With its breathtaking Hawaiian scenery and heartwarming soundtrack, Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii is not only a visual feast, but it also contains a wealth of amusing errors that deepen our admiration for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
A few mistakes slipped past the editors as Elvis Presley charmed his way through the 1961 musical with his unmistakable magnetism.
Nobody could ever match Elvis Presley in terms of music, stage presence, or those recognizable good looks, not even in their wildest aspirations.
Blue Hawaii hardly ever makes the top three when experts assess Elvis Presley’s films, yet the argument over his best film will likely never end. Still, this fan favorite has an indisputable unique quality.
A handful of obscure blunders
The film, which was full of funny scenes and demonstrated Elvis Presley’s superb comedic timing, gave him the opportunity to collaborate with other gifted actors, many of whom were comedy titans of their era. Blue Hawaii earned $4.2 million at the box office, making it the tenth highest-grossing movie of 1961 despite reviewers’ mixed reviews. It was a delightful and entertaining appearance for Elvis as Chad Gates, a charming former G.I. who left his father’s fruit business to become a beach-loving tour guide.
Not to mention the soundtrack! It produced enduring hits like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, despite winning people over with its breathtaking landscapes and Elvis Presley’s innate charm, Blue Hawaii also had several lesser-known gaffes and behind-the-scenes accidents that made it much more entertaining to see now. Ready to discover a few of these undiscovered treasures? Let’s get started!
Blue Hawaii signaled a significant shift.
This was a huge eye-opener for me, though I’m not sure how many others have noticed. The first time an Elvis character wasn’t a performer with an inherent motivation to sing was in Blue Hawaii.
Rather, Chad Gates would sing at the most unexpected times, whether he was canoeing or just relaxing on the beach. Blue Hawaii is a delightful, feel-good film because of its impromptu musical enchantment, even though it may be a little corny.
A model for all upcoming Presley films
Upon the success of Blue Hawaii, both the film and its music, Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, saw a formula for success.
He made the decision to use it as the model for all subsequent Presley movies, making sure that Elvis sang enough songs to fill an album, setting him in an exotic setting, and including a few stunning co-stars. And you know what? It was successful! During the 1960s, Elvis appeared on the Top Ten Box Office Stars list seven times.
Hundreds of fans yelling
I simply must remember this little gem the next time I watch Blue Hawaii. If you turn up the volume enough, you can clearly hear hundreds of shouting fans who were present for the filming when Chad (Elvis Presley) first walks off the plane, according to IMDb. How awesome is that?
Juliet Prowse’s particular requirements
It’s difficult to picture Blue Hawaii without Joan Blackman, who played Maile Duval, and Elvis. Here’s a fun fact, though: Juliet Prowse was originally signed to play Maile, and she costarred with Elvis in G.I. Blues (1960).
Her unorthodox requirements, however, included having the film’s company pay for her secretary’s plane ticket to Hawaii and bringing in a cosmetics artist from another studio. She made the decision to leave the position once those demands were rejected.
Elvis appeared “disgusted” and “shameful.”
I believe that Elvis was frequently overlooked as an actor. He continuously produced powerful performances when given good material.
When it comes to Blue Hawaii, the King has frequently been portrayed in a positive light, but was it all sunshine and palm trees for him? The King himself considered the encounter somewhat embarrassing, according to Elvis’s publicity director, Anne Fulchino.
Fulchino remembered going to see Elvis while the movie was being made and feeling his discomfort.
According to Fulchino in Peter Guralnick’s Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, “It took him a while to come over and talk to us, and when he did — you see at the beginning I used to call him Chief and I said, ‘Hi, Chief,’ and he just looked at me like he wished I hadn’t come.”
Fulchino could relate to Elvis’s emotions.
She remarked, “I told myself that I wouldn’t want to see anyone from my past either if I was making these bad pictures.” “That’s why I didn’t stay around.”
She noted how evident it was that Elvis felt uncomfortable and departed the set early.
Fulchino went on, “It was all in his face that he was clearly uncomfortable with what he was doing, frustrated, and disgusted.” “You could see that he was trapped, but the emotion I respected the most was that he was ashamed of it, which meant that he knew better.”
The moment Elvis shouted, “CUT!”
For Elvis Presley, filming Blue Hawaii wasn’t quite easy. Security had to remain vigilant since admirers were often swarming to catch a peek of The King. Elvis lost out on many of the island’s tourist attractions since he could barely go around without further protection. One thing, though, he made sure to do: he took golf instruction from professional Gary Player.
