The Elvis Movies (Hardcover)

Elvis Presley's stature as the King of Rock 'n Roll will never be challenged. Between his first single in 1956-the number one smash Heartbreak Hotel-and his death in 1977, Elvis amassed more than 100 hits on the music charts, a success that has never been equaled. But Presley's dominance on the music chart was paralleled by the singer's motion picture career. Between 1956 and 1969, Elvis appeared in more than thirty films, further cementing his place as one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century. While there have been countless books that explore the real Elvis tucked beneath layers of showbiz mythology, often such volumes dismiss his motion picture career as insignificant or overlook entirely his on screen work. In The Elvis Movies, James L. Neibaur looks at the 31 features that Presley made, from Love Me Tender in 1956 to Change of Habit in 1969. Most of these were star vehicles tailor-made for his image. As Neibaur points out, Elvis had a real interest in being a good actor, but his initial promise was soon thwarted by anti-creative decisions that sold a packaged version of the singer.Despite lapsing into a predictable formula of lightweight musicals, Elvis Presley's star power ensured that the films became box office successes. One by one, Neibaur examines each film, providing information about their production and offering assessments about their values as films in general as well as their place in the Presley canon. Additional details include behind the scenes personnel, costars, DVD availability, and hit songs featured in each film. An entertaining and informative look at an often underrated aspect of the singer's career, The Elvis Movies offers readers insights into each of these films. This volume will be a welcome resource to fans of the singer who want to know more about the King and his successful ventures on the big screen.