November 1961 was the release of the Blue movie, it was a huge success, staring Elvis Presley as the main character of a musical script set in Hawaii. The film is about a man Chad Gates, played by Elvis, who has returned to to be with his friends and girlfriend after leaving the army. On arriving back on the island Chad Gates gets a job as a guide around the island. The blue movie is basically a chance for Elvis to sing in front of a beautiful backdrop.
The blue movie was mostly filmed at the resort at Coco Palm. The great location of the Blue movie probably helped to get the great cast list which included Angela Lansbury, Pamela Austin, Nancy Walters, Joan Blackman and Jenny Maxwell. In addition to the well known actors there were plenty of successful bands who lined up to be in the Blue movie, these included The Jordanaires, Bernie Lewis, Fred Tavares, The Surfers and George Field.
In 1962 the Blue Movie was nominated for 3 awards; Grammy, Golden Laurel and WGA Award, none of which it won. However, in 1990 the Blue movie finally got an award, the ASCAP award for the song Can’t Help Falling in Love as the most performed feature film standard.
In the Blue movie Elvis famously plays a ukulele, which he is reported to have given to Hank Garland. – Now that would be a piece of memorabilia from the Blue movie which would be given pride of place in any Elvis collectors show.
The Blue movie has left its mark on the island. If you go to a bar in you can order a Blue Hawaii, this is a drink which was created in 1957 (four years before the film) by a bartender called Harry Yee. Harry Yee was asked to create a cocktail by the Dutch company Bols using their liqueur Curacao. The drink was launched around the time of the film release and the two were for ever entwined. If you go to today and order a blue you will get a drink slightly different from the original by Harry Yee, but it will still be the distinctive blue with a pineapple wedge. But be warned, if you mistakenly order a Blue Hawaiian you will get a completely different drink containing crème of coconut!
The Blue movie portrayed the perfect ideal destination. This was such successful marketing that to this day there are travel companies, diving equipment suppliers and much more cashing in on the image Elvis brought into our homes nearly half a century ago.
|
