McLafferty is clearly a film scholar and his frequent introduction of background material on Directors, Producers, Writers and Actors is enlightening to those who previously thought that the personnel working on Elvis movies came out of a factory and returned there after the two weeks it took to make the picture.The author tries to lead the reader into an acceptance of the '60s Presley movies as being part of a genre which simply requires the audience to be entertained, not challenged. He also asks us to put them in the context of the star's career progression and maturity.
The notable Presley movies (there are a half-dozen) are highlighted and the differing and diverse reasons for the credibility of these few is proposed by the author.
A serious book on what is not normally a serious subject. It addresses important questions on the premier entertainer of the 20th Century's seeming 'lapse' during the movie period in a way that other biographers merely skim. This book should be kept available until a better one comes along. As of yet, none has.
