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msongs

(69,951 posts) Sun Sep 1, 2024, 05:49 PM Sep 1

watched Elvis in Blue Hawaii for the 1st time. Here's what I liked about it (as a Hawaii resident)

First of all never saw back in the day as I was not an Elvis fan beyond liking his catchy tunes.
one of his better movies I believe, but had the formula - cheesy plot and acting, cliched endings,
some annoying tunes. Some of the songs are stellar and his voice is....Elvis.

However the scenery of 1961 Honolulu is fascinating compared to what it is like these days.

It seems to be genuine but Hollywood in the way it portrays Hawaii culture, particularly music of the day. After all it has Hilo Hattie who was an outspoken advocate of Hawaii culture. (Note I did not say Hawaiian culture)

His screen mom, portrayed by Angela Lansbury, was a ditzy southern belle with some dubious comments about ethnicity but played for comedy as it was then. Elvis gets to spank a naughty teen girl which wouldnt play well today.

It does pretty well show why Elvis was a star and his voice is excellent.

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watched Elvis in Blue Hawaii for the 1st time. Here's what I liked about it (as a Hawaii resident) (Original Post) msongs Sep 1 OP

I went to almost all of the Elvis movies MacKasey Sep 1 #1

My sister was a big Elvis fan. My dad took her to see him back in the day (he waited in the car) captain queeg Sep 1 #2

sounds like you had a pretty cool dad Skittles Sep 1 #3

There's a scene in Blue Hawaii Bobstandard Sep 1 #4

I remember that Hawai'i very fondly indeed... Hekate Sep 1 #5

I played soccer for Radford Bobstandard Sep 1 #6

thanks for adding your memories nt msongs Sep 2 #7

MacKasey

(1,159 posts)

1. I went to almost all of the Elvis movies

Reply to msongs (Original post)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 05:52 PM

Sep 1

Blue Hawaii is one of my favorites, along with Follow that Dream

Can't help falling in love with you, is another one of my favorite songs

Almost forgot, Viva Las Vegas to with Ann Margaret was good too!

captain queeg

(11,780 posts)

2. My sister was a big Elvis fan. My dad took her to see him back in the day (he waited in the car)

Reply to msongs (Original post)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 06:04 PM

Sep 1

She used to take all of us little kids to see his movies at the drive in back when you paid by the car load, as many as you could pack in. I happened to be visiting the day Elvis died. She locked herself in the bathroom for an hour or two. I’m sure she was crying. I must admit I thought it strange. Still do really but she came from a different generation than me. Probably 20 yrs older.

Skittles

(158,153 posts)

3. sounds like you had a pretty cool dad

Reply to captain queeg (Reply #2)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 07:53 PM

Sep 1

yes, Elvis had a lot of rabid fans but - it's not hard to see why - he was the total package

Bobstandard

(1,621 posts)

4. There's a scene in Blue Hawaii

Reply to msongs (Original post)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 10:27 PM

Sep 1

Where Elvis is driving out to the North Shore along the old highway. Royal palms alongside of the road. Sugar cane fields as far as the eye can see. When I was a teenager that was what we saw when driving to surf at Haleiwa, Laniakea, Pipeline, Sunset or Velzyland. The population of Oahu back then was a little more than 300K. Now it’s closer to a million. It was great. A truly great place to be a teenager. You missed it.

Hekate

(94,283 posts)

5. I remember that Hawai'i very fondly indeed...

Reply to Bobstandard (Reply #4)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 10:35 PM

Sep 1

Kailua High, class of ‘65. He’e Nalu — Go, Surfriders

Bobstandard

(1,621 posts)

6. I played soccer for Radford

Reply to Hekate (Reply #5)

Sun Sep 1, 2024, 10:52 PM

Sep 1

We played Kailua a number of times. I met a girl after one of those games that I would have married if she hadn’t become Miss Hawaii.

(There were lots of other good reasons. But she did become Miss Hawaii. Pals to this day.)

msongs

(69,951 posts)

7. thanks for adding your memories nt

Reply to msongs (Original post)

Mon Sep 2, 2024, 12:25 AM

Sep 2

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