Blue Hawaii (1961)

Awesome Movie

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.While not one of the top three Elvis films, those being 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star' and 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Blue Hawaii' is one of his better overall films. It's proof that his early films were actually pretty good, but unfortunately it was one of his last good ones when the formula started here wore increasingly thin and further suffered from looking less appealing and even the quality of the soundtracks and Elvis' acting wavering significantly.'Blue Hawaii' could have been better. The formulaic story has occasional draggy spots due to the content not quite being enough to sustain the running time. While most of the soundtrack is great, there is a big difference between the best songs and the weakest, with a couple of songs that don't feel necessary, feel thrown in for the sake of it and are neither catchy or beautiful, particularly "Ito Eats" and "Splicin' Sand". The supporting cast is variable, annoying Jenny Maxwell and dull John Archer coming off worst.However, Elvis looks natural and is very charismatic, as well as vocally and performance-wise being very much in prime. Personally thought Joan Blackman was appealing, likewise with her chemistry with Elvis, but Roland Winters and particularly Angela Lansbury fare best in support.Visually, 'Blue Hawaii' is one of the most beautiful-looking Elvis films, along with 'King Creole' and 'Flaming Star'. It's beautifully shot and Hawaii entrances more than it ever has on film. Norman Taurog directs assuredly in by far one of his better outings with Elvis (there were 9 and the first two, the other two being 'GI Blues', are the best).Most of the soundtrack is simply great, the highlight being the sublime "Can't Help Falling in Love", one of Elvis' most famous songs and it is impossible to not understand why. "No More", "Rock-a-Hula Baby", "Hawaiian Sunset" and "Hawaiian Wedding Song" are honourable mentions. The script is witty and there is enough of the story that amuses and charms.In conclusion, good Elvis film, one of his better ones without being among his very best. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Chad Gates has just gotten out of the Army, and is happy to be back in Hawaii with his surf-board, his beach buddies, and his girlfriend. His father wants him to go to work at the Great Southern Hawaiian Fruit Company, but Chad is reluctant. So Chad goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency.While I can't say I'm a huge Elvis fan, nor have I seen almost any of his movies, I rather enjoyed this one. It is just so laid back and fun. Sure, it makes little sense that he just breaks into song and sounds absolutely perfect. But does it matter? Amovie like this seems perfect or the era that brought us Frankie Avalon and such movies as "Beach Blanket Bingo". They just do not make good beach movies anymore. Heck, do they even make bad ones?

This may be the best Elvis movie of them all. There are a lot of good songs and music in this film. Elvis comes back home to Hawaii after two years in the army. He does not want to go to work for his dad at the pineapple plantation he runs so he starts working as a tourist guide. His first set of customers are a youngish teacher escorting four teen girls. So you know things get interesting when the underage ones see Elvis. One is so infatuated with him she throws herself at him. Turned down she steals a jeep, crashes it by the beach, runs into the water (I guess to drown herself). Of course Elvis shows up and rescues her. He administers a spanking which straightens out I guess. The main cast are all proved old timey type actors and do a great job. I did find Angela Lansbury's role to grate some because of the poor Southern accent and the fact that she played Elvis's mother but was only ten years older than him at the time. All in all though this is a very nicely done show with a lot of Hawaiians actually getting real acting parts.

Incredibly weak outing for Elvis Presley, here playing a soldier returning home to Honolulu and fighting with his parents over the direction of his life (seems E.P. wants to be a guide for tourists, but his folks would rather have him go into the family business--pineapples). Angela Lansbury (playing Elvis' mother!) slips too easily into a caricature of a clucking mother-hen, possibly to help compensate for her miscasting; Joan Blackman is an entirely forgettable love-interest. Presley himself looks rather bored, and even his songs are mediocre. Film was very popular in 1961, mostly with Presley-fans who were celebrating his own return from service, and with viewers who never got to Hawaii themselves. *1/2 from ****