G.I. Blues

There's nothing blue about G.I. Blues, one of those Elvis Presley escape vehicles for which a plot has not so much been written as pasted together from various scraps of paper that blew in through the window. "Slight" doesn't begin to describe the story, any more than "vapid" describes the dialogue or "essentially non-existent" the character development -- but it really doesn't matter. This kind of movie always exists in spit of, not because of, its screenplay; it is never intended to be great art, and its success as sheer entertainment depends on other things. In this case, "other things" is most obviously Mr. Presley, and one's reaction to the film will depend upon whether or not one is a fan. He's in good voice here, delivering a fair number of songs in various moods and styles -- and of varying quality. The best Presley performance, ironically, is heard in "Blue Suede Shoes," played on a jukebox during a fight sequence. His amiable, simple persona carries him more than his acting, but he does have a quiet presence that counts for more than acting talent. The "girl" in the picture -- a stunning Juliet Prowse -- is unusual for a Presley vehicle, being more independent and less pliable than most. While Prowse is hampered by a dreadful German accent that derails many of her scenes, she does have a couple of dance numbers that generate tremendous heat. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide