Elvis Presley musicals come to blu ray

Elvis Presley’s importance to music cannot be overstated. He is perhaps the single most important figure in the history of popular songs. He redefined the culture in ways that we’re still trying to fathom.

However, Elvis’s movie career has always been something that even ardent fans have dismissed as insignificant. While Presley had some innate talent as an actor (examples are plentiful – “Loving You,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “King Creole,” “Flaming Star,” “Wild in the Country,” etc) he was forever shunted into lightweight musicals that didn’t really challenge this are of his talent. His manager, Colonel Parker, would tell directors to do whatever they pleased, as long as they made money and had enough songs to release a soundtrack album.

The problem was box office. The heavy Clifford Odets drama “Wild in the Country” was the only Elvis film to lose money. The colorful musical confection “Blue Hawaii” was his biggest moneymaker. The verdict? Make more colorful musical confections, two of which have been released as beautiful blu rays by Kino Lorber.

By the time Elvis made “Frankie and Johnny” and “Clambake,” in 1966 and 1967, respectively, he wasn’t making the music charts like he used to, having been eclipsed by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Motown. His movies, however, still made good money, despite the fact that he had settled into a formula that he himself felt was limitied and uninspiring. In fact, Elvis always called “Clambake” his worst movie.

I wrote an entire book, “The Elvis Movies,” in which I argue in favor of Elvis Presley’s movie career. What the critics, and even Elvis himself, didn’t seen to realize is how much we enjoyed these lightweight musicals. We aren’t always looking for the great cinema of a John Ford or Alfred Hitchcock. Sometimes a movie full of bright colors, pleasant songs, amusing situations, and pretty girls is quite enough. “Clambake” and “Frankie and Johnny” might not have been “Citizen Kane” or “Rear Window,” but you’ll feel better after watching them. That’s the effect fun movies have on their viewers.

“Frankie and Johnny” was at least somewhat of a departure from the Elvis Presley movie formula in that it was a period piece, set during the 1920s. As with many Presley movies, the supporting cast was filled with such welcome veterans as Harry Morgan, Robert Strauss, Cliff Norton, Jerome Cowan, Billy Benedict, James Milhollan, and Eddie Quillan. The female lead is Donna Douglas, at the time enjoying strong popularity form her stint on television's “Beverly Hillbillies.” Sue Ane Langdon, who had appeared with Elvis in “Roustabout” appears playing a similar role. The screenplay was written by co-producer Alex Gottlieb, who had produced Abbott and Costello, from a story by Nat Perrin who had written for The Marx Brothers. Director Fred de Cordova did a nice job of keeping the frame bustling with movement during the medium shots, that required background.

The film is based on the traditional song which is sometimes credited to songwriter Hughie Cannon. The song was inspired by an actual murder where a woman named Frankie Baker (1876-1952) shot her lover Allen (aka Albert) Britt in the abdomen after he won a slow-dancing contest with a woman named Alice Pryor. Songwriter Bill Dooley composed "Frankie Killed Allen" shortly after this case. It was the writer of "Won't you Come Home Bill Bailey," Hughie Cannon, who came out with the first published music of "Frankie and Johnny" in 1904, under the title "He Done Me Wrong." It uses the names Frankie and Johnny, and the other woman as Nellie Blye. It is this version, using these names, on which the Elvis Presley film is most closely based.

Variety liked this movie, stating in a review at the time:

“Frankie and Johnny” is a sure-fire box office entry. It’s Elvis all the way in a story built loosely around the classic folk song, coupled with a dozen or so tunes, pretty girls and Technicolor. Frederick de Cordova directed the Edward Small production, which hits the mark as pleasant entertainment, and is certain to be another Presley money-winner. Elvis is Elvis. He sings and acts, apparently doing both with only slight effort. Frankie and Johnny proves to be nothing more than an hour and a half romp, providing a showcase for Presley’s songs. He does 12 of them, including the title tune.

The soundtrack reached the Top 20 on the album charts.

“Clambake” has a “Prince and the Pauper” dynamic as Elvis plays Scott Hayward, a rich boy who feels trapped by his wealth. Scott leaves his family drives to Florida in a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Racer in an attempt to sort out what he wants to do with his life. When Scott stops for gas, he meets Tom Wilson (Will Hutchins), who is on his way to take a job as a waterskiing instructor at a hotel in Miami. Tom remarks that Scott must have it made, so Scott gets the idea to switch identities with Tom so he can find out how people will react to him as an ordinary person. Tom, meanwhile, gets to pretend to wealth. Scott must then maintain the facade of a water skiing instructor once they reach the hotel, while Tom enjoys his role as a pampered wealthy guest. Another guest, Dianne Carter (Shelley Fabares) insists on water skiing lessons once she sees Scott, but proves herself to be quite adept on the water. She just wants to attract the attention of another wealthy guest, James Jameson (Bill Bixby). Diane admits to being a golddigger and assumes Scott is also. He ends up falling for Diane, despite his misgivings about her approach.

Bill Bixby, having completed his run as the nervous Tim O'Hara on television's “My Favorite Martian,” and is especially effective as the smarmy rich boy who expects to have whatever he wants. Jameson is the antithesis of Scott, who disdains wealth and privilege. Bixby plays up his character with flamboyant zeal, offering perhaps the best comic performance in the movie. His pretentious manner, conflicts with Scott, expectations regarding Dianne, and reaction to his own comeuppance are all played effectively for laughs.

Variety liked this one too, stating:

Elvis Presley has the benefit of superior mounting throughout in his latest, “Clambake,” carrying such a title because of a fast and colorful musical production number. The Jules Levy-Arthur Gardner-Arnold Leven production is one of the singer’s top offerings to date, backed by a legitimately-premised story line, melodic songs, acceptable acting and winding with a spectacular water race. Film has all the makings of being one of Presley’s heaviest grossers.

The soundtrack album reached number 18 on the charts. One of the highlights in the movie is Presley’s nice rendition of Eddie Arnold’s “You Don’t Know Me.”

Both of these films look beautiful in their new blu ray restorations, and for Elvis fans who enjoy the carefree fun of his movies, they are most highly recommended. Despite his misgivings of not being challenged as an actor, Elvis Presley anchors each movie and is effective and pleasant throughout.

Frankie and Johnny is available here.

Clambake is available here.