“I received an invitation telegram from Elvis – The King after I won my first Masters in 1961,” Gary remembered. A telegraph is more difficult than a text these days. While we were performing in Los Angeles, I visited the “Hawaii” set, where Elvis was filming. He shouted, “CUT!” as soon as he saw me enter the room. Elvis, being the gentleman that he was, put on a jacket before shaking my hand. Elvis requested some swing advice as he was just beginning to play golf. I swear, it was like a cow giving birth to a roll of barbwire when he gave me a trial swing. I told him that he needed to use his hips on the downswing and changed his grip accordingly. “You’re talking to the right man, baby,” he said. It shook each of us a little.
Elvis pulled a terrifying practical joke.
Elvis clearly knew how to have a good time on set, whether it was out of irritation or a little mischief. Anita Wood, his then-girlfriend, assisted him in conducting a wonderful practical joke while Blue Hawaii was being filmed. The strategy? Elvis would act as if he had passed away.
Wood abruptly started yelling that Elvis wasn’t breathing, which terrified his entourage. As everyone hurried to his house in a panic to call for an ambulance, Elvis was sitting up and chatting away as he explained:
Cheatsheet said, “I just wanted to see what you guys would do.”
The MG roadster in red
If you’re an Elvis fan, you’re surely already aware of his lifelong passion for automobiles, and not just any automobiles, but the most expensive luxury models.
During the Blue Hawaii filming, he was particularly drawn to the 1960 MGA 1600 MkI roadster. He ended up purchasing it because he loved it so much. His motorcycles, Cadillacs, Stutzes, and a host of other dazzling toys now share room with that exact red MG in Graceland’s amazing collection.
A well-liked venue for weddings
With good cause, Hawaii swiftly rose to prominence as one of Elvis Presley’s preferred locations for filmmaking! The picnic scene with Chad and Maile is among the most famous scenes from the three films he shot there.
At an overlook along Tantalus Drive, this charming scene was captured on camera, and guess what? That breathtaking view is still available today. It is so beautiful that it has gained popularity as a wedding venue.
And here’s a fun fact about the places where Blue Hawaii was filmed: The famous Coco Palms Resort, which actually made an appearance in the movie, was where Elvis Presley resided while filming. The Coco Palms Resort is most likely most known for being the location of the fictional wedding between Joan Blackman and Elvis Presley. Additionally, it appeared in the well-known scene where Elvis performs the “Hawaiian Wedding Song.”
The resort drew movie stars like Rita Hayworth, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra when it was at its best.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Iniki devastated the resort in 1992, and it has never been developed or reconstructed. The ruins of the Coco Palms, a small bit of Elvis history, are still accessible if you’re ever in Hawaii.
Elvis desired a union with Joan Blackman.
In 1961, while filming Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley became close to his co-star, Joan Blackman. Joan said that she felt a unique spark between them when they first met in 1957, demonstrating how intense their connection was.
There was a spark and a certain enchantment in the air when we first laid eyes on one another. In a 1977 interview with Midnight Globe, Joan said, “There was just that special something between us, sometimes so warm and wonderful you could almost reach out and touch it.”
With its breathtaking Hawaiian scenery and heartwarming soundtrack, Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii is not only a visual feast, but it also contains a wealth of amusing errors that deepen our admiration for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
A few mistakes slipped past the editors as Elvis Presley charmed his way through the 1961 musical with his unmistakable magnetism.
Nobody could ever match Elvis Presley in terms of music, stage presence, or those recognizable good looks, not even in their wildest aspirations.
Blue Hawaii hardly ever makes the top three when experts assess Elvis Presley’s films, yet the argument over his best film will likely never end. Still, this fan favorite has an indisputable unique quality.
Shutterstock
A handful of obscure blunders
The film, which was full of funny scenes and demonstrated Elvis Presley’s superb comedic timing, gave him the opportunity to collaborate with other gifted actors, many of whom were comedy titans of their era. Blue Hawaii earned $4.2 million at the box office, making it the tenth highest-grossing movie of 1961 despite reviewers’ mixed reviews. It was a delightful and entertaining appearance for Elvis as Chad Gates, a charming former G.I. who left his father’s fruit business to become a beach-loving tour guide.
Not to mention the soundtrack! It produced enduring hits like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, despite winning people over with its breathtaking landscapes and Elvis Presley’s innate charm, Blue Hawaii also had several lesser-known gaffes and behind-the-scenes accidents that made it much more entertaining to see now. Ready to discover a few of these undiscovered treasures? Let’s get started!
Blue Hawaii signaled a significant shift.
This was a huge eye-opener for me, though I’m not sure how many others have noticed. The first time an Elvis character wasn’t a performer with an inherent motivation to sing was in Blue Hawaii.
Rather, Chad Gates would sing at the most unexpected times, whether he was canoeing or just relaxing on the beach. Blue Hawaii is a delightful, feel-good film because of its impromptu musical enchantment, even though it may be a little corny.
