More About Elvis

Elvis Ultimate Film Collection—Graceland Edition

In 1956, the 21-year-old singer Elvis Presley exploded onto the national scene as rock ‘n’ roll’s first superstar. He also became a movie star, introduced on the silver screen in his first film, Love Me Tender. From 1956 through 1969, he made 31 films as an actor, followed by two theatrically released concert films in 1970 and 1972.

From the beginning, Elvis’ ambition was to be a “serious” actor. He publicly expressed his intention not to sing in his films and then was frustrated when musical performances got scripted into his first one. That first film and the three others he completed before setting aside his entertainment career to serve in the U.S. Army in 1958—Loving You (1957), Jailhouse Rock (1957), and especially King Creole (1958), all of which cast him as a singer—had dramatic storylines and showcased his raw talent and potential as an actor and his powerful, natural charisma. And it was no small advantage that the camera loved him—he was beautiful. His performance in these movies more than hinted that a film career along the lines of those enjoyed by some of his favorite actors—such as Marlon Brando, James Dean and Tony Curtis—could be his. Elvis immediately developed a reputation as a true professional—committed, prepared, gracious and a delight to work with. When he started, he over-studied, virtually memorizing entire scripts, not just his part. These first four films all were very successful and even some of the critics in the “Establishment,” some perhaps initially dismissive of the controversial young rocker-turned-actor, warmed to him.

G.I. Blues (1960), a romantic musical comedy, his first film after completing his army service, was a light-hearted affair with Elvis cast as a singing soldier stationed in Germany. (In real life, Elvis had just returned from a U.S. Army stint in Germany.) The film and its soundtrack were blockbuster hits. Dramatic films with little singing followed—Flaming Star (1960) and Wild In The Country (1961)—but did not approach the box office success of GI Blues. Then came Blue Hawaii (1961)—lush location, luscious ladies, light romantic comedy storyline, and lots of songs. It was another major hit and something that would become known as the “Elvis film formula” was set. Although most of Elvis’ films were nothing like the dramatic sort he had first hoped to make, they were all financially successful, and for a number of years Elvis was one of Hollywood’s top box office stars and one of its highest paid actors. Elvis went along with what his manager and the movie industry wanted him to do. He enjoyed his success and a good many of the films, but it was disheartening for him to learn that the money the studios made from his movies something financed the production of some of the “artistic” kinds of pictures he longed so much to make.

Elvis’ films were G-rated for family audiences and, in the context of movie musicals of the era (years past the “golden age” of the Hollywood musical), many of them were quite good. There is even some provocative, subtle adult content to be found in most if one pays attention. And, of course, Elvis is irresistible. Although there was some schlocky music material that Elvis had to endure recording along with performing some storylines that were equally beneath his gifts, soundtracks from some of the films, particularly those in the 1950s and early 1960s, yielded classic Elvis recordings. Rivaled perhaps only by Blue Hawaii, the real standout Elvis film of the 1960s is Viva Las Vegas, co-starring Ann-Margret. It was his biggest box office hit and for the general public today it could be the best-known Elvis film of all. By the end of the 1960s, Elvis’ movie career was winding down, but it’s interesting to see the shift from the “formula” to more dramatic, or at least more “grown up” storylines in his later films. Some of them could be considered among his best film work of the 1960s.

In 1969, after the triumph of a 1968 concert television special, Elvis, age 34, left acting and continued a vigorous and exciting renewal of his career in recording and on the concert stage. It is known that Elvis had it in his mind to act again, if the right film and the right role came along, to show Hollywood, the public and himself what he was really made of as an actor. Alas, it was not to be, but the films he made were a source of enjoyment to audiences of all ages around the world. They still are. The study of his Hollywood years—what went on behind the scenes, all the interesting people he worked with, the ups and downs, the ins and outs—is fascinating. It is a large and meaningful part of the legacy of Elvis Presley, one of the world’s most beloved and enduring stars.

We hope Elvis:  The Ultimate Film Collection—Graceland Edition will be the first installment of several movie DVD sets to bring the film legacy of Elvis Presley home to new audiences and to offer special extra content pleasing to them and to Elvis’ longtime fans.