With all this talk about Clambake...
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With all this talk about Clambake...
With the current thread about Clambake, I thought it would be interesting for members to name their picks as Elvis' best 3 acting performances and also his worst 3. Here are mine:
Best:
King Creole - no contest. Far & away the best. Brilliant through the whole movie. (he had been progressing since Love Me Tender)
Flaming Star - almost as good
Wild In The Country - Not bad, but you can see their is no progression from King Creole anymore. It seems the growth stopped here and some scenes are a bit forced, but the hotel scene with Hope Lange may be his finest on film.
Worst:
Clambake - for me the worst. He looks totally disinterested and like he'd rather be anywhere else. A walk through.
Harum Scarum - the first of the truly rotten performances where there is nothing really good to say.
PHS, Double Trouble, F&J, ECEG - these films & performances are so interchangeable they are all tied for third!
Best:
King Creole - no contest. Far & away the best. Brilliant through the whole movie. (he had been progressing since Love Me Tender)
Flaming Star - almost as good
Wild In The Country - Not bad, but you can see their is no progression from King Creole anymore. It seems the growth stopped here and some scenes are a bit forced, but the hotel scene with Hope Lange may be his finest on film.
Worst:
Clambake - for me the worst. He looks totally disinterested and like he'd rather be anywhere else. A walk through.
Harum Scarum - the first of the truly rotten performances where there is nothing really good to say.
PHS, Double Trouble, F&J, ECEG - these films & performances are so interchangeable they are all tied for third!
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Best for me are
KING CREOLE : deff the best without a shadow of doubt. should of won an award for this one
Follow that dream: Ok Elvis play a not so bright kid but the court room and the way he takes the gun of the bad guy is sincere and funny.
Change of Habit. It's Elvis as it should of been. Yes there is singing in the film but the songs are better and the dialogue is soo much better, just a shame after 60 the films didnt stay like KIng Creole and change of habit.
Worse for me are as follow
Easy come Easy go: Enough said about this film the better
Paradise Hawaiian Style: Elvis totally out of shape
Blue Hawaii: I just don't like this film too wishy washy for my liking and Angela Lansbury bless her heart but omg.
KING CREOLE : deff the best without a shadow of doubt. should of won an award for this one
Follow that dream: Ok Elvis play a not so bright kid but the court room and the way he takes the gun of the bad guy is sincere and funny.
Change of Habit. It's Elvis as it should of been. Yes there is singing in the film but the songs are better and the dialogue is soo much better, just a shame after 60 the films didnt stay like KIng Creole and change of habit.
Worse for me are as follow
Easy come Easy go: Enough said about this film the better
Paradise Hawaiian Style: Elvis totally out of shape
Blue Hawaii: I just don't like this film too wishy washy for my liking and Angela Lansbury bless her heart but omg.
he maybe gone but never forgotten.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
I agree with the OP's 'Best' listing but you need to make room for Follow That Dream as potentially the best of all.
Worst films for me are Clambake, PHS and Kissin' Cousins, with an honourable mention for ECEG. I treat Harum Scarum as a Christmas pantomime and, as such, a curiosity. I see Frankie & Johnny as a stage musical and consequently just bearable, especially with (relatively speaking) the good quality cast.
Worst films for me are Clambake, PHS and Kissin' Cousins, with an honourable mention for ECEG. I treat Harum Scarum as a Christmas pantomime and, as such, a curiosity. I see Frankie & Johnny as a stage musical and consequently just bearable, especially with (relatively speaking) the good quality cast.
Last edited by Steve Morse on Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
It's all a matter of taste!
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Isn't that the whole point of this topic ?drjohncarpenter wrote:It's all a matter of taste!
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Nope.Steve Morse wrote:Isn't that the whole point of this topic ?drjohncarpenter wrote:It's all a matter of taste!
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Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
Dr. John Carpenter, M.D.
Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
King Creole is best at everything for me, the acting, the film, the music. I think Kid Galahad is almost excellent & EP is very good in it, but the songs ruin the drama for me (even though they're good songs I hasten to add! I really like the Kid Galahad music, it just interferes with the film).
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Topic author
Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
I like Kid Galahad too. I like the vibe of the two Mirisch Co films Too bad he did not make two more that was a possible option at the time.
