Showing posts with label Elvis Presley movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elvis Presley movies. Show all posts
Monday, August 19, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
(478) ELVIS! ELVIS! ELVIS! AND THE MOVIES!
Elvis Week is a celebration at Graceland TM and though it takes place at this time because Elvis died on this day, it has become a celebration of the man's life and his music.
The mid-1960's were ones of intense movie making for Elvis and his music was recorded on albums which were soundtracks of those movies. I visited Elvis on a few different sets over time but because of my own career commitments I wasn't free to travel with him, so I missed out on a lot of fun. But since his home during these years was still Los Angeles, I was able to keep up with him between films. He would make 31 films in his lifetime, other wise known as "film career."
In 1965, "Tickle Me " for Allied Artists and also in 1965, "Harum Scarum" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1966, "Frankie And Johnny" for United Artists and also in 1966, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" for Paramount (and Produced by Hal B. Wallis who Elvis had worked with before on films including "Blue Hawaii," and who has been quoted as saying, "An Elvis Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood." Deborah Walley, one of the actresses in this film was a friend married to a friend.)
Like most Elvis movies - musicals, the script was written so that Elvis could sing and further the plot that way.
Elvis' management by Colonel Parker has come under scrutiny and criticism over the years, and I know that looking back Elvis wished he'd had more dramatic roles, that he'd done more with his talent, but the Colonel was satisfied with the income Elvis and he made making the movies and sound track albums. Colonel was making about 25%.
Over time Elvis made movies for Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists (the company that once signed me for both acting and record making), Allied Artists, National General, and Universal, spanning the years 1956 - 1969.
The mid-1960's were ones of intense movie making for Elvis and his music was recorded on albums which were soundtracks of those movies. I visited Elvis on a few different sets over time but because of my own career commitments I wasn't free to travel with him, so I missed out on a lot of fun. But since his home during these years was still Los Angeles, I was able to keep up with him between films. He would make 31 films in his lifetime, other wise known as "film career."
In 1965, "Tickle Me " for Allied Artists and also in 1965, "Harum Scarum" for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
In 1966, "Frankie And Johnny" for United Artists and also in 1966, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" for Paramount (and Produced by Hal B. Wallis who Elvis had worked with before on films including "Blue Hawaii," and who has been quoted as saying, "An Elvis Presley picture is the only sure thing in Hollywood." Deborah Walley, one of the actresses in this film was a friend married to a friend.)
Like most Elvis movies - musicals, the script was written so that Elvis could sing and further the plot that way.
Elvis' management by Colonel Parker has come under scrutiny and criticism over the years, and I know that looking back Elvis wished he'd had more dramatic roles, that he'd done more with his talent, but the Colonel was satisfied with the income Elvis and he made making the movies and sound track albums. Colonel was making about 25%.
Over time Elvis made movies for Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists (the company that once signed me for both acting and record making), Allied Artists, National General, and Universal, spanning the years 1956 - 1969.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
(380) 1964 ELVIS' GREAT YEAR : VIVA LAS VEGAS CAME OUT
I've said that Viva Las Vegas remains one of my favorite movies. Elvis was working on it in 1963, which is when he met Ann-Margret, but it came out in 1964. (It's my favorite Elvis movie.) It was very popular, so while the Beatles were "invading" America, Elvis was having a great year too. Was he worried about the Beatles' chart toppers effecting his success? No. But he was aware.
When Elvis was in Germany he had all the top hits sent over to him. Back in the states he loaded his juke box with his favorites. It was part of the business to know who was who and what was what. At the house he often played demos for me and Johnny Rivers, wanting our opinions; which ones should he record?
When Elvis was in Germany he had all the top hits sent over to him. Back in the states he loaded his juke box with his favorites. It was part of the business to know who was who and what was what. At the house he often played demos for me and Johnny Rivers, wanting our opinions; which ones should he record?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
OUR ARCHIVE REVISITED (127) ELVIS AND MOVIE ROLES/MARLON BRANDO? JAMES DEAN? ELVIS PRESLEY?!
From Thursday, April 3, 2008
(127) ELVIS AND MOVIE ROLES / MARLON BRANDO? JAMES DEAN? ELVIS PRESLEY?!
Now, friends, Elvis is criticized for his movie roles these days and I have to admit that he came to be disappointed with his acting career and where movies took his music, but in the early 1960's Elvis was generally open and enthusiastic with making movies. Hollywood was still a movie-making town and it was important to Elvis to be in the Los Angeles area to make them.
Elvis was being offered roles that had been written for actors with great prestige like Marlon Brando and James Dean.
"King Creole" was written by Harold Robbins with the original title, "A Stone For Danny Fisher." James Dean was supposed to star in it. (The movie James Dean is most often known for, "Rebel Without a Cause," was also offered to Marlon Brando, who did a screen test for it.) Marlon Brando was supposed to star in "Flaming Star," which had been written with him in mind but Elvis stared instead.
