G.I. Blues

(Paramount, 1960)

Elvis's fifth film, and his first after two long years Army service, put him right back into uniform as a G. I. soldier stationed in Germany. Was this art reflecting real life or what? The idea certainly worked as the film was a box-office success. Fans denied any access to Elvis on the cinema screen were very happy to see his return. G.I. Blues was a very lighthearted, romantic comedy musical - so very removed from Elvis's four pre-army movies, and its success set the pattern for projects to come. The following year's Blue Hawaii - a truly major commercial bonanza - would consolidate the Elvis management decision to continue (for much too long) with similarly themed productions. Elvis's costars contributed effectively to the film and included Juliet Prowse, Robert Ivers, James Douglas and Arch Johnson (as a harassed, gullible army sergeant). Producer Hal Wallis travelled to Germany with a film crew and shot footage during this period. Although Wallis did meet up with Elvis at this point, there was no footage shot of Elvis on actual location. All of Elvis's scenes for the film were done back on the Paramount Studio lot in Hollywood upon his return to civilian life, and these were then intercut with the location film. Elvis had returned to the States in March 1960 after his eighteen-month stint in Europe and reported to Hollywood in May for the start of filming G.I. Blues.

During production Elvis took part in some karate displays (his interest in martial arts had begun in Germany) and in the process he badly damaged his hand. On the back cover of the film's soundtrack album, Elvis's swollen hand is clearly seen - something he himself commented on during a live concert years later. Elvis's important status was clearly marked by visits to the film set from VIP guests who included royalty in the form of three Princesses from Sweden, Norway and Denmark; the King and Queen of Thailand, and the King and Queen of Nepal. During the time of production, Elvis, co-star Juliet Prowse and producer Hal Wallis all attended a birthday celebration (his 43rd) for fellow singer/actor and Paramount stalwart Dean Martin. Photographs of the occasion show a happy crowd - with Dino cutting his birthday cake. Elvis was dressed in his (movie) army uniform. Much of the action in G.I. Blues took place in a nightspot called the Cafe Europa. In several European countries the movie was in fact entitled Cafe Europa.

The soundtrack album for G.I. Blues delivered eleven songs including a re-recording of the classic Blue Suede Shoes (featured in an amusing scene in the film with 'Elvis Presley' selected on a jukebox). Some of the songs had a distinctly military beat that actually worked very well within the movie context. The album became a no.I chart hit in both the U.S. and the U.K. The single release (also a no. l hit in the UK) was Wooden Heart / Tonight Is So Right For Love. Due to complicated copyright problems the song Tonight Is So Right For Love was replaced in the film, in several European countries, with a different, though similar, song entitled Tonight's Alright For Love.


Elvis' Tulsa McLean character was something of a con-man and Elvis played the part convincingly - in the type of role he revisited in some future productions. This characterisation was clearly an area in which he appeared very comfortable and highlighted an effective display of his acting range.

This information was produced by the Elvis Presley Film Society in November 2003