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Topic author
Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Best
Follow That Dream
King Creole
Jailhouse Rock
Worst
Harum Scarum
Frankie And Johnny
Follow That Dream
King Creole
Jailhouse Rock
Worst
Harum Scarum
Frankie And Johnny
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Topic author
Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Best:
King Creole
Trouble with Girls
Flaming Star
Worst:
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Harum Scarum
Love Me Tender
Love Me Tender might surprise some people, but if we're talking about acting performances and not the quality of the film, then Love Me Tender has to be right up there with Elvis's worst. He is appallingly wooden, with one reviewer stating his acting performance was only slightly better than that of the horses. In the other two films I mention as worst, he's saddled with poor scripts, poor direction, bland co-stars, poor songs and low production values, so it's hardly surprising his performance isn't good.
King Creole
Trouble with Girls
Flaming Star
Worst:
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Harum Scarum
Love Me Tender
Love Me Tender might surprise some people, but if we're talking about acting performances and not the quality of the film, then Love Me Tender has to be right up there with Elvis's worst. He is appallingly wooden, with one reviewer stating his acting performance was only slightly better than that of the horses. In the other two films I mention as worst, he's saddled with poor scripts, poor direction, bland co-stars, poor songs and low production values, so it's hardly surprising his performance isn't good.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Yes it would have been a better film, sans music, just drama. Great cast, arguably the best ever for an Elvis film.King Volcano wrote:King Creole is best at everything for me, the acting, the film, the music. I think Kid Galahad is almost excellent & EP is very good in it, but the songs ruin the drama for me (even though they're good songs I hasten to add! I really like the Kid Galahad music, it just interferes with the film).
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Topic author
Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Yes I am asking to judge strictly on the acting and not the film, so your choice makes sense. He was new to the art and appears to be somewhat green to it, but still more natural in delivering lines in some ways than Clambake and the two you list. Interesting choice with The Trouble With Girls.poormadpeter wrote:Best:
King Creole
Trouble with Girls
Flaming Star
Worst:
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Harum Scarum
Love Me Tender
Love Me Tender might surprise some people, but if we're talking about acting performances and not the quality of the film, then Love Me Tender has to be right up there with Elvis's worst. He is appallingly wooden, with one reviewer stating his acting performance was only slightly better than that of the horses. In the other two films I mention as worst, he's saddled with poor scripts, poor direction, bland co-stars, poor songs and low production values, so it's hardly surprising his performance isn't good.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
I was also tempted to put Wild in the Country in the worst section. It's an interesting misfire, but Elvis seems completely lost throughout it.r&b wrote:Yes I am asking to judge strictly on the acting and not the film, so your choice makes sense. He was new to the art and appears to be somewhat green to it, but still more natural in delivering lines in some ways than Clambake and the two you list. Interesting choice with The Trouble With Girls.poormadpeter wrote:Best:
King Creole
Trouble with Girls
Flaming Star
Worst:
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Harum Scarum
Love Me Tender
Love Me Tender might surprise some people, but if we're talking about acting performances and not the quality of the film, then Love Me Tender has to be right up there with Elvis's worst. He is appallingly wooden, with one reviewer stating his acting performance was only slightly better than that of the horses. In the other two films I mention as worst, he's saddled with poor scripts, poor direction, bland co-stars, poor songs and low production values, so it's hardly surprising his performance isn't good.
I'm not saying Trouble with Girls is a great film, but his acting is really very good and natural, I think, and gets overlooked. He also acquits himself well in Follow That Dream, G I Blues, Blue Hawaii, Fun in Acapulco and Roustabout as well. Jailhouse Rock might be an iconic film with classic sequences, but watching it without looking at it for its historical importance, and its all rather clunky and Elvis's acting seems to blow hot and cold.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
He was just as good in "Clambake" as in "King Creole."
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Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Best:
1. King Creole
2. Jailhouse Rock
3. Follow That Dream
Worst (hard to make a separation between these):
1. PHS
2. Harum Scarum
3. Clambake
1. King Creole
2. Jailhouse Rock
3. Follow That Dream
Worst (hard to make a separation between these):
1. PHS
2. Harum Scarum
3. Clambake
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
The power of Presley!drjohncarpenter wrote:He was just as good in "Clambake" as in "King Creole."
