Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Elvis' best, but still entertaining, August 16, 2007
By 1968, Elvis was wishing his film contact was over. None of his movies could really be said to have high artistic value, although his pre-army movies like Jail-House Rock had some artistic merit, and in them he showed that when he was interested in a project, he had some not bad acting ability.
His post-army films (except King Creole) were more geared toward slick entertainment, exploiting his name and image, and they were very formulaic -- BUT, his early '60's movies were also very entertaining. Viva Las Vegas, Blue Hawaii, Fun in Acapulco and GI Blues are always fun to watch, and pretty hip time capsules of pop culture in the early '60's.
Unfortunately, after about 1965, the quality of his movies took a downturn, as even he himself would say, and he began to really look bored with the whole thing in the last 3 or 4 years of his Hollywood era. The films had always been easy-going fluff, but likable. His early 60's movies had peppy songs, and were very much in touch with pop-culture of the time. By 1968, however, when Speedway was made, his image was no longer up-to-date, about 4 or 5 years out of style, as if the rest of the world had moved on, but Elvis was still stuck in 1963.
But still, Speedway is probably the best movie from the last 3 years of his movie making career. It's the third time he has played a race car driver, and this time they use actual footage of real NASCAR races. In fact, this film has some of the best existing footage of Charlotte Speedway and live NASCAR action from the mid-60's, with Richard Petty and Cale Yarbrough ontrack and in their prime during the race scenes (too bad they didn't make any cameos in the body of the film). So for NASCAR fans, this movie has historical value.
Nancy Sinatra, of the Go-Go Boots fame, could have been the sexiest co-star ever in an Elvis movies (or at least she could have tied with Ann-Margret), but the script doesn't give her much on-screen time, and there is only one scene with her wearing those trademark boots - at the very end of the movie.
One bit of irony is the theme of Elvis' character being a celebrity whose manager is cheating himout of some of his earnings, which is sadly what happened to Elvis in real life for much of his career.
Overall, though, mediocre Elvis is still more entertaining than alot of topnotch actors who specialize in long boring movies, and every Elvis fan should see this one at least once.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
"Viva Las Vegas 2"? Not really..., June 12, 2000
By 1967, enough was enough with the light fluff comedies starring Elvis Presley. Throughout the 60s, Elvis was being humiliated making bad movies like TICKLE ME and HARUM SCARUM while The Beatles and Bob Dylan were changing the music scene.In SPEEDWAY, Elvis plays a singing race car driver (for the third time!) who gets into trouble with the IRS. He falls in love with Nancy Sinatra, and that's about it for the plot. The only saving grace is that the cast is better than average. It's quite interesting to see Elvis act alongside "Lucy" regular Gale Gordon. The songs are a little better than average, especially the quite good "Let Yourself Go". Again, it's not that bad. It's a definite improvement over CLAMBAKE, but a far cry from JAILHOUSE ROCK or KING CREOLE.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ok guys, This is a groovy, cool and sexy movie, July 14, 2004
If Austin powers were really in the groovy 60's. he'd be in this movie. with that said, yeah Elvis was embarrassed here and there but you can't get over how incredibly cool Elvis is in nearly every scene. Sinatra is a bit miscast cus Elvis blows her out of the water. but she adds a little somethin sweet here and there but Elvis is still the victor.Bill Bixby you guys!! he is great in this movie as Elvis's manager and he is funny from start to finish and his chemistry with Elvis is the best i've seen from an Elvis movie (Ever) not overestimating.
"Your time hasen't come yet baby" is great and "let yourself go" is very cool and Elvis is enjoying himself as if he knows he's making cool look good again since pappa sinatra.
this is one of if not the best Elvis movie during the last 3 years of his films next to a dramatic and very surreal Change of Habbit.
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DVD ~ Elvis Presley
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