Heartbreak Hotel

This is pure fantasy. As an Elvis fan it made me think what if Elvis had been confronted with his past towards the end of his life? The end of the film I found to be sad as we all know what happened to him and wished it were otherwise. The music is very good, as are the performances. This is in my top 30.

Good acting. Suspend belief, and enjoy an original story of the King being kidnapped for a teen's mother who is down in the dumps in a small Ohio town though who wouldn't be in a small Ohio town. 1988 movie. Big question is where is the lovely mid fiftyish Tuesday Weld now?

If you're an Elvis purist, stay away. This film takes great liberties with the life of the King and David Keith really doesn't look like him, either. Never mind, because Heartbreak Hotel is such a sweet (and manipulative!) picture that you'll be reaching for your hanky by the end. It's the Elvis film that truly raises him to an iconic level, and I can well imagine the Church of Elvis incorporating this into their video Bible a hundred years from now. The films of Elvis himself will be the Old Testament, and Heartbreak Hotel will be one of the Gospels.

For now, grab a box of kleenex, settle into your easy chair and enjoy the re-creation of the restaurant scene from Loving You that is one of the highlights of this most enjoyable bit of fluff.

This is one of my favorite "sweet" movies of all time. Enough conflict and tension to make you wonder what's going to happen and that fun "what if . . ." factor that ties the whole thing together, especially with Elvis being such an important pop culture icon. Keith has done Elvis before I believe, and turns in a great job again, realistically I think enjoying his respite from the demands of public life, and then heading back. Everyone seems to be having fun in this "fairy tale," and I wonder if Elvis ever really got a chance to kick back like this. I'm a "baby" Elvis fan and especially love the oddball stuff connected with him, and this movie fits the bill perfectly. It's just a nice little flick to cuddle up to, preferably with someone and enjoy.

I think HEARTBREAK HOTEL was a great movie. Maybe David Keith doesn't look much like the real Elvis Presley but he is a pretty good Elvis imitator. Ronnie McDowell sang most of the Elvis song. Besides a few which Elvis Presley sang. They have a song by Dobie Gray in it too. David Keith, Tuesday Weld, and Charlie Schlatter work great together. Heartbreak Hotel is about a single mother of 2 named Marie who is very depressed (Tuesday Weld). So her 17 year old son Johnny (Charlie Schlatter) kidnaps Elvis Presley for her. By dressing the locale pizza place owner Rosie as Gladys Presley. Elvis (David Keith) and "Johnny" get off to a bad start. You would to with the guy who just kidnapped you. But at the end they're great friends.