Best:
Roustabout
Speedway
Loving You
Worst:
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Harum Scarum
Double Trouble
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Ohhh YEAHH!!drjohncarpenter wrote:He was just as good in "Clambake" as in "King Creole."
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
I completely disagree !poormadpeter wrote: I was also tempted to put Wild in the Country in the worst section. It's an interesting misfire, but Elvis seems completely lost throughout it.
I think that the Glen Tyler role was more difficult than the Danny Fisher one ; and the following statement may be naive on my part, but I imagine it's easier to act tough (King Creole) than to convey the mixed emotions that came with the Wild In The Country role. I think that Elvis's performance in WITC is excellent and it's certainly (along with Flaming Star) one of his most thought-provoking films, both films being enhanced by quality supporting casts.
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Intresting. What was the possible option?skatterbrane wrote:I like Kid Galahad too. I like the vibe of the two Mirisch Co films Too bad he did not make two more that was a possible option at the time.
Another thought: I read sometime, that the huge success of Blue Hawaii kinda determined the course of the rest of the movies for the 60s. Wish it had never happened this way...In every movie, after "quick buck Joe" joined the crew, one can taste the deterioration in quality....what a waste of talent. So 68 Comeback becomes "King Creole" musicwise, and then we get too much of the same stuff again...Vegas...
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
3 Best
King Creole
Wild In The Country
Jailhouse Rock
(Trouble With Girls is an interesting choice. Elvis certainly plays his character really well in that one but then again it's not the most challenging role he ever faced)
Worst
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Clambake
(In about 15 other films he acts exactly the same so I can't pick a third)
King Creole
Wild In The Country
Jailhouse Rock
(Trouble With Girls is an interesting choice. Elvis certainly plays his character really well in that one but then again it's not the most challenging role he ever faced)
Worst
Paradise Hawaiian Style
Clambake
(In about 15 other films he acts exactly the same so I can't pick a third)
"A song from my recent TV show, which was pretty bad, but you know... you can't win 'em all!" - Elvis Presley (August 25 1969 DS)
"My favourite guitar player on lead guitar, say hello to James Burton. Young man on rhythm guitar; he's fair to mediocre, John Wilkinson." (February 19 1970 MS)
"My mouth feels like Bob Dylan slept in it." (February 21 1971 MS)
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, my name is B.B. King" (August 16 1971 MS)
"Ed Sullivan looked at me and said "mmm, son of a b**ch." Nah, he's a nice... old chap." (January 27 1973 DS)
"I'm allowed on stage for 55 minutes to 1 hour. That's what they say. I say about 35 minutes!" (March 22 1975 MS)
"My favourite guitar player on lead guitar, say hello to James Burton. Young man on rhythm guitar; he's fair to mediocre, John Wilkinson." (February 19 1970 MS)
"My mouth feels like Bob Dylan slept in it." (February 21 1971 MS)
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, my name is B.B. King" (August 16 1971 MS)
"Ed Sullivan looked at me and said "mmm, son of a b**ch." Nah, he's a nice... old chap." (January 27 1973 DS)
"I'm allowed on stage for 55 minutes to 1 hour. That's what they say. I say about 35 minutes!" (March 22 1975 MS)
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
LIVE A LITTLE
STAY AWAY JOE - funny film
KING CREOLE
STAY AWAY JOE - funny film
KING CREOLE
You're a doctor too so your three doctors - Basil Fawlty
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Tremendous analogy. Best Ive read in a long time. And how ironic he kicks off the TV special with a song from King Creole!!sitdown revamped wrote:Intresting. What was the possible option?skatterbrane wrote:I like Kid Galahad too. I like the vibe of the two Mirisch Co films Too bad he did not make two more that was a possible option at the time.
Another thought: I read sometime, that the huge success of Blue Hawaii kinda determined the course of the rest of the movies for the 60s. Wish it had never happened this way...In every movie, after "quick buck Joe" joined the crew, one can taste the deterioration in quality....what a waste of talent. So 68 Comeback becomes "King Creole" musicwise, and then we get too much of the same stuff again...Vegas...
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Re: With all this talk about Clambake...
Yes and Will Hutchins was his Vic Morrow loldrjohncarpenter wrote:He was just as good in "Clambake" as in "King Creole."