Café Europa (1960)

Café Europa: Directed by Norman Taurog. With Elvis Presley, Juliet Prowse, Robert Ivers, James Douglas. Tulsa, a soldier with dreams of running his own nightclub, places a bet with his friend Dynamite that he can win the heart of an untouchable dancer…but when Dynamite is transferred, Tulsa must replace him in the bet.

“Though this movie sealed Elvisu0026#39;s fate as to what kind of films heu0026#39;d be churning out by the dozen; itu0026#39;s hard not to like it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eElvis is thoroughly charming as Tulsa, an American GI stationed in Germany. He takes part in a rather despicable bet as he claims he can u0026quot;defrostu0026quot; a sultry dancer (Juliet Prowse). He succeeds in charming her but, to his own surprise, also falls for her.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWell, the storyu0026#39;s simple – but it sets the stage for some truly entertaining Presley songs and some knockout dancing by the charming Juliet Prowse who also gives a good performance. The film is energetically made and the usual Presley u0026quot;posséu0026quot; is fairly likable here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThereu0026#39;s no denying the fact that the u0026quot;defrostu0026quot; bet is very tasteless but Elvisu0026#39;s character sidesteps it quite nicely. Here Elvis plays basically the same character as in his subsequent films; a mischievous lad, wholly independent, with a surprisingly strong moral sense and prone to landing in at least one bar fight. But this is the first light-hearted Presley flick and he looks like heu0026#39;s enjoying himself and the songs really are top notch. u0026quot;Tonight is so right for loveu0026quot; and u0026quot;Shopping Aroundu0026quot; are among many highlights here and itu0026#39;s very funny to see a guy in a bar pick u0026quot;Blue Suede Shoesu0026quot; on the jukebox by some rocker named Elvis Presley (and that lands him in a fight with…well, Elvis).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlthough u0026quot;G.I. Bluesu0026quot; laid the groundwork for some inferior films to come itu0026#39;s a very pleasant film and comes recommended to more than just hardcore Presley fans.”