GI Blues (1960) Review-By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: GI Blues
Year: 1960
Director: Norman Taurog
Country: US 
Language: English

On March 24th, 1958 Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army as a private at Fort Chaffee, in Arkansas. His arrival was a major media event. Hundreds of people descended on Presley as he stepped from the bus. Presley would announce that he looked forward to being in the military and that he did not want to be treated differently than any other soldier. Elvis would return from service in 1960 and the first film he would make was...a war comedy!? 

In this, Elvis plays a specialist in the US Army stationed in Germany. He loves to sing and has dreams to run his own nightclub when he leaves the army....but dreams don't come cheap.

Director Norman Taurog believed Presley’s star value had been enhanced during his time in the army because he had not been exposed to the public through television, concerts, or films. He thought Elvis' special treatment meant that his hip gyrations were not toned down through years of military training, rather that war made Elvis even more energized to get into film again. Elvis sure emits great energy and charisma, but the film's attempt at a comedic tone doesn't challenge the king to give his best performance. 

GI Blues doesn't offer the emotional depth Elvis' previous films at least attempted to develop. Despite some humorous moments (although very dated) it doesn't work well as a comedy. Elvis wasn't ever known for his comedic timing. At least it works as a musical right? Well...no. No performance in GI Blues stands out. The soundtrack is good no doubt, but it's poorly integrated into this film. 

Unfortunately GI Blues would start a pattern of increasingly poor pictures that would trap Elvis within the Hollywood vortex of nothingness. Surprisingly there would be films that would make even less of an impact in Elvis' future.