Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Clambake Blu-ray Movie Review

"Come on, JJ, let's bust outta this here corral and stampede us some excitement!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown February 3, 2024

There's something undeniably charming about Elvis's film career, no matter how unintentionally laughable his productions could be. He was relentless, I'll give him that. Never one to back down, never one to let go. Nary an acting bone in his body -- at least none I've been able to detect -- and yet he refused to give up, even though he had to know full well he was putting out some of the cheesiest, forgettable music movies of the era. (He did know, right?)Clambake is worst than most too, to the point it's an early so-bad-it's-kinda-good flick; the sort that entertains, sure, but a bad flick all the same. You'll shake your head as slowly as the story unfolds, sigh more than you smile, and roll your eyes as often as you laugh at the battle-for-the-girl hijinks. (And by laugh I mean at the film's intended and unintended silliness rather than with it all.) But in its '60s heyday, when giant projection screens behind your favorite actors were meant to fool you into believing stars like Elvis and Shelley Fabares really were water skiing and singing their hearts out, Clambake was yet another bit of Elvis designed to keep the singer's fans shelling out dollar after dollar to see what the hip-thrusting superstar would do next.

It's Elvis singing, dancing and romancing on land and sea in the romantic adventure Clambake. Elvis Presley (Blue Hawaii, Kid Galahad, G.I. Blues, Tickle Me) plays Scott Hayward, a young man on the run from his privileged life. Wanting to be taken seriously for who he is and not his family's wealth, Scott finds the perfect opportunity when he meets water skiing instructor Tom Wilson (Will Hutchins, Spinout, Shangani Patrol) who's just scraping by. So why not trade places and see how the other half lives? Scott's resolve is tested when he falls in love with Dianne Carter (Shelley Fabares, Girl Happy, TV's Coach, The Donna Reed Show), a beautiful young woman set on snagging and marrying a rich man. Directed by Arthur H. Nadel (Underground, TV's Shazam, The Secret of Isis), Clambake co-stars Bill Bixby (TV's The Incredible Hulk), Gary Merrill (All About Eve, Where the Sidewalk Ends), James Gregory (The Ambushers, TV's Barney Miller), Suzie Kaye (West Side Story, It's a Bikini World) and Marj Dusay (TV's All My Children, Guiding Light). Songs include "You Don't Know Me," "Confidence" and the title tune.

Click here to read Brian Orndorff's 2017 review of the 1967 film, of which he says, "with lowered expectations and perhaps a great need for escapism, Clambake can be entertaining, offering a jovial party and sporting mood that’s helped along by a lively supporting cast, who do their best to keep a snoozy, woozy Elvis from completely checking out of the production."

Clambake Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sandpiper brings Clambake to Blu-ray six years after Kino Lorber issued the film's high definition debut, and the 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer on tap is a bit hit-or-miss but, overall, a solid video presentation. Colors are bright and bouncy, with primaries that pop, convincingly saturated skintones, vibrant contrast and rich black levels. Detail is quite good on the whole too, even though softness creeps in and limits clarity at times. Textures are generally decently resolved, edges are crisp (with only minor haloing), and delineation is revealing. There are one or two sequences that don't fare well at all -- Elvis's dimly lit, evening serenade by the seashore springs to mind -- but those are the exception rather than the rule. Artifacting, banding and other encoding issues are nowhere to be found and grain is intact. It grows slightly pulpy at times, and wider shots seem to be the victim of some heavier handed scrubbing, but none of it amounts to a major issue. Close-ups range from average to great, and studio-lit interiors deliver a welcome dose of filmic sharpness. A fuller restoration would yield more, but it's unlikely Clambake will get much of an overhaul anytime in the near future.

Clambake Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Clambake also features a faithful DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mix that leans into the cornball fun of the film. The actors tend to leap way over the top of over-the-top (minus Elvis, who's rooted to earth like an oak) and every crack, creak and crackle of their voices is crystal clear. Prioritization is great, never allowing music, the roar of speedboats or the surge of the ocean to overwhelm dialogue. Low-end support would have been nice, if only to give the races more of a growl and the downbeats and bass lines of the songs more kick. But it's hardly the fault of a film released prior to the wonders of surround sound. All in all, Clambake sounds exactly like you'd hope it would: bright, lively and nimble.

Clambake Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Clambake Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

No, Clambake isn't the long lost great film that Elvis must've tucked away in his closet -- there had to be a great film in his catalog, right? Right? -- nor is it going to change your mind about Elvis's movie career. It's a whole lot of cheeseball fun, though; especially Bixby and Hutchins, who push the corniness off the edge of corny, yuk-yuk-ing it up with all they've got in 'em. Sandpiper's Blu-ray release is also decent, so long as you look past its shortcomings. Its AV presentation is at least solid, making it easier to let go and let Elvis.