Jailhouse Rock/Viva Las Vegas
In an era when no corner of the pop-culture past is safe from recycling, it's a real question why nobody's dared to mount a full Elvis Presley filmic retrospective. Perhaps the prospect of a double bill of Harum Scarum and Paradise Hawaiian Style is just too frightening. (Programmers figure if they're going to do horror, they might as well stick with George Romero.) But Elvis did make a handful of good films, and the Roxie has uncovered two of those few. Richard Thorpe's Jailhouse Rock (1957) is early, rough Elvis before he was castrated by Col. Parker. Our dreamy-eyed Southern sex boy brings an almost James Dean quality to this portrait of a hotheaded ex-con turned rocker. His thrilling cruelty to his girlfriend (Judy Tyler) and a hillbilly prison pal who helped him get started may surprise audiences accustomed to the smiling eunuchs of the later pictures. And even the most jaded viewers will snap to attention at the queer subtext -- better make that text -- of the "Jailhouse Rock" number, with Elvis sensuously sliding down a pole and serenading a boyish fellow con as "the cutest little jailbird I ever did see." Other classic musical highlights: "Treat Me Nice" and "Baby I Don't Care." Viva Las Vegas (1964) is veteran vulgarian George Sidney's screaming Panavision ode to those Olympians of early '60s teen sex culture, Elvis and Ann-Margret. Here he plays a poor race-car driver fighting a rich race-car driver for Ann's all-too-evident favors. While Elvis' gyroscopic hips are on full, florid display, his co-star steals the show thanks to Sidney's fascination with her crotch. Rumors that French audiences of the time reacted with screams of "Quelle twat!" are unverified at this writing.
-- Gary Morris
Jailhouse Rock screens at 6 and 9:45 p.m. (with Viva Las Vegas at 8 p.m.) on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3 and 4, at the Roxie, 3117 16th St. (at Valencia). There're additional 2:20 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., respectively, showings on Saturday, and an Elvis impersonator contest at the 8 p.m. Friday show. Tickets are $6; call 863-1087.
