Customer Reviews

Elvis / Clambake [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Clambake starring Elvis Presley,Shelley Fabares,Will Hutchins,Bill Bixby,Gary Merrill,and James Gregory was an entertaining film with a very good cast.It's a take-off on the "Prince and the Pauper" story of a rich man that swaps identity with a poor man and wants to see if he can be a success without the family wealth.Too bad the quality of the print used in making this DVD was poor.The sharpness is disappointing, the color is weak, and there are numerous artifacts seen such as scratches and streaks.Also,the soundtrack is mediocre at best,even though a true HiFi/stereo soundtrack was originally recorded by Elvis for this release.There is no excuse for this hatchet-job,and I recommend you avoid purchasing this title until a respectable effort is made to produce a high-quality copy of this film.If you are a die-hard Elvis fan you'll probably buy it for your library,but the studio did justice to no one with the release of this DVD.Shame on the greedy leeches!

While "Clambake" was certainly not at the top of the heap of Elvis fun-in-the-sun movies, the least they could have done was do a competent job with the mastering of this disk. The quality, while not the worst I've seen, is below average and there are flaws galore, most noticeably at about 48:40 where the picture is so wavy that appears like it was shot underwater until a thick white line washes across the screen from botton to top and resolves the image. Does no one even view these things before the discs are pressed and sold? What a rip-off!!

"Clambake" is by far the greatest piece of cinema seen this side of Memphis. I love Elvis! While the costumes are a tad sketchy in this film (this includes Elvis' suit that looks like a baseball and the transparent cover-up on the silver bikini girl), the songs (music *and* lyrics), are stellar. Scintillating, if you will. I wish I could find a cd-soundtrack! I have seen this film at least a dozen times. In fact, the first time I saw it, I watched it 3 days in a row, showing it to all my friends, who have since fallen in love with the cinematic genius that is "Clambake."

Shelley Fabares turns in an Oscar-worthy performance. Katharine Hepburn stole the award that rightly belongs to Ms. Fabares.

Will this movie be loved by you? I have "C-O-N-F-I-D-ence" that it will be!

I have seen every one of Elvis's movies over and over again. This is my very favorite one. Even people I know who don't care for his movies liked this one. Elvis plays a rich guy who changes places with a poor guy. He wants to get a girl who likes him for himself and not for his money. The songs in this movie are his best. Bill Bixby plays the guy you love to hate. Everyone does a great job making this a really fun movie. If you are ever going to buy any of Elvis's movies, this is the one to buy.

Thios is probably the worst DVD that was ever released by a major company. Not since that infamous withdrawn 'CHARRO'-DVD was one of the King's movies mistreated like this. It seems like this DVD was mastered from a dub of a 16mm-copy instead of a master. Shame on MGM. Hope they get it right the next time.

ITS STRANGE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE LEAST APPRECIATED ELVIS MOVIES BUT YET APPEARS TO BE ONE OF HIS BETTER MOVIES.THE BASIC PLOT OF THE MOVIE HAS ELVIS STARRING AS A RICH MANS SON TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE HIM AND NOT HIS MONEY.HE GOES ON TO TRADE IDENTITIES WITH A WATER SKI INSTRUCTOR HOPING TO BE TREATED AS A INDIVIDUAL AND NOT A MILLIONAIRES SON. ELVIS PLAYS ONE OF HIS BEST ROLES AS HE APPEARS TO BE LAID BACK .AS USUAL ELVIS CHARM AND CHARISMA MAKES THE MOVIE GREAT, I WOULD DEFINATELY RECOMMED THIS VIDEO .ITS A TYPE OF MOVIE YOU CAN NEVER GET SICK OF .THIS MOVIE IS GREAT!

"Clambake" was a film that Elvis had total disinterest in doing. Actually, this film is fun to watch and every Elvis fan should take the time to watch it. Probably the only reason was that the ever-lasting chain of musical comedies was getting tiresome and old. Bill Bixby is Elvis' rival. Elvis delivers him with a sucker punch and Bixby is out cold. Elvis is an unhappy-with-money millionaire's son who switches places with Will Hutchins, a poor water-skiing instructor. Elvis takes interest in third-time Elvis costar Shelley Fabares. If you want to see a zany Elvis picture, this is the one.

When you're buying a DVD for a film you already have on tape, it is with the expectation of getting something better in terms of sound or picture quality.

Such is unfortunately not the case with this one. The film is the average low-budget Presley vehicule of the 60's, and the DVD transfer is not even up to that standard.

This was the 3rd and final film that Elvis Presley stared with Shelley Fabares. Remember in the first two films, Elvis had a combo and sang at clubs. But this time he is on his own.

Scott Heyward (Elvis Presley) is a millionaire's son. But he doesn't need $$$$ like his old man.

In the Sunshine State, he trades places with Ton Wilson (Will Hutchins, Spinout). Tom is going to be a ski teacher for a hotel. Elvis's first student is Dianne Carter (Shelly Fabares).

There is aslo a playboy boatracer named James Jamison (the late Bill Bixby) down there too. Scott's father (James Gregory) owns Heywood Oil. Scott aslo meets a boat co owner named Sam Burton (Gary Merrill).

There is a big boat race coming up. And Scott, Tom & Sam used a boat 50-50.

If you know someboy that either likes boats or an Elvis Presley fan, here is a film they may like.

It you want a top review of "Clambake", then read the four and five star comments. If you are down on Elvis to begin with, you'll want the one and two star reviews. Let's face it, Elvis was one of the greatest talents in the 20th century. Had the Colonel not controlled him, he would have made the films he wanted, and in fact, he was a top choice for several top pictures. Be that as it may, his singing, from rock 'n roll to gospel, is beyond compare. There are better Elvis films than "Clambake" but, I am personally prejudiced and you may want to read no further unless you like Hollywood stories.

One of the dancers in this film, who sparkles in her few scenes, is Angelique Pettyjohn (Gloria). A Las Vegas native and showgirl, she was best known for the "classic Star Trek" episode, "Gamesters of Triskelion". She had the female lead as the beautiful and sensitive Shahna. (Mispelled on some DVD labels as Shanna.) Her role made her a most popular guest at conventions, which is how we met her.

My wife and I ran media conventions for thirty years and she was our most popular early guest. We had her as a guest twice, and she stayed over both times to help raise money for scholarships and to visit classrooms. In my wife's kindergarten class she did face painting since it was close to Halloween. Much safer for small kids out at night than masks. She also visited my high school classes and conducted drama workshops.

In one class she particularly talked about "Clambake". Elvis was very down to Earth and just what every fan believes or wants to believe. One time he came over to her and a couple other dancers and asked if they minded if he tried out a new song. Naturally they were thrilled and he serenaded them. Afterward he asked their opinions.

Toward the end of her short life, Angelique was a ringmaster for "Circus Circus" in Las Vegas. She died of cancer and left much memorabilia to us to sell for the scholarship programs she supported. I talked with her by phone, one of the last nights of her life. We live in Virginia and couldn't be with her. She wanted us to know that she had given her life to Jesus Christ and was ready to go. This lady was a blessing to all of us.

If you really didn't like reading all of the above, remember, you were warned. I just want to say that this DVD is worth owning for Angelique alone.