Reviews (27)

ALOHA, HAWAII! Elvis loved it there.
If I had to summon up the content of this whole movie in one word, it would be: "exotic". Why I say that is because of the scenery, the palm trees, the Waikiki beach, the beach boys and girls, the Hawaiian music, the ukeleles, the luau, EVERYTHING! Elvis is a returning G.I. who does not want to go into his family's pineapple business. Instead, he works for a tourist guide service, and his first customers are a pack of gorgeous-looking girls and a beautiful chaperoning schoolteacher (Nancy Walters). Beautiful Hawaiian wedding scene at the end when Elvis marries Joan Blackman. Angela Lansbury is perfect for Elvis' mother in this picture. She enjoyed working with Elvis. "Blue Hawaii" is quintessential and Elvis' top picture and
his best '60s musical next to "Viva Las Vegas", and "G.I. Blues".

Tour Hawaii with Elvis!!!
Tour Hawaii with Elvis Presley!!! That's a pretty good description of this musical, the success of which marked the end of the singer's attempts at being a serious actor. For what it is--a travelogue with music and a slight plot--it isn't bad at all. But "King Creole," "Flaming Star," and even "Follow That Dream" demonstrated that Elvis could indeed act when given half the chance. That's all "Blue Hawaii" is, though: half a chance. The songs aren't exactly rock and roll, but most provide pleasant listening, and, of course, this is the movie that introduced the lovely "Can't Help Falling in Love," the song with which he would end all of his concerts in the 70s. Angela Lansbury is on hand as Elvis' mother, even though she was only a few years older than him (just as she was only a few years older than Laurence Harvey when she played his mother in "The Manchurian Candidate" the next year, a movie in which Elvis might just as well have been cast considering his apparent manipulation at the hands of Colonel Parker), and, of course, there are plenty of luscious babes about for those who don't consider Angela a turn on. "Blue Hawaii" is a real mixed bag. It is, perhaps, the very definition of "fluff," and as fluff it is attractive, but it would ultimately lead to dozens of execrable imitations that would make Presley's movie career one of the most lamentable in history. The writing was on the wall and, more importantly, in the grosses.

Can't Help Fallin' In Love With This Movie
Mr Presley certainly wasn't a great actor, but this movie shows him off to his best advantage. The music isn't the usual bad Elvis movie music and the scenery is to doe for. The storyline could come from any family - a son trying to be independent, a father who wants son to follow in his footsteps, a dropdead gorgeous girlfriend who just isn't what HIS folks had in mind, outrageous friends and an airhead, over-protective mama dead-set on embarrassing the son at any given chance. The plot is easy to follow and even makes sense. OK, not everyone breaks into song on a horseback ride, but what the Hell ! The wedding scene ( oops, gave it away ) makes up for any gaffes.

Blue Hawaii
I think this movie was above and beyond Elvis's usual movies. It has a cute plot and the scenery is unbelievable. If you are not a Elvis fan you will fall in love with the scenery.

Wonderful Postcard
I re-watched this just before going to Maui last November on my first trip to Hawaii. The story may not be much, but the scenery is "spot on" and this is a nostalgia trip for the "older Hawaii" of the 50's. What a great postcard, and Elvis thrown in, doing his 60's Elvis thing, with more style and good grace than later films would exhibit. He seemed to enjoy himself and you'll enjoy the music. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Judy Holliday's final film, Bells Are Ringing, is, fittingly enough, a tailor-made vehicle for her brassy talent. She'd won a Tony for the Broadway version of the show, playing an overly sympathetic telephone receptionist who gets involved in her customers' lives. Betty Comden and Adolph Green adapted their stage musical, amusingly framing the film as a TV commercial for "Susanswerphone," the answering service Judy works for. Director Vincente Minnelli, in one of his less inspired outings, seems content to showcase Holliday's crack comic timing, which appears to have been transferred almost intact from the stage. Despite the somewhat muted tone, there are delightful bits:a typical Comden & Green showbiz party (with a number about name-dropping), Frank Gorshin's send-up of a Brando-inflected actor, and Dean Martin crooning while shouldering his way through a Manhattan crowd. "The Party's Over," that unforgettable end-of-the-evening lament, and "Just in Time" are the Jule Styne standards from the score. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (22)

