fast and cheap. The more he sang, the better the movie. Fox has released seven Elvis movies as a set to honor his birthday.
Clambake (1967) is a The Prince and the Pauper story with millionaire oil tycoon Elvis getting his wish to get away from stress to live the ordinary life by switching identities with a happy-go-lucky water ski instructor. Of course there’s a girl, the delightful Shelley Fabares, who 22 years later would star in almost 200 episodes of ABC Coach. In Clambake, Elvis finds himself in competition with a smarmy Bill Bixby, both for Fabares and to win the big boat race. This movie is the most fun of all the movies in this set. At times it’s a bit campy, but the songs are memorable and at the end you’re in a upbeat mood.
Follow That Dream (1962) is a Forrest Gump story with Elvis the most simple-minded of a family of well-meaning country hicks. After their old car breaks down on the Florida turnpike the family is forced to become squatters. A loophole in the law means they can own that particular piece of landfill if they can remain on it long enough, an outcome a state official is determined to prevent. A curvy social worker takes a personal interest in “helping” Elvis. Directed by Gordon Douglas; Written by Charles Lederer and based on the novel by Richard Powell. Despite the yokel story, this movie is better then you first think. Maybe it’s not the best script, but it’s engaging and funny.
Flaming Star (1960) is a Dances with Wolves story with Elvis the mixed-breed son who wants to stop the settlers and Indians from fighting. Elvis’ Kiowa mother is played by Dolores del Rio and her Texan husband is played by John McIntire. When conflict breaks out between the Indians and the settlers, Elvis opposes his half brother played by Steve Forrest. Directed by Don Siegel. Written by Clair Huffaker and Nunnally Johnson. There are two songs by Elvis at the beginning of the movie. The film is well directed and not too preachy.
Frankie and Johnny (1966) has Elvis as a riverboat singer obsessed with misfortune. When a gypsy says he needs a redhead as a good luck charm, that’s not good news to girlfriend and singing partner Donna Douglas. Yes, it’s the girl from The Beverly Hillbillies. There are eleven original songs and it’s Elvis’ motion picture dancing debut. Directed by Frederick De Cordova;.Written by Alex Gottlieb.
Kid Galahad (1962) Elvis is a former G.I. who’s returned home to work as an auto mechanic. Gig Young, who runs a boxing camp, notices Elvis has a natural talent as a boxer. Elvis gets as his trainer Charles Bronson. Directed by Phil Karlson.
Love Me Tender (1956) is a Cold Mountain type of story, but don’t expect Oscar performances. Elvis stays home while his brother goes to fight the Civil War…on losing side. After hearing of his brother’s death, Elvis marries his brother’s sweetheart played by Debra Paget. With reports of his death having been greatly exaggerated, the brother, played by Richard Egan, returns home to find his girl is married to Elvis. That creates conflict. Directed by Robert D. Webb. Written by Robert Buckner;
Wild in the Country (1961) is a Peyton Place story of a town wrongfully accusing Elvis and his therapist Hope Lange of having an affair. Elvis is a country boy, seething with hostility, but a gifted writer. Elvis has chemistry with sweetheart Millie Perkins and bad girl Tuesday Weld, but the scenes with Hope Lange drag on with heavy dialog. Directed by Philip Dunne. Written by Clifford Odets and based on the novel by J.R. Salamanca. Elvis takes himself seriously here as an actor. Not much fun.
This collection has one disc for each movie packaged in two cases. There are no DVD bonus features, unfortunately. It would have been fun to hear more about how these movies were made.
Elvis 75th Birthday Collection
- Format: Box set, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 7
- Rated: NR (Not Rated)
- Studio: 20th Century Fox
- DVD Release Date: June 1, 2010
- Cost: $33 at Amazon.com