User reviews

This was a movie that I watched primarily because of the photography of 1960s Hawaii. In the opening scene, there's a great pan of Diamond Head all the way to the Ilikai hotel. If you spend much time in Hawaii, you'll notice hotels that don't exists yet and several that are even being built during the filming of this movie. Specifically, you can see the Outrigger Waikiki under construction as well as what is now known as the Resortquest Waikiki Beach. Ironically, the Resortquest Waikiki Beach is now an Elvis era themed hotel. The Sheraton Waikiki is an empty lot.

Another really neat observation is the scene at the beach park near Chinaman's hat. It is literally timeless! The beach looks the same today as it does in the movie. Almost everything else has changed in many ways.

The film won't be an example of great acting and certainly the plot leaves a lot to be desired. On the other hand, it's fun to see the island from 40 years ago. Even Kalakaua Ave is a two-way street!

Producer Hal Wallis uses the same formula as "Blue Hawaii" to no avail. Rick Richards (Presley) enters a partnership in a charter helicopter service with his buddy played by James Shigeta. Richards is temporarily ground by the FAA for losing control of his chopper. Meanwhile Shigeta crashes on a flight with his daughter on board. Without a license, Richards to the rescue. Donna Butterworth plays the sweet little scene stealer. The grown up girls that help by just being there are Suzanne Leigh, Marianna Hill and Linda Wong. Nine songs make up a pleasant soundtrack. "This Is My Heaven" and "Stop Where You Are" are hidden among much flirtation with foolishness. Kauai is a breathe taking backdrop; but "Blue Hawaii" this is not.

Paradise, Hawaiian Style is the second of three films Elvis Presley filmed in Hawaii. What a lucky guy, three trips to Hawaii for free at Paramount's expense. Good a reason as any to visit the islands.

Elvis plays a pilot who gets together with good buddy James Shigeta to form a helicopter touring and freighting service. Shigeta takes care of the business end of the business and Elvis both flies and charms his way into the hearts of various local beauties to plug his service at the hotels they work at.

Funniest thing in the movie is Elvis trying to fly a helicopter with about five dogs running around with their ditzy owner as well, miracle he wasn't killed. The owner insists they not go in doggie carriers and Elvis, desperate for business, is the only pilot to agree with that insanity.

Paradise, Hawaiian Style is not as good as Blue Hawaii, the songs he sings here are markedly inferior. But I like the film because a lot of it was shot at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Northern Oahu. Some might recognize the film music used when Elvis makes his first appearance there. It's the famous theme from Donovan's Reef, also shot in Hawaii and another favorite of mine.

That center was the highlight of the attractions I saw in the Aloha State and should not be missed by any tourists.

Another reviewer said the film must have been a deal with the Hawaiian Tourism Board with all the beautiful outdoor location shooting. Good a reason as I've ever heard to watch a film.

But that's about it. I would have to agree with most of the posters that this is not Elvis's best Hawaii flick, but it sure shows off Kauai in all its tropical beauty. It can't be denied that the plot lines of the typical Elvis movie are rarely very deep, and this one is no different. But I still find entertainment in all of them. Even "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." As an avid enthusiast of Hawaii, traveling there every year when time allows, I tend to like Elvis movies filmed in Hawaii more than the others. I would have loved to have visited Hawaii in the days of "Blue Hawaii" and "Paradise, Hawaiian Style," and it's cool to see what it looked like in those days. The Polynesian Cultural Center especially. This movie may not be the best Elvis had to offer, but it showcases Kauai in all its amazing beauty. It may be a little silly in its plot line, but it's still fun.

If you were Elvis and had to make this sort of film time and time again, you'd have been on drugs too. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" can easily be confused with "Blue Hawaii" - both take place in Hawaii, both are about the travel business, both have women in them. But there are differences. Elvis was drop-dead gorgeous in "Blue Hawaii," there were some great songs, and it had Angela Lansbury in the cast.

By the time this movie was made, Elvis looked out of it and he was stuffed into a tapered shirt. Back in the old days, they used to teach actors to pull their stomachs in when standing in profile. No one told Elvis. In some scenes, he looks as if he doesn't know where he is.

