Speedway [1968]

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Editorial reviews

Synopsis
Elvis Presley enters into the thrill-a-minute world of racing when he stars as an ace stock-car driver with nerves of steel who falls foul of IRS agent Nancy Sinatra.

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2003-09-26 rating:
Hilariouse
This Elvis' 3rd racing driver movie falls towards the absolute nadir of Elvis films; just before a slight up turn in quality (with 'Charro' a 'Change of Habit') which preceded his live nbc-tv comeback of the same year.

Yes, you know the story: no script, 2-week filming times, poor quality sets which make Star Treks look realistic; lightweight soundtrack fodder and beautiful dancing girls. The lack of script here is glaringly apparent, the 1st half intact doesn't really have one being simply a series of scenes in which Elvis and Bill Bixby try unsuccessfully to chase skirt intermingled with music and hilarious dancing girls on a rather cheap cafe set. It isn't apparent why the racing driver theme is linked in with these segments. During the second half the rather shabby script becomes apparent: something about the IRS taking there money, Nancy Sinatra (who they are both chasing) works for the IRS and it's basically a effort to deliver some comic snubs between Elvis and Nancy with Bill the buddy.

Elvis performs some of his worst acting to date. He goes through the entire movie with this bemused smirk on his face; a embarrassed look because of the shabbiness of the material. Sometimes he can barely hide his laugh. At least he is enjoying himself and looks in fine form being lean and trim; much like how he looked on the 68 comeback special bar the overextended sideburns. It is unlike other bad Elvis movies where he simply looks stoned and bloated (harum scarum).

Bill Bixby is poncy and annoying. It's just as hard to believe that this is the same man who would perform Dr Banner in the Hulk TV show as it is that Elvis acted very well in King Creole. It shows all the difference a good script makes. Nancy Sinatra fails to make a impact with both her horrid song Your Goovy Self and acting.

Good points? The soundtrack is a marginal improvement over previous Elvis stinkers though Sun studios may as well be a different planet. The standout track is the rather fine Let Yourself Go which was later revived to great effect for the 68 Comeback Special. The Let Yourself Go sequence is simply hilarious, with 60s dancing girls who look like they have failed a audition for a Andy Williams video a good too many times; goofy looking guys trying unsuccessfully to dance and Elvis wading through the scene looking and moving super cooly. It makes for the films best sequence if accepted on the terms of pure frivolous shallow campness.
The racing car sequences look extremely dated when compared with Bullitt which was released the same year, they have very poor back projection with Elvis looking rather uncomfortable in that helmet.

One of Presley's weaker efforts which together with Harum Scarum, Clamblake and Tickle Me form the absolute nadir of his career and artistic integrity. To show how irrelevant Elvis had become The Beatles released The White album, The Stones sang Street Fighting Man, Vietnam was happening, all in the same year.

This film is so bad it is good almost, much like Ed Wood Movies. It is hilarious for all the wrong reasons being pure Trash. Thankfully the greatest musical comeback in history was around the corner.

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Similar categories

Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Musicals . 1960s
Video . Video . Categories . Music & Performing Arts . Musicals
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Musicals
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Musicals & Classical . Musicals & Stage Performances . Classic
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Musicals & Classical . Musicals & Stage Performances . Film Musicals
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . U
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1960 - 1969
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS

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