Although downplayed today, young Elvis Presley was a larger phenomenon as a film star than he was a singer (not to infer he was anything but spectacularly popular as a vocalist). So much so, Elvis abandoned concert work for a decade, devoting himself and much of his recording output to Hollywood. During the 1960s, he released 27 major studio movies, nearly all musical-comedies.
1. "Viva Las Vegas" (1964)
At best, the Presley comedies are more amiable than hilarious, like a hang with your pal. You know the one, the incredibly handsome babe magnet -- who also happens to be a fistfight and production number magnet. In "Vegas," Elvis meets kittenish vixen Ann-Margret, who is every bit his charismatic, crooning, gyrating, spunky counterpart. Their chemistry sparkles and fluffs, both bright and amusing.
2. "Blue Hawaii" (1961)
Good news and bad: This splashy entertainment was a big hit and a fine star vehicle. The problem: After improving on musical-comedy "G.I. Blues" (1960), the Elvis Presley movie formula was perfected and forever carved in gold. Except for an end-of-career western side step, "Charro!" (1969), and a church drama, "Change of Habit" (1969), each narrative film to come aped the "Hawaii, Blue"-print.3. "Follow That Dream" (1962)
Homesteaders' ploys tickled me, when I was 10. As a wide-eyed kid, I loved the Presley comedies from a front row seat three times per year. Long before my teens, I noticed the encroaching lameness of the pictures, and the bored onscreen "sleepwalking" of a beloved star. As an adult, I sadly dub actor Elvis "The King of Crock and Reels." He'd shown true promise, but settled for mediocrity and cash.4. Honorable Mention: "Top Secret!" (1984)
A better title might be "Elvis Presley: Spy," since this hysterical project is easily the funniest Elvis movie ever made, yet he's not in it -- Val Kilmer is. From the lunatics behind "Airplane!" (1980), Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, and David Zucker, comes an oddball espionage tale which relishes spoofing Elvis flicks. Watch the real Presleys first, but see "Top Secret!" roust-about the laughs.