There is no plot, just dazzling scenery. The songs are rotten. Donna Butterworth as the daughter of James Shigeta is excellent - what a voice. James Shigeta is good as well. There are a few good scenes - the one in the helicopter with the dogs is one. I'm sure I can think of more... The excuses for Elvis to burst into song are tragic.

It's amazing how such an important career was peppered with so many unimportant films, thanks to his management, i.e., Colonel Parker. Elvis could have dumped him and gone to anyone in the world, but he was a hillbilly with enormous gifts, belief in his own power not being one of them. He was confident with his music, but he was superstitious and felt he couldn't make without Colonel Parker. It's a shame - as brilliant a career as Elvis had, it could have been so much more. He could have toured Europe and Japan, for instance - if only Colonel Tom wasn't in the country illegally. And he could have made better movies. The offers were there, but Colonel Tom was afraid of losing control.

So Colonel Tom held a tight rein on Elvis. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" is one example of his brilliant management of one of the greatest talents that ever existed. Proceed at the risk of being hulaed to death.

I have never commented on Elvis Presley although I like his musical style now more than ever compared to the loud hysterical noise we have today. I saw this movie yesterday on AMC TV and by golly it was a good entertaining movie, songs were good, the thin story line was decent, and the Hawaii scenery beautiful and gorgeous; what a backdrop for any musical! Elvis was the only famous character in it, but it was so enjoyable, I could see it again! I thought Elvis was good also in that movie "Love Me Tender", but all the others were just so-so.

Last night, I watched Elvis in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" for the 20,000th time. It's not one of his best (few movies can be considered 'his best'). It has a silly plot, and the scenery is more of an attraction than story itself. The one actress that steals the show is not one of the bevy of beauties that Elvis woos. It comes more in the form of 10-year old Donna Butterworth. She steals every scene that she is in, and not a bad singer at all. I have roamed heaven and earth to try to find out what has happened to young Donna. If anyone knows, drop me an email. Anyway, if you are looking for a good time killer, watch this film.

Elvis had clearly had one too many peanut butter and banana sandwiches before making this travelogue that must have been underwritten by the Hawaiian tourist board. The story is minimal, the songs amongst the worst of Elvis' movie career. Watch him try to land a helicopter with four dogs in the cockpit. Watch the happy natives do the hula--endlessly. Watch the cute child actress entertain the tourists. Me, I enjoyed the scenery, and Suzanna Leigh is quite attractive.

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.

Am of the opinion that his early efforts pre-'Kissin' Cousins', his first mediocre at best film, ranged from decent to very good, while his films between 'Kissin' Cousins' and 'Harum Scarum' were more variable. Of his films 'King Creole', 'Flaming Star', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Viva Las Vegas' and 'Loving You' fare best. Those films, and most of his late 50s-early 60s films, looked good, had great soundtracks, great supporting casts and showed that Elvis could be a very capable actor when his material allowed it, even when the dialogue and stories were in a few of them were not strong suits ('King Creole' was a notable exception though). Am also of the opinion that Elvis' film career was an uneven one, while there were good films and performances there were also bad films where he looked bored, where the films had not so good soundtracks and looked cheap, a notable example being his previous film 'Harum Scarum' (widely considered one of his worst for good reason).

Worse efforts than 'Paradise Hawaiian Style'? Marginally yes, it is a little better than 'Harum Scarum' and some of his later films. It is still a lesser effort in his career though. Not terrible but very much mediocre, and most components even less than that.

There are good things with 'Paradise Hawaiian Style'. It looks pretty good, with suitably exotic scenery beautifully photographed. It is not as cheap-looking as his later films or previous efforts like 'Kissin' Cousins', 'Harum Scarum' and 'Frankie & Johnny'.

Of a pretty poor cast generally, Donna Butterworth is the one good standout, sweet and charming with a great voice. The soundtrack is one of the overall worst for an Elvis film, but the title song just about passes muster as a nice enough song.

