Search - Blue Hawaii on DVD

His best film

magellan | Santa Clara, CA | 04/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Please note I saw this movie on TV so I can't speak to the quality of the video transfer or its features.

This film got its start when Hal Wallis thought the original movie, Waikiki Wedding, starring Bing Crosby from 1937, could be remade with Elvis as the star to attract a younger crowd into the theater. It was 1961 and the Beatles hadn't yet made their debut in America, and Elvis was at the top of the charts and his films were still top grossing box office hits.

Years latter, the film was satirized in the comedy/satire play, "The Perilous Predicament of Priscilla's Pineapples," which I saw just by chance back in the 90s before I realized the connection to the current movie.

Elvis plays a rich kid who wants to get out from under the thumb of his wealthy parents who want him to settle down and join the father's pineapple company. Elvis has other ideas, though, and is determined to make it on his own. His parents are played by Angela Lansbury and Roland Winters. The film also stars a young Joan Blackman.

Lansbury's carreer was in the doldrums at the time, and she hadn't yet scored big-time in Mame on Broadway or The Manchurian Candidate, probably her most spectacular and well-known role. So she was happy to find the work.

Elvis is not a bad actor himself actually, and this film is as much a musical tour de force showcasing his singing talent and many of his songs, including Falling in Love with You, which wasn't expected to be the hit song in the movie that it was.

The film has top production values and was shot all over the island of Oahu. Despite the cost of shooting, Elvis's draw as a star made his movies profitable box office hits. Eventually movie tastes changed and Elvis's fun-filled and romantic cinematic romps faded from the scene, but Blue Hawaii was the height of his movie career. It's a light-hearted and harmless piece of fluff from a more innocent age."

Perfect Gift

Heather Gall | 07/20/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My father loved this movie for Father's Day. He's a huge Elvis fan, and this was just the icing on the cake for him as his DVD collection grows and grows."

Blue Hawaii

gilbert | 08/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the Favorite, love the actress that plays Miley, musical numbers are good, this is an Elvis classic."

Elvis Still Rocks

Karen E. McDermott | Bensalem, PA | 09/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite Elvis movie and to have it on DVD is great. I just love the music and the beautiful sights of Hawaii and Angela Lansbury is so funny as his mother. I have been an Elvis fan my whole life, so now I can see it on DVD, since we don't usually watch our VHS tapes.

What can I say, it is Elvis, it is nice to be able to see him singing and to remember how handsome he was and what a wonderful talent the world has been missing all of these years. He was one of a kind and no one will ever be able to follow in his footsteps. He was just stunning and I will miss him forever.

Karen McDermott"