Elvis / Clambake (1967)

Elvis's outfits are impressive in 1967's Clambake, especially a groovy, belted sport coat and a cream-colored suit covered with cowhide-style stitching. The costumes are more creative than the soundtrack, which is heavy with the mindlessness of late-period Elvis movies. As he sings "Confidence" (an obvious rip-off of the Oscar-winning "High Hopes"), you can almost see Elvis batting out "Just shoot me" in Morse code with his eyelids. The only decent tune has the star crooning a nice, lonesome version of the standard "You Don't Know Me." This one's set in Florida, but with none of the scenic fun of his Hawaii pictures. He plays a rich oilman's son pretending to be a water-skiing instructor, with Shelley Fabares (a three-time Presley costar) as the girl. The camp highlight is an ensemble number with go-go girls helping Elvis fix a speedboat, which is just about as far from Sun Studios as you can get. --Robert Horton Amazon.com

Clambake gota have a Clambake

Well what can I say, VHS will only last so long until it starts getting
fuzzy. April 23, 2008

Don't read this if you don't want a personal story about one of the cast. Angelique Pettyjohn.

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. September 25, 2007

One of His Better Films

Although it has the worst title of any Elvis movie, "Clambake" (1967) is actually one of his better films. Which is surprising as it is one of his last and generally speaking each film seemed a bit worse than its predecessor. "Clambake's" salvation is certainly not in the soundtrack which is at best very ordinary, only the title song has any energy. Although there is an actual clambake scene on the beach about midway into the film, it seems thrown in just to justify the title, more impressive is a cameo of "Flipper" who had his own television show at that time.

I'm inclined to credit Shelley Fabares for the good vibe I got from this film. She plays "golddigger with a heart of gold" Dianne Carter, Elvis' ultimate love interest. I never cared for her uptight Mary Stone character on reruns of "The Donna Reed Show", and therefore paid almost no attention to her until recently. But since seeing her in "Ride the Wild Surf" and "Clambake" I've had a major attitude adjustment. "Clambake" was the third time she was tapped for the love interest role in an Elvis film so obviously she and the King had grown comfortable working together.

Their romance is a little different than the Elvis standard. In "Clambake" she does not start out hating or ignoring him. Instead they quickly become friends and she is obviously attracted, but she puts the brakes on any romance because she is hunting for a rich husband and has tycoon J.J. Jamison (Bill Bixby) squarely in her sights. She comes around in the end and their chemistry actually feels real, much like it did with Ann Margret in "Viva Las Vegas".

The comfort factor is also apparent between Elvis and Will Hutchins, his real-life buddy. Oil tycoon Scott (Elvis) pulls a "Prince and the Pauper" and swaps places with drifter Tom Wilson (Hutchins). He wants to find someone who loves him for himself. Hutchins is supposed to provide the film's main comic relief as he enjoys the life of the rich and famous, driving Scott's "Munsters" inspired convertible and surrounding himself with gorgeous women who can't dance very well. Although the director had Hutchins overplay the part it is so poorly written that they can't squeeze many laughs out of the premise. But having most of his scenes with Fabares and Hutchins seems to have relaxed Elvis considerably, which makes both he and his film more likable.

Contrary to most, I enjoyed the corny playground scene with the little girl who was afraid of the slide. The "Confidence" song is not a rip off of "High Hopes", the whole scene is a variation on the "Bounce Right Back" number Danny Kaye did in "Anything Goes". While "Confidence" is not much of a song, this surreal scene is priceless. I wonder what long-time fans thought as they watched Elvis and Hutchins do something so totally "Guffman"? Most entertainers only do embarrassing stuff like this when they are first breaking into the business.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child. August 21, 2007

Good, Clean Fun

Anyone who is a fan of Elvis Presley's or of comedies should know this is one good clean fun type of movie. It is not meant to be taken seriously, unlike other Elvis movies like Wild In The Country, King Creole, Flaming Star, Change Of Habit, The Trouble With Girls (and how to get in to it) all of which show a different Elvis then one may be accustomed to seeing. Like in Blue Hawaii or Viva Las Vegas. This is a good fun movie for everyone. June 2, 2007

not a serious film . . . duh

If you are a romantic at heart and don't take it too seriously (why would you? It's an Elvis movie . . .) you may love this one. Some of the songs may not be chart toppers, but the lyrics add to and help define the story.

They say Elvis wasn't very enthusiastic about doing this one - maybe that explains why he seems more real in this one and not overdone.

This is a story about love, believing in yourself and being true to your beliefs. I first saw it when I was a kid and took these values to heart.

Lighten up and enjoy! October 19, 2004

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