Drafted in 1958, Elvis Presley had just spent two years in the Army, mostly in Germany with the 3rd Armored Division, when he filmed “G.I. Blues.” The musical comedy was his comeback film and the first chance fans had to see him in action in a long time. Presley is cast as a guitar-playing GI named Tulsa MacLean who also serves with the 3rd Armored Division in Germany. Coincidence? Definitely not. Elvis was still a real soldier in a combat unit and the Army wouldn’t permit him to leave to shoot the film. As he was getting ready to be discharged, a production crew flew to Germany to shoot on location, with off-duty GIs from Elvis’ own division serving as extras. Tulsa gets the girl (Juliet Prowse), of course, and lives happily ever after, and Sgt. Presley was honorably discharged in March 1960. The film was completed in the States and released in November 1960. The soundtrack was turned into an album that was nominated for two Grammys. Elvis was back!
To view the trailer, click here.
To rent the movie, click here.
To buy the DVD, click here.
To buy a book about Elvis in the U.S Army, click here.
To view a video about the present-day movie locations in Germany, click here.
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