Although it is nice to have a volume that takes the Elvis Presley screen oeuvre at least somewhat serious, "Elvis: The Hollywood Years" seems to have been compiled by a European author unfamiliar with American show business history at large and whose "research" was limited to secondary British sources. How else could he possibly have come to the conclusion that "Uncle" Milton Berle was a "chubby comedian," or that Steve Allen proved to be a "stuffy" bigot? (The author obviously confuses Allen with Ed Sullivan) Or marvel over the fact that "G.I. Blues" beat "The African Queen" at the box-office. (Why shouldn't it have; "The African Queen" was celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 1961.) And on and on it goes. Never mind that according to author Bret half of Hollywood was gay, including -- hint, hint -- Elvis himself!; that, after all, has become de rigeur for this type of hit-and-run film book.