Otherwise, there is very little to recommend it. The material throughout is not up to par and it is abundantly clear that Elvis himself knows it. He is the most uncomfortable he's ever been up to that point and looks utterly bored and like he wasn't even trying to act. The supporting cast are no better, with the girls having sex appeal but nothing more than that, and the rest having little to do and doing nothing with it. Chemistry is non-existent.

As for the songs, to say that they are unmemorable and sub-par is being far too kind to these adjectives. Quite frankly, apart from one they are a complete embarrassment with the titles and lyrics to make one groan, feel thrown in, are sloppily lip-synched, indifferently staged and performed with no engagement. The direction is throughout dull.

Have no better news to say about the script and story. The script will make the toes curl of even people not expecting much from the script in the first place, after all people don't watch an Elvis film for the script or expecting it to be good, in even some of the best efforts the dialogue is a weak link. The story is like a retread of 'Blue Hawaii', and by now is well shopworn, it's also paper thin, sluggishly paced and goes well overboard on the silliness. Complete with naff, being annoying and far too saccharine, scenes with children that just drag the film down even further.

In conclusion, mediocre at best film where describing it as paradise is very much ironic. 4/10 Bethany Cox

Paradise Hawaiian Style is basically a repeat of Blue Hawaii but without any decent songs. The threadbare and puerile story line hangs over the film like a dark shadow with Elvis sleepwalking through most of the film, where his acting can only be described as wooden. There's a lack of energy or excitement in most of the scenes, which by now are all too predictable. The characters are all one dimensional and for most of the time the film limps along aimlessly. By 1966, Elvis had lost touch with younger audiences and was more or less playing roles like he was a slightly younger version of Dean Martin. Give this film a miss!

Relieved of his duties as an airline pilot due to amorous activities, Rick Richards (Presley) starts a helicopter business in Hawaii with his Polynesian pal.

"Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (1966) was Elvis' 21st movie of the 31 in his acting filmography. It was the third and last of his three flicks shot in Hawaii, after "Blue Hawaii" (1961) and "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962). While it's nowhere near as good as "Blue Hawaii" it's superior IMHO to "Girls! Girls! Girls!"

The vibe is strange in that there's unnecessary exposition in the first act or so which bogs down the story, but things pick up during the amusing dog sequence and, later, when Rick takes Lani (Marianna Hill) to a remote beach in his helicopter.

Aside from the spectacular Hawaiian cinematography and the King himself, this one's worthwhile for the three main females, especially Marianna Hill, who's known for being the most beautiful woman to appear on the original Star Trek in the 1st season episode "Dagger of the Mind," which debuted the same year as this flick.

Meanwhile blonde Suzanna Leigh is no slouch in the beauty department as Judy; she has a great bikini scene, which shows off her fitness. Julie Parrish is also on hand as Joanna; she can be observed in the aforementioned dog sequence. Julie played Miss Piper in the 1st season episode of Star Trek "The Menagerie."

The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in Hawaii (O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'I & The Kona Coast), Torrance Airport, California and Paramount Studios, Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-

This is yet another resistible vehicle for Elvis Presley with a silly plot (here he's an irresponsible playboy pilot who opens up his own helicopter service), tropical setting, a plethora of girls, child interest, and below-par musical numbers (his crooning to a bunch of dogs while up in the air has to be the nadir of his singing career!). Elvis had already done something similar with BLUE HAWAII (1961) – but that's one which I haven't caught up with so far.

Michael Moore (no relation to the controversial documentarist of the same name) had been the assistant or second-unit director of six previous Elvis titles; considering the dire results here, it's no wonder he wasn't called upon to helm another later on! Popular Asian-American actor James Shigeta is Presley's business partner; the female cast includes Suzanna Leigh (later a British horror/Hammer starlet) and Marianna Hill (she had already appeared uncredited in the Elvis film ROUSTABOUT [1964] and would go on to feature in such heavyweight modern classics as MEDIUM COOL [1969] and THE GODFATHER PART II [1974]!). Shigeta's little girl – she even gets to duet with Elvis on a couple of songs – is played by Donna Butterworth, who had debuted in the Jerry Lewis comedy THE FAMILY JEWELS (1965); it was also nice to see Grady Sutton, a favorite W.C. Fields foil back in the day, as the enthusiastic but nervous crocodile-shoe salesman.

