Spinout

Spinout (1966)

Runtime: 90 minutes

Directed by: Norman Taurog

Starring: Elvis, Shelley Fabares, Diane McBain, Dodie Marshall, a bunch of random dudes

From: MGM

About time I saw another Elvis film, even if this was like a typical Elvis picture in being average:

Two guys in Elvis' band are named Larry and Curly! Need I say anything more about the type of film this is?

As yesterday was the birthday of Elvis and I hadn't seen anything from him in almost a year, about high time I got back on this train. I randomly picked Spinout, and turns out that it was even more of a sitcom than usual for The King.

Elvis leads a rock band known as 1 Plus 2 + ½; the two is the guitar player and the bass player. The ½ is not someone with dwarfism or even a Def Leppard sort of situation. Rather, the drummer is a woman who is a tomboy. I know, but Spinout does not have progressive views. Anyhow, Elvis also races cars, a sweet Shelby Cobra 427. He loves being carefree and single, to the point that he wishes he & his band NOT to become famous as it meant he'd have to lead a more structured life, get married, etc. Interesting plot thread that of course is not as explored in-depth as it could have been in a more serious picture. The film is not too humble at all as THREE ladies pine for him, including the daughter in a rich family and an author who has declared him “the perfect American male.” Subtle.

This rich girl's father has a new race car called the Fox Five... no, not the Fox Force Five. He wants Elvis to drive it, presumably because he's the perfect American male and all. I won't reveal the third lady, although it's not hard to figure out. What results is a whole lot of silliness and contrivances, including a few minutes spent with Una Merkel, who I best know for appearing in some early 30's Warner Brothers films, including 42nd Street. The movie is quite dumb yet honestly, it is harmless and I sometimes did laugh, even if at times it was AT the film. I can't get too mad when there's a lengthy shindig and catchy music is being played and it's the opposite of a sausage party and the girls are wearing tremendous 60's clothing.

I also have to give credit for the movie having a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet (convertible) and the Fox Five was portrayed by a real life race car, a McLaren Elva M1A. Yes, it is tied into the McLaren that not only competes in Formula 1 but also the automotive company currently around that releases supercars like the 570GT and the 720S. The Elva looked and sounded great so I am not surprised it was used for that purpose in this movie. Most of the vehicle action is saved for the climax-this did not bother me too much. As typical for an Elvis picture, the songs are average overall; him warbling about loving a smorgasbord of different women is somehow not comparable to the rare tunes from his film career that became hits, like Viva Las Vegas or Can't Help Falling in Love.