Must See Movie...

good film but with many flaws

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Inspired by the story of The Prince and the Pauper, the film concerns a rich Elvis Presley who meets a motorcycle dude and they switch places. Elvis left his daddy's oil company for some independence and they are going now to a swanky Florida hotel, where the dude has a job as a water-ski instructor. The dude would love to be in Elvis' shoes with all that money and girls fawning over him for his car and all that, and Elvis was tired of even thinking about money, money, money. It's not everything, you know? Right? Well, anyway, Shelley Fabares, who starred in three Elvis films, this being the last, has come to Florida with her own agenda of snagging a millionaire, and so is intent on getting Bill Bixby's attention, who is a rich snob but who goes for the fast type. I know this is kind of corny in parts (why did we need the C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E musical number with the children?), but I've always considered "Clambake" to be one of my favorites due to the presence of Shelley, the romantic and tender scenes between them, and it's just so laid-back and unpretentious. And, it has some very good upbeat songs, along with some romantic songs, including "You Don't Know Me." I know Elvis wanted to do more than these undemanding and predictable feel-good movies, but, for what it is, it's very enjoyable and entertaining. If one didn't like this kind of movie, they wouldn't be watching them. So, why be critical? It may be no "Viva Las Vegas" with Ann-Margret, but Shelley Fabares is one of the most naturally beautiful actresses I've ever seen with her quiet reserve. It has a cute ending, too. Relax and enjoy a "Clambake" with Elvis and Shelley Fabares.

Most of them cast Elvis as the juvenile heir to a rich and powerful family hiding out as if poor and unfriended at a resort to find a lady who won't pursue him for his family connection. Elvis gained 30 pounds while seriously ill just before shooting, hence appears chunkier and less super machismo in this film. As do most of them, there are just enough ridiculous gaffes in both the editing and in the storyline to give the audience extra fun waiting for the next to screen and enough variety in the highly personal songs created on Elvis to create a memorable concert album. This film gains extra depth and excitement by cutting in actual newsreel footage of a famous Florida annual motorboat race and offering expanded character depth for Elvis to probe as to why this stock character must seek a mate while masking his true identity. Name stars adding glamor to this outing include Shelley Farbares, Bill Bixby and Gary Merrill.

Not-bad Elvis Presley outing has the son of a Texas oil tycoon escaping to Cypress Gardens, Florida in search of a girl who will love him for himself and not his millions; after swapping identities with a penniless water-ski instructor (unctuous Will Hutchins), Presley falls for a pretty brunette who makes it clear she wants only to marry for money. Lively direction by Arthur Nadel gives this musical-comedy some drive, with studio shots and location footage smoothly integrated (although the back-projection routine does get a real workout). Elvis sings a handful of fine songs including "A House That Has Everything", and his performance towers above the others, particularly a grating turn by Bill Bixby as a professional speedboat racer. The close-ups of the cast during the climactic speedboat race are hilariously over-exaggerated, but Shelley Fabares is a decent love-interest and the flick has a satisfying wrap-up. **1/2 from ****

By 1967 with the Beatles leading the British invasion of new musical performers, the King of the Sixties was in decline at least in his film career.You can tell with Clambake. The plot is essentially the same story as Blue Hawaii and not half as good. Once again he's the son of a rich man who wants to make it on his own. This time though he changes places with happy-go-lucky water skiing instructor Will Hutchins. They're both headed to the same Florida resort now with each other's identities.Well of course being he's the King, he does find a girl who falls for him without knowing he's a millionaire. For the rest of it you'll have to buy or rent the film.He does have some nice songs. Two songs Who Needs Money is the kind of stuff Bing Crosby used to do in a lot of his films, the upbeat philosophical number and the song Confidence is a ripoff of Frank Sinatra's High Hopes. But Elvis does well by both.He also reprises a song he missed the first time around. You might remember that the original artist who sang the song, Jerry Vale, got to reprise it in Goodfellas. You Don't Know Me sold a whole lot of platters for Mr. Vale, but the big seller of that song was done by Ray Charles. Presley does very well by it, a pity it did not become a big hit for him like it was for the other two.As usual Elvis gets a nice supporting cast and a pretty leading lady in Shelley Fabares. In the cast we have Bill Bixby, Will Hutchins, Gary Merrill and James Gregory all of whom do a good job. Still it's all been done before.