It's a "Holliday" with Judy and Dean
I saw this on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) and at first I thought it would be really dumb and boring but guess what! It wasn't at all! It was very cute, funny, and everything you'd want in a musical. When I first saw Judy in "Adam's Rib" I hate to say it but found her rather annoying. But after seeing her in this I absolutely love her!!! She can sing, she can cha-cha-cha, and she can sure act! And with Dean as her partner how can anything go wrong. If you like musicals at all watch this one!!!

Judy Holliday in her element!
At last, BELLS ARE RINGING makes it's long-overdue DVD debut in its original widescreen ratio withJudy Holliday triumphantly reprising her Broadway role of Ella Peterson.Dean Martin plays Ella's handsome subscriber Jeff Moss, and the entire film is stylishly directed by the amazing Vincente Minnelli.

BELLS ARE RINGING was written specifically to fit the talents of Judy Holliday by her old friends Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and originally premiered on Broadway in 1956.Holliday beat Julie Andrews (in MY FAIR LADY) to win the coveted Tony Award and she stayed for the entire 3-year-run.The story concerns the lovelorn Ella Peterson, a telephone operator for the Susanswerphone message service.Ella (disguised as `Mom')falls in love with the voice of one of her subscribers, Jeff Moss, a playwright with writer's block, though she resigns herself to the fact that she may never actually meet him.Complications arise when Ella takes on the persona of `Melisande Scott' in order to embark on a relationship with him.

Eddie Foy Jr., Frank Gorshin and Jean Stapleton, all great stage-trained actors, turn in fantastic supporting performances.It is truly lovely seeing Judy Holliday (in her final film before succumbing to cancer) kicking up her heels in her acclaimed Broadway role.She is truly missed.

The DVD includes a brief Making-Of featurette with Hal Linden talking about understudying and eventually replacing Sydney Chaplin as Jeff Moss on Broadway; as well as warm reminisces from Comden & Green and Frank Gorshin.The outtake numbers "Is It a Crime?", "My Guiding Star" and an alternate take of "The Midas Touch" can also be savoured, as well as the obligatory trailer.

Bells Are Ringing-- A Musical Comedy Worth Seeing
I can't begin to tell you the joy I feel every time I see Bells Are Ringing.Judy Holliday was and is a total acting, comedic and musical talent who can't help but bring a smile to the viewer's face.Dean Martin is a perfect complement as the suave romantic interest to Judy Holliday's "Ella, Mal or Mom".This is a movie for all ages and like a fine wine, it just keeps getting better.

Trite plot but good performances.
The bad news first:Unfortunately, the trite plot bored me during the first half.It seemed like watching a play, with mostly long scenes in one room and no background music (it was a play but could have been adapted more appropriately for the big screen).Furthermore, none of the songs were outstanding. Of course Judy Holliday and Dean Martin give outstanding performances as usual, and there's one number where they dance together outside, which is entertaining, but mediocre compared to a similar scene with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in The Band Wagon, and I can't even remember the song as I write this a few hours after watching it (it's not just my lousy memory).But it gets more interesting, or at least a little more colorful and active, in the second half.The DVD has good picture and sound quality, and the high production value is evident.The best thing about Bells Are Ringing is early performances of Jean Stapleton and Frank Gorshin, possibly of interest to fans.Gorshin shows his talents in the small role of a beatnik actor.If you're a Judy Holliday fan you'll love this, and if you've never seen her you should check it out (or The Solid Gold Cadillac or Born Yesterday) but it only gets 2½ stars when compared to all the great musicals like Singin' in the Rain, The Music Man, Meet Me In Saint Louis, Oklahoma, etc.I can hardly recommend buying this one unless you're a fan of one of the stars, or trying to complete a musical collection.

What can Suesanswerphone do for you?
Stage play brought to the big screen and finally to DVD and you.

Several plots overlap. I will not go into detail as it is fun to be surprised.

