JLRMovieReviews
Inspired by the story of The Prince and the Pauper, the film concerns a rich Elvis Presley who meets a motorcycle dude and they switch places. Elvis left his daddy's oil company for some independence and they are going now to a swanky Florida hotel, where the dude has a job as a water-ski instructor. The dude would love to be in Elvis' shoes with all that money and girls fawning over him for his car and all that, and Elvis was tired of even thinking about money, money, money. It's not everything, you know? Right? Well, anyway, Shelley Fabares, who starred in three Elvis films, this being the last, has come to Florida with her own agenda of snagging a millionaire, and so is intent on getting Bill Bixby's attention, who is a rich snob but who goes for the fast type. I know this is kind of corny in parts (why did we need the C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-C-E musical number with the children?), but I've always considered "Clambake" to be one of my favorites due to the presence of Shelley, the romantic and tender scenes between them, and it's just so laid-back and unpretentious. And, it has some very good upbeat songs, along with some romantic songs, including "You Don't Know Me." I know Elvis wanted to do more than these undemanding and predictable feel-good movies, but, for what it is, it's very enjoyable and entertaining. If one didn't like this kind of movie, they wouldn't be watching them. So, why be critical? It may be no "Viva Las Vegas" with Ann-Margret, but Shelley Fabares is one of the most naturally beautiful actresses I've ever seen with her quiet reserve. It has a cute ending, too. Relax and enjoy a "Clambake" with Elvis and Shelley Fabares.
Michael_Elliott
Clambake (1967) * 1/2 (out of 4) Very weak Elvis film has him playing a millionaire's son who wants to meet people on his own so he trades places with a water ski instructor. There's really not too much to say about this really bland romantic comedy because there isn't any romance and not a single laugh. Even the music is pretty poor, which is a shame because you'd think they could have at least came up with one good single. Elvis seems bored and uninterested throughout the film and Shelley Fabares is oh so annoying.Get an Elvis CD instead.
lastliberal
Elvis does well in those movies that have a beach and water and palm tree atmosphere (even if the mountains in Miami were a little weird). In this little venture to the world of speedboat racing and romance, he gets to sing 8 more songs, including the Eddy Arnold classic "You Don't Know Me." Scott Hayward/'Tom Wilson' (Elvis) is a spoiled rich kid who wants to be loved for himself and not his daddy's money, so he pretends to be poor. he runs into a girl (Shelley Fabares) who wants a sugar daddy, and it appears she'll hook up with the racing champion (Bill Bixby). You know how it will end, so all you can do is sit back and watch the crazy antics of Will Hutchins ("Sugarfoot") as he pretends to be the real Scott Hayward.Enjoy the singing.
bkoganbing
By 1967 with the Beatles leading the British invasion of new musical performers, the King of the Sixties was in decline at least in his film career.You can tell with Clambake. The plot is essentially the same story as Blue Hawaii and not half as good. Once again he's the son of a rich man who wants to make it on his own. This time though he changes places with happy-go-lucky water skiing instructor Will Hutchins. They're both headed to the same Florida resort now with each other's identities.Well of course being he's the King, he does find a girl who falls for him without knowing he's a millionaire. For the rest of it you'll have to buy or rent the film.He does have some nice songs. Two songs Who Needs Money is the kind of stuff Bing Crosby used to do in a lot of his films, the upbeat philosophical number and the song Confidence is a ripoff of Frank Sinatra's High Hopes. But Elvis does well by both.He also reprises a song he missed the first time around. You might remember that the original artist who sang the song, Jerry Vale, got to reprise it in Goodfellas. You Don't Know Me sold a whole lot of platters for Mr. Vale, but the big seller of that song was done by Ray Charles. Presley does very well by it, a pity it did not become a big hit for him like it was for the other two.As usual Elvis gets a nice supporting cast and a pretty leading lady in Shelley Fabares. In the cast we have Bill Bixby, Will Hutchins, Gary Merrill and James Gregory all of whom do a good job. Still it's all been done before.
AD
