I've enjoyed reading all the previous comments. However, having grown up in the 60's, I have my doubts that the campy nature of this "light-hearted" (1967) Elvis flick was an intentional, nostalgic, and "politically motivated" view of life before the Vietnam War, (1956-1973) the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy (1963) and Dr. Martin Luther King, (1968) Senator Bobby Kennedy, (1968) or any other tragedy of the era. I suppose you could read that into it, but, personally, I just don't see it.It's only obvious that the basic plot of this slapstick "almost a musical" (Not surprisingly, the songs, for the most part, ARE one of the more memorable components in this film, in my opinion.) is a modernization of Mark Twain's classic tale "The Prince and the Pauper". In this case, it happens to be "The King" who turns from "Prince" to "Pauper", and then, back to "Prince" again - and a noble one at that. Although already showing telltale signs of reluctantly submitting control to his "career advisers" (especially, of course, "The Colonel") Elvis still exudes charm and virility in this movie. Granted, screenwriter Arthur Browne, Jr. exploited these qualities (The way-hokey "kids on the playground" scene, for example.) to a degree almost too embarrassing for Elvis fans to watch. Nonetheless, they ARE there, and as evidence of his timeless appeal, they are no less than "striking".And if Shelley Fabares at this point in her career, (obviously in her "prime" - the girl looks absolutely breathtaking, even in a plain, old, vintage 60's, "pre-thong" bikini!) does not meet today's criteria as a "major hottie", then HDTV won't help you. Sure the movie was just plain "lame". I doubt that anyone recognized this any sooner than Elvis, himself. As I write this on the anniversary of his birthday, (1/8/2007) I had just spent the afternoon watching old black and white footage of his TV appearances, (Ed Sullivan, Milton Berle, Dorsey Brothers, etc.) from 1956, courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame (Nashville, TN) prior to watching "Clambake" on TV. It was clear from several facial expressions and gestures to his band members during these that, even as a young man first starting out, Elvis considered his (female) fans' reactions (screaming, crying, hysteria, etc.) as "amusing", and took ample opportunities to "play" with this effect like it were a "cat and mouse" game. (One slight gyration and the roof flys off the place! And then, "The King" just smiles...) Given the "silliness to the point of being downright stupid" that he was offered in this mid-career outing, I think he held together pretty well, and may have even expanded his acting abilities in the process. Sometimes, it's HOW (or even IF) you get through the absurdities and/or "less than satisfying" situations that life offers that defines your work as an artist and/or performer. He "did awright".

An awful, idiotic Elvis movie. The acting is wooden, and the only laughs that come are unintentional.For example: we're in the middle of a bland musical number, when suddenly the screen is tipped upside down. It stays like that for a while, then goes back to normal. None of this happens for a reason.Even my drunk cousin was confused by this.The story was nice and original when it was The Prince and the Pauper, but by the time Clambake was made, it had been done to death.As for Elvis' acting: either he based his performance on an ironing board, or he was drunk.I personally hope for the latter.You could replace his character with a plank with a mopey face and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.Avoid.

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.

Although this film is not brilliant and nothing compared to the ingenuity that was "Jailhouse Rock" I enjoyed this film immensely and it is, as many Elvis films are, simple light-hearted fun. I would much rather watch Elvis in this than in the embarrassment of "Live a Little, Love A Little" where even the most devoted Elvis fan finds it hard to watch the icon suffer in such an embarrassing predicament. This film however is fun to watch and I did enjoy it although if you're looking for Elvis at his best or a serious film then this isn't the one for you. The plot, although predictable, was amusing and despite numerous goofs such as the scenery Elvis certainly had an on-screen presence and it was hard to keep my eyes off him!