However working as an operator for a phone answering service Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday) is in the perfect location to here people problems, and schemes to help them. At first she passes information on by phone. When one customer unplugs, she decides to help in person. She takes on an alias "Melisande Scott" and falling in love with customer, Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), she takes on more than she bargained for.

Mean while Inspector Barns suspects that the answering service is a front for some hanky panky and is looking for an excuse to put the lot of them in the woman's' detention center.

And J. Otto Prantz just sold 5000 copies of Beethoven's Tenth, Op. 6.

Lots of song including "Plaza O, Double Four, Double Three" and dance scenes. The still camera gives it that stage musical feel but it only adds to the fun.

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One note on the DVD. The outtakes with the exception of one Dean Martin song "My Guiding Star" were best taken out as they distracted form the rest of the story.
... Read more

Reviews (27)

ALOHA, HAWAII! Elvis loved it there.
If I had to summon up the content of this whole movie in one word, it would be: "exotic". Why I say that is because of the scenery, the palm trees, the Waikiki beach, the beach boys and girls, the Hawaiian music, the ukeleles, the luau, EVERYTHING! Elvis is a returning G.I. who does not want to go into his family's pineapple business. Instead, he works for a tourist guide service, and his first customers are a pack of gorgeous-looking girls and a beautiful chaperoning schoolteacher (Nancy Walters). Beautiful Hawaiian wedding scene at the end when Elvis marries Joan Blackman. Angela Lansbury is perfect for Elvis' mother in this picture. She enjoyed working with Elvis. "Blue Hawaii" is quintessential and Elvis' top picture and
his best '60s musical next to "Viva Las Vegas", and "G.I. Blues".

Tour Hawaii with Elvis!!!
Tour Hawaii with Elvis Presley!!! That's a pretty good description of this musical, the success of which marked the end of the singer's attempts at being a serious actor. For what it is--a travelogue with music and a slight plot--it isn't bad at all. But "King Creole," "Flaming Star," and even "Follow That Dream" demonstrated that Elvis could indeed act when given half the chance. That's all "Blue Hawaii" is, though: half a chance. The songs aren't exactly rock and roll, but most provide pleasant listening, and, of course, this is the movie that introduced the lovely "Can't Help Falling in Love," the song with which he would end all of his concerts in the 70s. Angela Lansbury is on hand as Elvis' mother, even though she was only a few years older than him (just as she was only a few years older than Laurence Harvey when she played his mother in "The Manchurian Candidate" the next year, a movie in which Elvis might just as well have been cast considering his apparent manipulation at the hands of Colonel Parker), and, of course, there are plenty of luscious babes about for those who don't consider Angela a turn on. "Blue Hawaii" is a real mixed bag. It is, perhaps, the very definition of "fluff," and as fluff it is attractive, but it would ultimately lead to dozens of execrable imitations that would make Presley's movie career one of the most lamentable in history. The writing was on the wall and, more importantly, in the grosses.

Can't Help Fallin' In Love With This Movie
Mr Presley certainly wasn't a great actor, but this movie shows him off to his best advantage. The music isn't the usual bad Elvis movie music and the scenery is to doe for. The storyline could come from any family - a son trying to be independent, a father who wants son to follow in his footsteps, a dropdead gorgeous girlfriend who just isn't what HIS folks had in mind, outrageous friends and an airhead, over-protective mama dead-set on embarrassing the son at any given chance. The plot is easy to follow and even makes sense. OK, not everyone breaks into song on a horseback ride, but what the Hell ! The wedding scene ( oops, gave it away ) makes up for any gaffes.

Blue Hawaii
I think this movie was above and beyond Elvis's usual movies. It has a cute plot and the scenery is unbelievable. If you are not a Elvis fan you will fall in love with the scenery.

Wonderful Postcard
I re-watched this just before going to Maui last November on my first trip to Hawaii. The story may not be much, but the scenery is "spot on" and this is a nostalgia trip for the "older Hawaii" of the 50's. What a great postcard, and Elvis thrown in, doing his 60's Elvis thing, with more style and good grace than later films would exhibit. He seemed to enjoy himself and you'll enjoy the music. ... Read more