A model for all upcoming Presley films
Upon the success of Blue Hawaii, both the film and its music, Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, saw a formula for success.
He made the decision to use it as the model for all subsequent Presley movies, making sure that Elvis sang enough songs to fill an album, setting him in an exotic setting, and including a few stunning co-stars. And you know what? It was successful! During the 1960s, Elvis appeared on the Top Ten Box Office Stars list seven times.
Hundreds of fans yelling
I simply must remember this little gem the next time I watch Blue Hawaii. If you turn up the volume enough, you can clearly hear hundreds of shouting fans who were present for the filming when Chad (Elvis Presley) first walks off the plane, according to IMDb. How awesome is that?
Actresses Jenny Maxwell, Pamela Austin, Joan Blackman, Darlene Tompkins, and Christian Kay surround Elvis Presley (Getty Images). Juliet Prowse’s particular requests
It’s difficult to picture Blue Hawaii without Joan Blackman, who played Maile Duval, and Elvis. Here’s a fun fact, though: Juliet Prowse was originally signed to play Maile, and she costarred with Elvis in G.I. Blues (1960).
Her unorthodox requirements, however, included having the film’s company pay for her secretary’s plane ticket to Hawaii and bringing in a cosmetics artist from another studio. She made the decision to leave the position once those demands were rejected.
Elvis appeared “disgusted” and “shameful.”
I believe that Elvis was frequently overlooked as an actor. He continuously produced powerful performances when given good material.
When it comes to Blue Hawaii, the King has frequently been portrayed in a positive light, but was it all sunshine and palm trees for him? The King himself considered the encounter somewhat embarrassing, according to Elvis’s publicity director, Anne Fulchino.
Fulchino remembered going to see Elvis while the movie was being made and feeling his discomfort.
According to Fulchino in Peter Guralnick’s Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, “It took him a while to come over and talk to us, and when he did — you see at the beginning I used to call him Chief and I said, ‘Hi, Chief,’ and he just looked at me like he wished I hadn’t come.”
Joan Blackman and Elvis Presley on the Blue Hawaii set (Source: Getty Images))
Despite their obvious bond, Elvis wasn’t afraid to declare his desire for Joan as his wife, even pleading with her to feature in more of his movies.
“I wanted parts because of my ability, not because I was dating Elvis,” Joan said, but she had other ideas.
A poor cut
Let’s now explore several blunders that may have only been seen by true Blue Hawaii supporters.
There is a clear edit error in the “Almost Always True” automobile scene: Chad’s left arm mysteriously moves from resting on his seatback to extending behind Maile, and Maile’s hands abruptly change position on the steering wheel.
Field scene with pineapples
Ellie remains in the car (obviously in the driver’s side back seat) in the pineapple field scene while the others go to the stand.
However, Ellie has inexplicably moved to the passenger side to make room for the camera angle and conversation when Chad returns with some pineapple—a classic continuity error!
There were 14 songs on the magic ukulele in Blue Hawaii, more than in any other Elvis film.
However, can you recall the moment when Chad was playing the ukulele? If you listen carefully, you’ll see that he doesn’t change chords, despite the fact that the music is
Elvis later handed his friend Hank Garland, also known as “Sugarfoot,” the renowned ukulele. Hank was one of Nashville’s best guitarists and even went on tour with Elvis in 1958 and 1961. Hank was so popular with Elvis that he even engraved his initials on the ukulele. Elvis referred to Garland as “one of the finest guitar players in all of the country” during a 1961 benefit concert in Hawaii.
The patch that Chad’s uniform wears
Chad’s Blue Hawaii uniform patch is more than just a decorative accent. In reality, it is the symbol of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Division, popularly referred to as “Spearhead.”
When Elvis Presley was stationed in Germany, he served with this exact division and was promoted to buck sergeant.
Last holiday
In a stunning full-circle experience, Elvis Presley returned to Hawaii, a destination that held many great memories for him, for his last vacation in March 1977.
The Hilton Rainbow Tower was where Elvis Presley and his Memphis Mafia stayed. He later moved to a seaside house with his fiancée Ginger Alden and her two sisters, but that’s not all.
For Elvis, Blue Hawaii was more than simply a movie; it was a memorable period of his life, filled with remarkable experiences like golf lessons with Gary Player and the enchantment of Hawaii’s breathtaking scenery. Behind the scenes, Elvis demonstrated that he could still find time for laughter, fun, and, of course, a little musical magic despite the mayhem all around him. This movie is still a classic because of its majestic sequences, funny antics, and his own connection to the Aloha spirit.
Therefore, pay attention to the small details and interesting facts the next time you see Blue Hawaii. After all, Elvis was a real icon both on and off the set, and he wasn’t simply The King on television. Remember to share your most treasured Elvis experiences, and together, let’s maintain the Aloha vibe!
