While some people remember what they were doing when Kennedy was shot, I remember instead that I was helping my mom make chocolate chip cookies when Elvis’ death was announced on the radio. Many people would agree with me that August 16, 1977 was one of the very saddest days of last century and undoubtedly this year’s twenty-fifth anniversary of his death will be a huge deal around the world.

I may be jumping the gun, this being July, but I still haven’t seen quite a number of his thirty-one films and may have to order a couple not available in my area. 1960’s G.I. Blues, though, Elvis’ first musical made after honorable discharge from the army, came home with me last night along with his Frankie And Johnny (not listed in the database here!), Blue Hawaii and Fun in Acapulco. G.I. Blues followed four highly-esteemed movies that he filmed beginning in 1956 before his patriotic service, retaining the wonderful and endearing quality of Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock and Flaming Star.

If you have missed this fun, PG-rated movie or even ignored it because you think “all Elvis movies from the 60s are the same,” then you’re in for a surprise! Read on.


The Story


Shot on location Elvis had recently begun dating 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu (spelling?). In the only military exercise of the 104 minute musical, the opening sequence introduces us to Okie-bred Tulsa McLean (Elvis) in khakis having a good time in a tank blowing up a small building on the West German countryside. Not that army life should be overly glorified, the frivolity soon fades when the lead driver crashes into something that rips up one of the tank’s tracks and they must fix it.

Fast forward to the above waist-showing shower scene of the girl crazy outfit and soon Tulsa is singing out of the shower and on a stage at a well-lit, 60’s nightclub. The rhythmic title track shows vintage Elvis curling his lip, swaying his hips and wowing the crowd, except, now get this, for one bored fella during Tulsa’s next slow number. The guy pops a coin in the jukebox and Elvis’ Blue Suede Shoes blares out! When he’s asked why he did that, he quips, “I wanted to hear an original!”

The plot develops when Tulsa loses all his and his buddies’ money in a bet that a certain womanizing soldier could break the icy walls of a nightclub dancing sensation, Lili, lusciously cavorted by Juliet Prowse. Of course the womanizer is transferred to Alaska, forcing Tulsa to take his place or lose their three hundred dollars for the nightclub back home he, Cookie and Rick want to open and play their music in.

Lili proves to be a lot more warmth than chill as Tulsa soon finds out. With every song she hears, including an adorably farcical one to a puppet (Wooden Heart), a duet with him riding up in the lift to the top of a mountain (Pocket Full Of Rainbows), to her (Tonight Is So Right For Love) and a lullaby to Rick’s baby that Lili’s helping him take care of, she warms up to him until he can’t take his duplicative motives anymore (he’s in love) and ends the relationship. He doesn’t want to eventually hurt her, so he says, but the truth comes out soon about the bet and that’s when her eyes venture below his shoulders and she delivers the line in my title.

Hmm. These are two intelligent, sensitive and proud characters. How do you suppose they overcome the humiliation they both feel? Is their very romantic love enough? There’s no question about Rick and Marla or Cookie and Tina halfway through the movie, but you’ll have to enjoy finding out what happens with Tulsa and Lili!


Final Comments


Perfect musical escapade for the Fourth of July! Frankfurt is a quaint-looking, clean city with a bus that could have been a subway car on wheels. Elvis is in his element, relishing the smart, catchy tunes he sings, but not so much the bet when he gets to know and love Juliet. His good manners and charismatic personality are more than evident throughout, making it easy to see why she falls for him within a couple of days.

Prowse reminded me immediately of Ann-Margret (but with shorter hair) in Vive Las Vegas. Her two sensuous dance routines were classy and mesmerizing in a skimpy costume, but her poofy, billowy party dresses, like the other women’s, and high heels even after a night of watching a baby, were pretty amusing. I didn’t hear any crinkling when they moved, but there must have been a few layers of starchy stuff underneath!

She and the other two young women (played by Letitia Bromain and Sagrid Maier) were sweethearts on the inside and out. I cared for them like real friends, especially Lili. Tulsa’s buds, Cookie (Robert Ivers) and Rick (James Imafar) and the constantly-duped
Sargeant (Arch Johnson) also added chuckles and kept the story rolling.

Norman Taurog directed G.I. Blues flawlessly as he did Blue Hawaii. They both found great public and critical success as did their soundtracks. Indeed eleven of Elvis’ movie soundtracks soared to the top ten of Billboard’s Top 100 Album Chart, with four of those going to number one and G.I. Blues was one of them for ten weeks, remaining on the chart for 111 weeks! Blue Hawaii held number one twice as long, but only stayed on the chart for 79 weeks.

Note: If you're looking for an actual blues and/or a gospel song very well done by Elvis, check out Frankie and Johnny!

Writers Edmund Beloin and Henry Garson fit the eleven or so songs around the story like a glove. The script sparkled with humor, charm and honesty without resorting to bad language or jokes. You will love it if you’re in the mood for a touching romance and toe-tapping Elvis songs...and for a bonus Elvis speaks his last line, “Didja ever?” right into the camera!

Happy Independence Day then. If you have any time for a movie today, tomorrow or August 16, I hope you’ll invite the King to celebrate freedom with you.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older