Customer Reviews

It Happened At The World's Fair

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

To begin, two opening statements: number one, my review will only pertain to the supplemental features (or lack thereof) contained in the Elvis 75th Anniversary DVD Collection on Warner Brothers home video. Second, I rarely post negative reviews in this forum.

This set comes with a list price of $74.95. For that amount, I expected a boatload of extra features. The films themselves are all commonly available.

The back of the interior packaging clearly states that JAILHOUSE ROCK includes an audio commentary track and a retrospective featurette. Neither of those features are actually present.

Most of the discs include some Elvis trailers, but that's pretty much it for supplements, with one exception: VIVA LAS VEGAS does have an audio commentary track with "Elvis in Hollywood" author Steve Pond, and a 20 minute retrospective featurette (I had hoped for some comments from Ann-Margret in it, since she's still active in show business, but she does not appear).

Ads for this set promised audio commentaries (plural), so finding only one was a huge disappointment. One can only wonder what happened to the missing JAILHOUSE ROCK audio commentary track.

The version of THIS IS ELVIS contained in this box is the shorter 102 minute theatrical version. There are much longer cuts available elsewhere. Given that this box set is supposed to celebrate Elvis' 75th anniversary, I had hoped for one of the two longer cuts of the film. There is a short 9 minute featurette entitled "Behind the Gates of Graceland," but it appears slightly out of focus and is annoying to watch.

For the SRP of $74.95, I expected much more than this set provided. My verdict: if you wish to buy the box set for the supplemental features, you might just as well save your money. If you don't already have these films, this might be worth a purchase. Just don't expect to find the bells and whistles that an expensive 75th anniversary collection should have provided.

To help anyone who might be confused after reading Mr. Repsher's review, Widescreen format does not cut off anything at all..no heads..no legs, all body parts remain intact.

The "Pan and Scan" or Full screen format is what will cut or "crop" the film like framing a picture.

That being said this is a very good variety pack if you will of Elvis movies, the color and audio is much better than has been seen on TV and for $30.00 for 6 Elvis movies is a bargain.

Never expecting too much from an Elvis Presley movie occasionally pays off. And sometimes all it takes to elevate a Presley flick is a switching up of venue or premise. Cases in point: the N'Awleans-set KING CREOLE, the straight-up westerns FLAMING STAR and CHARRO!, and the ghetto doctor drama CHANGE OF HABIT, which co-stars Mary Tyler Moore as a nun. And for some reason I find FOLLOW THAT DREAM to be a surprisingly engaging film. IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR happens to also fall on my list of preferred Elvis Presley screenings.

In his film career, Elvis longed to branch out to more demanding roles and be perceived as a serious actor. But he seldom landed those dramatic parts. IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR is regarded as one of his formulaic musical comedy romps, but it presents its own easy-going charm. The character in this film may not have been that challenging for Elvis to play, but I think this is one of the most likeable parts he's ever taken on.

There are several cool things about the picture. First, the story is set in the backdrop of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Director Norman Taurog actually shot the film on location, lending it an authenticity and a sort of fun, wide-eyed wonder feel. Sights like the Space Needle, the monorail, and the Dream Car exhibit are featured, and, let's not forget, most of the story takes place in a friggin' fair! Granted, there's probably a bit of imprinting that went down when I first saw this movie when I was a kid, because nowadays those sights don't come off near as neat. But I still like the atmosphere.

Freelance charter pilots Mike Edwards (Presley) and his chum Danny (Gary Lockwood) lose their crop-duster plane due to Danny's gambling debts, and they hitchhike to the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. It's a skimpy story, bolstered by ten songs. The core of the plot has Mike taking in an abandoned seven-year-old girl and falling for an attractive but standoffish nurse (Joan O'Brien). And, somewhere along the way, a criminal element is introduced to spice things up, giving a reason for Elvis to engage in manly scuffle, the second one in this film. I'll say this for the King, he really throws himself into his fight scenes. It all ends with Elvis submitting his application to NASA (I kid you not!) and singing "Happy Ending."

Presley is fairly effortless in this one, his role well within the comforts of the cinematic niche he'd fallen into. He again does that thing where he's simultaneously a relentless skirt chaser and a good guy at heart. There are ten songs, most of which are bland. The ones I do like are the suggestive "Relax" (he croons to Yvonne Craig), the mild rocker "One Broken Heart for Sale," and the bouncy bedtime lullaby "Cotton Candy Land."

Elvis is particularly terrific and sweet when he's sharing screen time with young scene-stealer Vicky Tiu, who I think is the film's secret weapon. Vicky Tiu plays the waif Sue-Lin, and she brings a certain irrepressible energy and oodles of cuteness. For triviaheads out there, there's a sexy pre-Batgirl Yvonne Craig canoodling with Elvis, a pre-2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Gary Lockwood as the gambling addicted pal, and, last but not least, there is Kurt Russell's uncredited film debut (he's the kid who kicks Elvis in the shin - twice!).

3.5 out of 5 stars for IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. I like this movie enough that I choose to overlook the fact that Uncle Walter leaves his seven-year-old niece Sue-Lin in the care of a stranger he'd only met that same day. But then maybe he was aware that he was in an Elvis Presley vehicle, where all is sunshine, romance, and song. Ah-huh-huh!

