http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:25:29 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/28/220510.php#comment-729601 "Elvis would make a seemingly unending string of mostly forgettable movies." Did I misinterpret this line of yours David? The casual reader methinks may be misled. Without qualification it's difficult to differentiate between those movies of Elvis that were well worth viewing and those that were not. That's the problem of lumping them all together. There may be 7 Elvis movies that would stand up well to dissection. After all James Dean made less movies and is well and rightly remembered because of them. Although some criticise his role in "Giant". Not me I enjoyed the movie on the big screen in 1957. Maybe I'm oversensitive David, I have been reading disparaging stuff about Elvis for many decades without having a chance to respond. The PC has given some of us oldies (I'm 66) A voice! :-) Overall your piece attempts to be fair. 729601@blogcritics.org Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:25:29 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/28/220510.php#comment-729598 It was not an unfair criticism of his movies that I was making but a recollection of his sentiment towards these types of movies that he was forced to make. It is recorded in history that he did not enjoy making those movies and only did it because of contractual & financial reasons. I never said they were bad or not worth seeing. Though, Brando(& quite possibly,Dean) made some movies that weren't great, Elvis made it quite clear that he was influenced by them & wanted to perform in a similar fashion. BUT, I agree...It didn't matter what Elvis was doing in front of the camera he would always be a brilliant entertainer! 729598@blogcritics.org Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:40:57 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/28/220510.php#comment-729592 The queues to see the movie in 1957 stretched all around the block. We teenagers then were not so critical and thoroughly enjoyed the movie clapping and stamping our feet to the beat of the songs. It was like an Elvis Concert! I still have the original 10inch album with just the 8 songs. Elvis' co-star Dolores Hart was also seen singing but was it her voice we heard? She will be 70 later this year and lives as a nun in the Abbeyofreginalaudis.com She kindly replies to letters from yours truly. The song "I Need You So" by Elvis actually does grow on you given a chance. He sings it beautifully. Unfair criticism of Elvis' movies tends to follow other unfair critics sheepishly, without actually judging them next to the movies of the time. We also saw Brando make some turkeys! Bottom line is MILLIONS of people were entertained by those early Elvis movies and it is fruitless attempting to change that now. They help Elvis wonderful voice reach audiences across the world. That is why he remains the Iconic figure he is to this day Singer Dean Martin had to cope with Jerry Lewis ;-) 729592@blogcritics.org Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:46:03 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/28/220510.php#comment-729587 My favourite Elvis film is 'Loving You'. Elvis is so dynamic in the film and he performs the songs as only he can. As my wife used to say "Elvis was the best looking man who ever lived". Elvis could sing in any musical genre and did. Today's entertainers stick with one and that's it. Elvis will forever be THE KING. 729587@blogcritics.org Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:02:30 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/06/28/220510.php#comment-729553 Elvis idolized James Dean & Marlon Brando. It was unfortunate that they(the Colonel,etc)made him sing because that's not what he wanted to do in the movies. BUT, that's what any cheap ass record execs do... They worry about the money & not the quality! F*ck You Tom Parker!! 729553@blogcritics.org Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:02:07 EDT