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Clambake

Play trailer Poster for Clambake 1967 1h 39m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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20% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A wealthy young man, Scott Heyward (Elvis Presley) wants to experience life outside of his privileged upbringing. When he meets Tom Wilson (Will Hutchins), an earnest water-skiing instructor, Scott offers to trade places with him. As Tom warms up to the good life, Scott gets used to a less luxurious existence and falls for Dianne Carter (Shelley Fabares), who, ironically, is hoping to meet a rich man. Sticking to his humble guise, Scott tries to woo Dianne without the benefit of his true status.
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Clambake

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 04/22/2019
The production numbers are more elaborate than usual, but Elvis' songs are as forgettable as ever, and the whole picture has a garish, cluttered look. Go to Full Review
Pat Padua Spectrum Culture 08/11/2020
The magic comes through, intermittently emerging from the shadows of failure. Go to Full Review
Tony Mastroianni Cleveland Press 11/16/2018
Clambake in story, dialog and songs is derivative; a stringing together of cliches that must have been cut out and pasted together from a number of other scripts. Go to Full Review
James Plath Family Home Theater 01/16/2018
B-
The premise is a fun riff on Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper.... but there's enough here to make the formula different and entertaining enough, even for contemporary families. Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 08/24/2017
2/4
Clambake is indeed awful, but it's amusing and Presley's star power is hard to refute. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Nov 13 Clambake is one of those Elvis Presley films that manages to capture both the charm of its star and the whimsical fun of its era. It’s lighthearted, colorful, and full of that magnetic energy that only Elvis could bring to the screen. The movie takes a simple premise and infuses it with the kind of charisma and musical flair that defined so much of his film career. What stands out most here isn’t necessarily the depth of the story, but rather how the film leans into Elvis’s natural screen presence — that combination of good looks, confidence, and effortless cool that made him such a captivating performer. The director clearly understood the power of having Elvis at the center of the story and built the film around his charm. Every shot feels designed to highlight his charisma, his humor, and his undeniable appeal. The pacing may wander at times, but the tone remains consistent — bright, beachy, and unapologetically playful. You can tell the filmmakers knew exactly what audiences wanted from an Elvis movie: catchy tunes, romantic misunderstandings, and a story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The screenplay for Clambake isn’t groundbreaking, but it does what it needs to do. It tells a story that’s easy to follow while giving plenty of room for Elvis to shine. The concept of a wealthy young man disguising himself to see if people will love him for who he is, not for his fortune, is timeless — and it fits right into the playful charm of 1960s musical comedies. There are a few scenes where the dialogue stretches a bit too long, threatening to lose the audience’s focus, but the film smartly pulls things back with another musical number or light comedic moment that keeps the mood buoyant. Musically, it’s classic Elvis — fun, upbeat, and full of energy. The songs may not be as iconic as some of his bigger hits, but they carry that unmistakable Presley rhythm that instantly brings a smile. His performance is so effortlessly engaging that even when the plot slows down, he keeps you watching. There’s a certain magic in how Elvis can turn even the simplest of moments into something worth remembering. What’s most enjoyable about Clambake is its personality. It’s not trying to be profound or emotionally heavy — it’s simply a good time. It’s filled with charm, a few laughs, and plenty of that golden-era Hollywood gloss. While it may not be the most notable film in Elvis’s career, it’s one that clearly knew what it was and embraced it wholeheartedly. In the end, Clambake is a fun, sunny slice of vintage Elvis cinema — an easy, enjoyable watch that feels like a product of its time in the best possible way. It might not be his greatest film, but it’s got heart, humor, and enough of that Presley magic to keep you smiling from start to finish. See more Tyler S @tylerking24 Aug 29 You can really tell Elvis was not into the movie industry like he was a few years ago. Pretty mid overall. Plot was simple, but not executed in an interesting way. Just kinda there. See more 10/29/2023 It’s very rare that I give one a perfect score, but this is one of them I believe this to be Warrenville versus best movies, Shelley Fabares. It was amazing at it. Yes I highly recommend it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas October 28, 2023. See more Matt 08/21/2023 Elvis Presley was on his way out as I was growing up. I knew of him, because my friend's moms loved Elvis, but I didn't know his music or movies. I've had a hard life. Lots of bad things have happened healthwise. Watching this movie made me happy to know that there was a kind of goodness back then, even if it was only pretend. There was something about this movie that made me happy. Just thinking about it makes me feel good. I can't say that it was a great movie, but watching it was a nice experience for me. I enjoyed my time and consider it well spent. See more steve d 01/30/2023 You know where it is going but will have fun anyway. See more 09/13/2021 Even from its weak title, you can tell this is not intended to be a great movie. Elvis plays a millionaire's son who is tired of women who want his wealth rather than him as a person, and he runs away from home, meeting a poor water-ski instructor at a gas station who wishes he did have money. So they agree to trade vehicles and identities and proceed to a hotel in Miami, Florida, and both meet a bunch of girls. Elvis also happens to meet a boat engineer who has a damaged racing boat and who had originally hoped to win an upcoming boat race. Can Elvis save this man's dreams? Performances are okay, but dancing and musical numbers are nothing special. It's okay, but Elvis has done better than this. See more Read all reviews
Clambake

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Movie Info

Synopsis A wealthy young man, Scott Heyward (Elvis Presley) wants to experience life outside of his privileged upbringing. When he meets Tom Wilson (Will Hutchins), an earnest water-skiing instructor, Scott offers to trade places with him. As Tom warms up to the good life, Scott gets used to a less luxurious existence and falls for Dianne Carter (Shelley Fabares), who, ironically, is hoping to meet a rich man. Sticking to his humble guise, Scott tries to woo Dianne without the benefit of his true status.
Director
Arthur H. Nadel
Producer
Jules Levy, Arthur Gardner, Arnold Laven
Screenwriter
Arthur Browne Jr.
Production Co
Levy-Gardner-Laven
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 39m
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