If Hal Wallis had produced this little epic 10 years earlier, it might have starred his other contract players, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (with Lewis in the role of the little girl played by Donna Butterworth). If it had been made 10 years later, after "The Godfather Part II" made it fashionable to number sequels, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" might have been titled "Blue Hawaii, Part II." It's not an official sequel, but that's a mere technicality. The only real difference between the two films is that this one is infinitely worse. Whereas "Blue Hawaii" was little more than a travelogue, it was professional looking with some decent songs and a star who still seemed to be in touch with some form of reality. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" is a grubby, grimy, cheap looking thing with a pudgy, seemingly zonked out Elvis warbling tunes so dreadful ("Queenie Wahine's Papaya," "Datin'"), they weren't worthy of the vinyl record on which they were pressed let alone a gold one.

Watching Presley in this wretched vehicle, one can only look on in amazement and wonder if this is, indeed, the same sneering guy who set the world on fire a decade earlier. This is a Twilight Zone Elvis in a movie for those curious to know how the state of mind known as "stunned disbelief" really feels.

Paradise, Hawaiin Style is a film about a pilot who is thrown out of his old job for being a sleaze-bag. He comes back to his island buddies in Hawaii to start a new helicopter charter business with his pilot friend. It seems to be working out well for them until his old ways start catching him… Apart from throwing into a song every 10 minutes, the film features a nice cast who play the various friends of Elvis Presley's character, Rick. Of particular note is Donna Butterworth, a young girl with a great voice who looks like she had a lot of fun making this 1966 film.

The film also features a pair of ever-present Bell 47J Ranger helicopters, quite often seen making max. performance takeoffs and hasty landings. The film is a real treat for aircraft and helicopter enthusiasts who get to see these old machines in great detail, up close. A lot of back-projection is used for the flying scenes featuring close-ups of Elvis and the other cast members, and the scenery is beautiful.

One particular scene has the chopper flying through a mountainous valley with dives and climbs not usually seen performed by such helicopters. Another scene has a bunch of canine passengers causing havoc for Elvis as he tries to fly the chopper, getting low and fast, scaring locals and crashing a car.

The legendary Elvis is particularly wooden in this film, just going through the motions to make a film with no real depth to his role, otherwise it is an enjoyable film for the entire family.

I liked it. OK the songs weren't up to much, although I did like the Hawaiian song also showcased to some extent on Donovan's Reef. I can't understand why Elvis' films were criticised so much. His acting was fine and the scenery breath taking, and I don't just mean the location which really does take some beating, especially from where I am, which is in the UK. I was always jealous of his looks and voice, and the film did nothing to diminish either. The plot was also plausible and when you've got lots of friends, as Elvis' characters always have, there's plenty of scope to build plots and sub plots around them. I think people should lighten up before finding fault with his films. He was a singer first and foremost who did a good job in combining his musical talent with acting to present himself as different people in different situations. Not a lot of people can do that!

Airline pilot Elvis Presley--sacked for fooling around with a stewardess mid-flight--can't find work because of his bad reputation; he returns to Hawaii, his old stomping grounds, to hit up friends for the funding he needs to start a helicopter-shuttle business for tourists. Presley's buddy this time is James Shigeta, a family man with lots of little ones for Elvis to coo over. Strictly for die-hard fans. The mixture of location shots/travelogue footage with studio fakery and back-projection gives the end results a tatty look, and Elvis just walks through it. There's not even a standout song here, so that the movie isn't even exciting to listen to. *1/2 from ****

Face it , the real star of this show is Donna Butterworth. It's a shame she stopped acting a few years later

his box office was clearly slipping..so it was ..back to Hawaii..and recovered fame and fortune like with BLUE HAWAII and GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS. not really.

except for a couple of awful songs esp. written for the movie, the soundtrack is good, although the best song ("Sand Castles") was used only on vinyl! > in fact, the soundtrack album was shockingly well produced! how did that happen? guess we can say something good did come out of this mess.

