You may have heard it’s Elvis Week. As titanic as the King was when
it came to music, he seeped into the public consciousness almost as
much with his film career, appearing in 31 movies in 13 years.
Elvis is returning to Memphis silver screens with a series of films
shown across town this week. First up is the Orpheum’s presentation of
Blue Hawaii on Sunday, August 9th, at 6 p.m. Girls and surf
merge in the 50th-state paradise, and the film features Angela Lansbury
and Joan Blackman. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and
under.
On Tuesday, August 11th, there is a whole slate of Elvis on film
under one roof. Elvis Film Fest 6 takes over Malco’s Studio on the
Square beginning at 10 a.m. (and again at 4:10 p.m.) with a screening
of Jailhouse Rock — which has the single-best scene in the
King’s career, with the magnificently choreographed prison dance.
Bikers and carnies converge in Roustabout, showing at 10:15
a.m. and 2 p.m. At noon and 3 p.m., catch Fun in Acapulco, which
pairs Elvis with Ursula Andress down Mexico way. Finally, King
Creole — a cautionary tale about juvenile delinquency and
night-club shenanigans co-starring Walter Matthau — screens at
12:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 per show, and proceeds benefit the Elvis
Presley Charitable Foundation.
Lastly, how about some nonfiction here? The film festival On
Location: Memphis presents the premiere of At the Gates: Elvis
Presley Blvd. — about the King’s effect on those around him
and the millions of fans who flock to Memphis each year — on
Wednesday, August 12th, at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35. The doc is showing
at Playhouse on the Square, which used to be the Memphian, a movie
theater Elvis rented from time to time to watch films privately. After
the screening, a discussion with Larry Geller, the filmmakers, and
special guests is scheduled.