Whether you believe Elvis Presley died in 1977 or that he’s alive and comes out of hiding from time to time like a rock ‘n’ roll Big Foot, the King’s birthday is still Jan. 8. The hip swiveler would have been 86 Friday, and what better way to celebrate than to round up five of his best movies.
Choosing five is no easy task. Elvis made 31 movies from 1957 to 1969, and many are terrible (looking at you, “Charro!”).
His roles often seem interchangeable — characters with one-syllable names like Deke or Vince who adhere to the ethos of the red-blooded, hetero American male: They work for themselves on their terms; they don’t take money from anybody, even family, so they can prove their worth; they brawl; they chase women.
Occupations vary — they usually race cars or boats — but all of them sing, of course, whether it’s their main gig or a side hustle (or over the opening credits in “Charro!,” the only time Elvis sings in the abysmal 1969 Western). All of these movies can be rented, purchased or streamed for free on Amazon, Google Play and other platforms.