Elvis Presley's Follow That Dream Blu-ray

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Sorry, Jeff, normally I like your reviews but you missed the boat on this one. You gave a generic, sixties Elvis movie review to a movie that was anything but a generic sixties Elvis movie. "It's easy to picture (Col. Tom Parker) pitching this film to some midlevel bean counter in Hollywood. 'Aw, shucks, fellas, just stick Elvis under a palm tree with a pretty girl—wait. . .two pretty girls—and have him sing a few songs, and it's like putting money in the bank.'" Sure, but that's Clambake and Tickle Me and Girls! Girls! Girls! and a whole slew of others - the kind of movies that eventually made E himself throw up.

This is not Elvis playing Elvis, it's Elvis playing what he was : a southern boy who was a whole lot sharper than most east and west coast snobs gave him credit for bein'. Sure, there are a few songs, but only five of 'em, including the opening and closing numbers. This was Elvis when he was still tryin' and not dyin' - before Hollywood totally boxed hin in. Perhaps with a better perspective you coulda been laughin' with Toby and not at him. Pity, 'cause you missed a damn good little movie where Elvis was playin' to his southern roots - and not tryin' to sell a bunch of effete strangers on how cool he could be. But, hey ... to each their own, brother.

Very well said Early. Elvis movies were never meant to be art house cinema pieces. They were framed in the popular culture of the time and were meant as pure entertainment. To me, they represent a simpler, more innocent time in America. I'm sure there's a whole generation of movie goers who look at these films in disdain, because they view the subject matter as unsophisticated drivel. That's their opinion, but to many who lived in that era, these films remind us of an uncomplicated life without cellphones, computers or political correctness. These films are cherished memories for me and will always be a part of my movie collection.