nice touch that a real local celebrity, the young Donna Butterworth, got to act and sing with Elvis and they have a nice chemistry. but that should send up the proverbial red flag...this ain't gonna be a serious drama or groovy comedy with Presley but yet another, light hearted romp, where Elvis dodges aggressive chicks and finds solace in entertaining a kid.

storyline is okay..Elvis has shifted from boats and cars to helicopters. but he is overweight and obviously disgusted. the noticeable gut on his short-sleeved aviation shirt and black house paint on his sprayed coiff make him look anything but cool.

not worth it even for deep fans. how much money did Hal Wallis waste on this? who knows? instead of making a great drama with 3 songs, with Elvis doing karate and anything he wanted to do, it was business as usual. let's assume he *lost* fans with this.

Another day, another Elvis Presley movie that takes place in Hawaii. In this one, he's an unemployed pilot who hopes to start a new helicopter business with his friend, played by James Shigeta who I remember from Flower Drum Song. Elvis sings some pretty entertaining songs, some of which he performs with a cute pre-teen girl named Donna Butterworth who's not so bad in the warbling department. I didn't recognize any hit songs but during one number when he sings "Stop!" several times, the picture freezes for a few seconds before resuming motion. There are some silly comedy scenes at the beginning but near the end, I managed to laugh at what happens when several women Elvis had propositioned earlier show up at the same time. I watched this with Mom and she seemed to enjoy it pretty well. So in summary, Paradise, Hawaiian Style was okay fluff. P.S. In continuing to cite when anyone who was in my favorite movie-It's a Wonderful Life-is in something else, here it's Mary Treen as a lady in a car who gets scared when Elvis in his helicopter almost gets to close to her because of some dogs he's carrying during his ride!

Having just been fired as a pilot for a large commercial airline, "Greg 'Rick' Richards" (Elvis Pressley) returns to his home in Hawaii and along with his good friend "Danny Kohana" (James Shigeta) decide to open up a helicopter service for tourists to some of the local islands. To further the idea along Rick also entices several former girlfriends to guide tourists to them. What neither Rick nor Danny count on, however, is the risk involved in their enterprise. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an okay "Elvis movie" which greatly benefited from the beautiful tropical scenery and some of the lovely actresses involved with Irene Tsu (as "Pua"), Linda Wong ("Lehua Kewani"), Marianna Hill ("Lani Kaimana") and Suzanna Leigh ("Judy Hudson") to name a few. On the flip side, however, the songs weren't anything to write home about and they tended to detract from the overall entertainment value in my opinion. In any case, this I thought that this was a decent film all things considered and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

A classic Elvis formula escapade. Producer Hal Wallis, with whom Elvis and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had a non-exclusive contract, had publicly admitted, around the time of Roustabout (1964), that he was skimming the reliable profits from his Elvis pictures to fund what he considered more serious artistic endeavours. Elvis himself, by all accounts, remained consistently well-mannered, cooperative, and thoroughly professional, in spite of his own career frustrations. He deserved better.

Having said that, Paradise, Hawaiian Style, a nice, enjoyable and undemanding film, in great colour, and with fantastic scenery. In places, it seems to be more of a star vehicle for the talented child actor and singer, Donna Butterworth, with Elvis consigned to a supporting role. I wonder what Colonel Parker made of that?

This has to be one of the top 5 worst Elvis movies ever made. Not only is Elvis overweight and has obviously lost interest in movies (who can clame him?) but the supporting cast stinks and so does the plot. Blue Hawaii II, it is not. This movie is not even close to the caliber of Blue Hawaii.What were the producers thinking? The one saving grace of this movie is that the scenery was very well photographed. This is another movie to avoid unless you are desperately trying to fall asleep.

I watched this movie because a friend of mine who also has Irish Setters said I have to watch it because there is an Irish Setter in the helicopter with him all the time. Well, that turned out to be about 3 minutes. The rest of the movie was dreadful. When he came out of the ocean from a swim he looked like he was wearing a girdle and quickly put on a bathrobe. None of the songs I ever heard again. None of the leading ladies could act or perform. This was not Viva Las Vegas. The only good thing was seeing John Doucette who was one of my favorite character actors. This is only for the diehard Elvis fans.