Elvis Presley In Theatres

Elvis Presley’s interest in acting started in his youth while he attended Humes High School, where he was the lead role in Shakespeare plays for his English class. His inspiration came from actors such as James Dean and Marlon Brando who he admired long before he ever set foot on a movie set. On April 25, 1956, Elvis signed a contract with Paramount that also allowed him to work with other studios. In 1956 Presley went on to do his first film Love Me Tender, and would go on to appear in a total of 33 films, 31 musicals, and two concert documentaries.

Upon Elvis’s return from the Army in 1960 he stared in G.I. Blues directed by Norman Taurog, this film set the tone for his Hollywood films in the 1960’s. After playing a dramatic role in Flaming Star and Wild in the Country, which were less successful and formulated, his movies were given their own genre, Elvis movies. Elvis movies were, for the most part, poorly received, and were considered to be all the same. Elvis hated many of the songs he was performing in many of his films and found them comical while he was recording them. Critics during the time said that “no major star suffered through more bad movies than Elvis Presley”. However, some blame Elvis for his own downfall, other critics said that Elvis ‘could have demanded better, more substantial scripts, but he didn’t”. Elvis then went on to do a film called Viva Las Vegas, where he worked with David Winters and Ann-Margret. The three went on to make the movie the Presley’s most successful film at the box office, returning more than $5 million to MGM.

 Fans all around the world were watching Presley make his mark. Change of Habit in 1969, was Presley’s final non-concert movie. The hippie movement had developed and groups such as The Beatles, were dominating. At this point in Elvis’s career he was forced back into recording and touring.