Elvis Presley’s Movies

1956,November 16, Elvis’s first movie, Love Me Tender, was released. (Clint Reno)

The movie seemed to be a failure, but a box office success; Elvis was the main attraction and the demand so great that Twentieth Century-Fox had to distribute almost double their usual prints of a first run movie.

The critics quickly dismissing the movie and marked it as a B grade melodrama.
But what the critics didn’t see was the fact that Love Me Tender is a classic love story.

But for as long as Elvis lived he would be bothered by the poor quality of the scripts and songs.

1957,July 9, Elvis released his second movie, Loving You, (Deke Rivers) this movie dealt with the theme of troubled youth.

Elvis’s hair was naturally light brown but dyed it a darker shade, later he would keep it as he preferred, the color blue-black.

1957, October, Jailhouse Rock, was released. (Vince Everett)

It is considered by many to be Elvis’s best movie Elvis enjoyed the vigorous Rock-and-Roll score, as he threw himself into the main role.

Elvis himself choreographed the title number. And to this day remains a Rock and Roll classic.

1958, June 4, While Elvis training in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas King Creole was released by Paramount. (Danny Fisher)

King Creole is remembered as one of Elvis Presley’s best movies, and is probably the only one that was ever taken seriously by the critics, the good reviews of the movie filled Elvis with deep satisfaction and accomplishment, which would stay with him right up until his mothers sudden death.

1960, October, G.I.BLUES, (Tulsa McLean) was Elvis’s first movie after two years in the Army, then Flaming star, (Pacer Burton) and Wild In The Country (Glenn Tyler) were made the following year, (1961)

The three movies were a financial success, but a dramatic failure.

1961, November 14, the film Blue Hawaii was released, (Chad Gates)

It was a huge success: one of Elvis’s biggest money makers, records continued to sell, an album made from the songs in Blue Hawaii was the fastest-selling album of the year.
The film reached the five-million-dollar mark.

1962, January 18, Elvis signed a five-year multimillion-dollar contract with producer Hal Wallis, the movie Follow That Dream was filmed in Florida. (Toby Kwimper)

1962, July, Kid Galahad (Walter Gulick) the film was another one of Elvis’s movies that did not do as well at the box office.

1962, November 2, Girls! Girls! Girls! was released. (Ross Carpenter) produced by Hal Wallis, the film included the sound track “Return To Sender.”

1963, April, Elvis’s first movie for the year was, “It Happened at the World’s Fair” (Mike Edwards) it was filmed in Seattle.

Elvis’s next movie for the same year was Fun In Acapulco (Mike Windgren) the critics would dismiss his movie as lightweight fluff, never recognizing the depth he brought to each of his roles.

1964, March, Kissin’ Cousins, was released (Josh Morgan / Jodie Tatum)

A movie in which Elvis played two parts, giving his fan’s double value for money.

1964, April, the movie Viva Las Vegas (Lucky Jackson) was one of his best musicals and grossed nearly Six-Million Dollar

1964, November, Roustabout (Charlie Rogers) was put with other lightweight Elvis Presley movies.

1965, In this year Elvis released three movies Girl Happy (Rusty Wells), Tickle Me (Lonnie Beale), and Harum Scarum (Johnny Tyronne), most of his movies were musicals, and these three no exception.

1966, the movie Frankie and Johnny (Johnny) was released, and then Paradise Hawaiian Style (Rick Richards)

1966, Elvis’s next two movies: Spinout (Mick McCoy) and 1967, Easy Come, Easy Go (Ted Jackson), both are typical of his movies.

During Elvis’s years in Hollywood, the actor- Elvis Presley, films were never given the recognition they deserved.

1967, Double Trouble (Guy Lambert) and Clambake (Scott Heyward / ‘Tom Wilson’) were released.

1968, Stay Away, Joe (Joe Lightcloud) was released in March, the next two movies, Speedway (Steve Grayson) was released in June and Live a Little, Love a Little (Greg Nolan) was released in October.

1969, in March, Charro (Jess Wade) was released, and although Elvis continued to make more movies, he was ready to move in a new direction.

1969, Elvis went on to make two more movies, The Trouble with Girls (Walter Hale) released in May, and Change of Habit (Dr John Carpenter) came out in October, which would be Elvis Presley’s last movie.

1972, ELVIS ON TOUR, ended the age of Elvis Presley movies, and left Hollywood be hind him.

Elvis Presley’s movies grossed over $180 Million Dollars, more Millions were made when Colonel Tom Parker started the merchandising of Elvis’s products, and the Colonel controlled the rights.