Paramount Pictures
Not part of a collection.
Blue Hawaii
Ecstatic romance... Exotic dances... Exciting music IN THE WORLD'S LUSHEST PARADISE OF SONG!
Just discharged GI Chad Gates returns to Hawaii, where he becomes a tour guide, defying his mother's wishes for him to join the family business.
- Original title
- Blue Hawaii
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $2,000,000
- Revenue
- $8,400,000
CinemaSerf
May 25, 2024 · via TMDB
I'd been watching this for ages before I realised that it was actually the real life Angela Lansbury (aged 35) playing Elvis's mother - he being 25 years old at the time! A bit of much needed cinematic licence in this otherwise really rather staged romantic comedy that doesn't really do anyone any favours. Having returned from Germany, "Chad" is at a loss as to what to do. He doesn't want to join the family fruit business, preferring to work with girlfriend "Maile" (Joan Blackman) - much to the chagrin of the aforementioned mum. Sorry, mom. "Maile" is a tour guide showing off all the beautiful sights of Hawaii. That's when he encounters the teenage "Ellie" (Jenny Maxwell) who takes a mischievous shine to him, causing no end of havoc between everyone, her teacher "Abigail" (Nancy Walters) and a bout of fisticuffs with just about the entire island! He's undoubtedly a charismatic man to watch but an actor he isn't. His renditions of "Blue Hawaii" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" demonstrate clearly that he can't lip-sync very well either. Lansbury adopts a squeaky accent and looks like she's having some fun, but the rest of it is all too rigid and unnatural looking - I think some of the cyclorama photography was just on a loop and even I know that you have to change chords playing an ukulele. I guess the star's timetable didn't allow Norman Taurog to spend too much time finessing what is just essentially a feel-good film for the star, but this is all pretty standard and unremarkable fayre from everyone.
Wuchak
Nov 8, 2020 · via TMDB
_**Elvis goes to Hawaii**_ After a two-year enlistment in the service, Chad Gates (Presley) returns home to Hawaii, but prefers the genuineness of the Polynesians and blazing his own trail to being the heir to his parents’ pineapple plantation. With his half-Caucasian/half-Polynesian girlfriend (Joan Blackman) he tries his hand as a tour guide. Angela Lansbury is on hand as the amusingly snooty mother. “Blue Hawaii” (1961) was the first and easily the best of three Elvis flicks set in Hawaii, followed by “Girls! Girls! Girls!” (1962) and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style” (1966). Actually, it ranks with his better movies, like "Kid Galahad" (1962), “Roustabout” (1964) and “Viva Las Vegas" (1964). Several things make this one work: The magnificent locations, the trivia about Hawaii & Hawaiians, the compelling story, the serious-but-fun vibe and, of course, the music. Speaking of which, this one has more songs than usual. On the downside, the female cast could’ve been better, although winsome Blackman is a’right. Nevertheless, the subplot about Chad (Elvis) being the tour guide of an attractive school teacher (Nancy Walters) and five teenage girls is entertaining, especially the shenanigans with the curmudgeonly lass (Jenny Maxwell). The film runs 1 hour, 42 minutes and was shot in Hawaii and Paramount Studios, California. GRADE: B
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Elvis Presley
Chad Gates
Joan Blackman
Maile Duval
Angela Lansbury
Sarah Lee Gates
Nancy Walters
Abigail Prentice
Roland Winters
Fred Gates
John Archer
Jack Kelman
Howard McNear
Mr. Chapman
Steve Brodie
Tucker Garvey
Christian Kay
Beverly Martin
Iris Adrian
Enid Garvey
Hilo Hattie
Waihila
Jenny Maxwell
Ellie Corbett
Pamela Austin
Sandy
Darlene Tompkins
Patsy
Gregory Gaye
Paul Duval (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Gene LeBell
(uncredited)
Patti Page
Woman Paddling Canoe Near Hotel (uncredited)
Lillian Culver
Matron (uncredited)
Sam Comer
Set Decoration
Charles Lang
Director of Photography
Edith Head
Costume Design
Wally Westmore
Makeup Artist
Tom Parker
Technical Advisor
Michael D. Moore
Assistant Director
Norman Taurog
Director
Terry O. Morse
Editor
Hal B. Wallis
Producer
Joseph J. Lilley
Conductor
Joseph J. Lilley
Original Music Composer
Hal Kanter
Screenplay
The Amazing Kitsuverse
Vertigo
The Royal Waltz
Sing 2
Mary Poppins
Woodstock
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Pretty Woman
Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki
The African Queen
It Can't Be!
To Catch a Thief
Vivo
Lord of the Dance
Marnie
You Were Never Lovelier
M*A*S*H
Geordie
Springtime in the Rockies
You've Got Mail
Just Go with It
There's Something About Mary
2 States
Babes on Broadway
Schultze Gets the Blues
Habana Blues
Rendezvous im Salzkammergut
Moon Over Miami
Dames
Easy to Wed
Road to Singapore
Ship Ahoy
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Fiesta
I'll Turn to You
Jingle Bell Heist
My Boyfriend Is Type B
My Lucky Star
Sweethearts
The Idolmaker
Lady Be Good
Get Your Stuff
Women Who Flirt
Joan Lui
The Main Event
Sin of an Angel
Meet Miss Anxiety
A Little Bit of Heaven
A Girl on the Road
A Fountain for Susan
I Got Five on It Too
Jorge Aragão: Show Da Noite Pro Dia
Pink Bike
Phantom
Space Dogs: The Musical
Puffer Rhapsody
U Shape Ki Gully
Great Big Groovy Horse
Guarding Stars
John Adams: Doctor Atomic
The Kissing Booth 2
Resort to Love
Starstruck
People We Meet on Vacation
Avanti!
50 First Dates
Zoey 102
How to Marry a Millionaire
High Society
Just Go with It
The Wrong Paris
Hollywood Stargirl
Little Italy
Marry Me
That Touch of Mink
Music and Lyrics
Relationship Goals
Love Is in the Air
Donovan's Reef
Yoh! Bestie
What's Love Got to Do with It?
Love, Weddings & Other Disasters
Fun in Acapulco
The Fighting Temptations
Nov 22, 1961
Los Angeles, California