THIS IS A GREAT ELVIS MOVIE, NO ELVIS FAN SHOULD BE WITH OUT THIS MOVIE. ELVIS SINGS A LOT OF GOOD SONGS IN THIS MOVIE, LIKE, 1. BEYOND THE BEND. 2. RELAX. 3. TAKE ME TO THE FAIR.
4. THEY REMIND ME TOO MUCH OF YOU. 5. ONE BROKEN HEART FOR SALE. 6. I'M FALLING IN LOVE TONIGHT. 7. COTTEN CANDY LAND 8. A WORLD OF OUR OWN. 9. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE. 10. HAPPY ENDING.

AND LIKE MOST MOVIES THIS MOVIE HAS A HAPPY ENDING.

ELVIS LOOKS REALLY HANDSOME IN THIS MOVIE.

THIS IS A SUPER MOVIE, THAT PEOPLE WILL WATCH OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I CAN BE SURE THAT IT WILL HAVE YOUR ATTETION FROM BEGING TO END.

I think the company who made this great collection based there choises for this set from Europe's TCM & MGM channels,as they have shown many times those 6 movies of Elvis to be the most watcheble on prime time .
From the classical "JAILHOUSE ROCK", to "IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLDS FAIR"
A collection must have of the KING

come on guys its Elvis Presley, the cat that changed it all. Dont buy this disk set just cause its all nice & fancy or not so fancy .. buy this disk set out of respect for the southern floppin blue shoes that gave back more then he spent on himself. Everyone buys a house, everyone buys a car & everyone brags about what they have but Elvis like his music belongs in a class all by himself. Not everyone takes what he has & gives it away every cotten picken day that is till you meet the one & only Elvis Presley.

Check out his 1968 comback specail & you tell me when did you ever see a mega star sit so close & personal with his fans & treat his fans not as fans but family. Its amazing when you look at today to glance at a man that didn't see himself as untouchable as many would in the same situation as Elvis Presley. That my friend makes Elvis Presley pure Elvis & why no other artist has ever touched his fans not cause they couldnt but simply cause they didn't know how or feel that one on one connection as Elvis felt.Many have tamed the fame of Elvis only to fall down, many have gained world success only to togo so far to lose that connection as success gives us that power to foget about the little things that made that success. In all my days, no one has ever walked the steps of Elvis Presley & maybe someday we will once again be taken by ones pashion as we have come to know through Elvis Presley. Buy this DVD set & respect Elvis as Elvis & dont label this disk set as another Tom Parker method to make money. Its your day tobe Elvis Presley & not Tom Parkey so I ask you to slip on those blue shoes & rock rock rock.

One of Elvis Presley's better musicals, "It Happened at the World's Fair" benefits from its Seattle locations, some decent songs (notably "One Broken Heart for Sale" and "They Remind Me Too Much of You") and a terrific fight scene. Elvis delivers a good-natured performance in this entertaining travelogue. Directed by Hollywood veteran Norman Taurog, the 1963 production was Presley's first post-Army assignment for MGM - followed by the dazzling "Viva Las Vegas."

"It Happened at the World's Fair" 2004 DVD release
Legal problems (music rights) may have forced Warner to pull "It Happened at the World's Fair" (1963) from VHS release but now the movie has been cleared, remastered and planned for DVD in 2004.
DVD News - By: David Troedson (Source: Elvis World Japan) July 10, 2003, 10:55
http://www.elvis.com.au/ein/dvdnews.shtml

I remember watching Elvis movies on tv when I was young, when they had "Elvis movie week" during the afternoon. I can honestly say that this is the only Elvis movie I remember anything about, and that I remember actually liking it. What I liked most (now this was when I was 12 yrs. old or so) was how the little Chinese girl worked as matchmaker for Elvis and the nurse to get together. I just really loved it!! I also liked that Elvis was a very kind and loving man to a lost little girl. Now, I just saw this video again after not having seen it in over 25 years, and I was happy to find that I STILL like it, actually, I like it much better than I did when I was young. I was glad, because this is not true of all movies, Superman being an example. Well, this time I saw a lot in the movie that I did not remember. I especially liked when Elvis was with Dorothy in the beginning and he sings the song "Relax". It is just very funny. I liked his eye check-up scene with the nurse. I think Elvis looked very handsome walking around in a suit all the time. The scene of him riding in the monorail was beautiful and romantic. All I can say is that this is a GREAT Elvis movie, and all my children love it too. I think most of the songs are okay too, but the ending was a bit hokey. I hope this video will come back for sale because it really is one of Elvis at his best and most handsome.

Yeah, there was only one Elvis Presley. Unfortunately, he died young, but this also cast him in his final role: a modern legend. This collection is a good collection for Elvis fans, featuring some of his old movies that are not well known. It's too bad Elvis's talent was often wasted on substandard scripts and movie projects that were designed to show a few songs, cultivate his wholesome image, and show him in action with his fists and the girls. These movie vehicles were the precursor to the music vidoes that would become popular years later. It's a shame that he wasn't given the opportuity to develop as an actor and possibly realize his full potential in that area. My favorite pick from all of the movies is "Viva las Vegas." This is a good pick for Elvis fans and for those who want to get a solid glimpse of the King at his peak.