Elvis would think "If this role is good enough for Marlon or James Dean it's good enough for me." The studios would add some songs, turn a script into a musical, give the job to Elvis... Elvis could read a script one time through and know his lines and he was the consummate professional on the set, treating people from all walks of life with courtesy.
(127) ELVIS AND MOVIE ROLES / MARLON BRANDO? JAMES DEAN? ELVIS PRESLEY?!
Now, friends, Elvis is criticized for his movie roles these days and I have to admit that he came to be disappointed with his acting career and where movies took his music, but in the early 1960's Elvis was generally open and enthusiastic with making movies. Hollywood was still a movie-making town and it was important to Elvis to be in the Los Angeles area to make them.
Elvis was being offered roles that had been written for actors with great prestige like Marlon Brando and James Dean.
"King Creole" was written by Harold Robbins with the original title, "A Stone For Danny Fisher." James Dean was supposed to star in it. (The movie James Dean is most often known for, "Rebel Without a Cause," was also offered to Marlon Brando, who did a screen test for it.) Marlon Brando was supposed to star in "Flaming Star," which had been written with him in mind but Elvis stared instead.
Elvis would think "If this role is good enough for Marlon or James Dean it's good enough for me." The studios would add some songs, turn a script into a musical, give the job to Elvis... Elvis could read a script one time through and know his lines and he was the consummate professional on the set, treating people from all walks of life with courtesy.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
OUR ARCHIVE REVISITED : (85) THE NEXT JAMES DEAN? NOT !
OUR ARCHIVE REVISITED:
Post (85) THE NEXT JAMES DEAN? NOT ! from December 7, 2007
If you're wondering what happened to THE NEXT JAMES DEAN, as I was called by United Artists when I first signed with them in 1957, and as they promoted me, well, once he got to Hollywood, he couldn't help but give some thought to pursuing acting again.
At first, when Elvis introduced me to people, he too brought up the James Dean comparison. Then one day I asked him not to do it. And he never did again.
Still, Elvis asked me a few times if I would like a bit part or to be an extra on one of the movies he was filming. I always turned down the idea. More than one of Elvis' friends or employees did take a bit part or act as an extra on his films. To Elvis this was more of a way of keeping his friends around him than giving someone their big break into better roles, but it was interesting and fun to be on a set with Elvis. I visited him on sets from time to time.
Elvis made more money for his acting than James Dean ever did.
I have to admit that my acting aspirations were also so high at one time that I just couldn't imagine taking a bit part or being an extra. And, as it turned out, I had two close calls with acting stardom before I finally gave up on that aspect of my career, that is if you consider close calls with stardom to be part of a top agent's stable...
Saturday, January 15, 2011
HELLO TO MY FRIEND ACTOR LANCE LEGAULT!
LANCE LEGAULT is an old friend of mine and Elvis'... He figures in a lot of the fun we all had together at Elvis'. He was in four Elvis films: Roustabout, Viva Las Vegas, Kissin Cousins and Girls Girls Girls, in the early 1960's and as you'll see he made his name in acting... He's been in the movies continually and is still acting!
We're linking to the IMDB Database about Lance!
We're linking to the IMDB Database about Lance!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
(330) ELVIS PRESLEY FUN IN ACAPULCO
I went on the set when Elvis was making FUN IN ACAPULCO in 1963!
First the camera crew had entourage member, musician, and songwriter Red West (who now has a great acting career of his own going!) sit and ride on a bike. They had some huge cameras - from the floor up - and a background of Acapulco that had already been filmed and then synchronized it with Elvis riding. In the movie it looks like he's riding in that Mexican city, but he never left the soundstage.
That was the state of movie magic at the time!
The movie also starred actress Ursula Andress, who had once briefly dated James Dean, and who went on to marry Producer John Derek.
The movie title song was first demo'ed by P.J. Proby. When a songwriter wrote a song with a singer in mind and in this case a song for an Elvis Movie so Elvis, the demo was made to sound as much as possible as that singer.
P.J. who has a strong voice and could sound much like Elvis, was chosen. Here is a Youtube video that features both! I think they both sound great.
This Youtube video has more than one song on it. Elvis looks terrific and towards the end there you can see the blonde beauty, who is Ursula.
Christine here: I'm catching up slowly on Elvis movies. This year I saw Jail House Rock, Double Trouble, and - just the other day - Fun in Alcapulco.
First the camera crew had entourage member, musician, and songwriter Red West (who now has a great acting career of his own going!) sit and ride on a bike. They had some huge cameras - from the floor up - and a background of Acapulco that had already been filmed and then synchronized it with Elvis riding. In the movie it looks like he's riding in that Mexican city, but he never left the soundstage.
That was the state of movie magic at the time!
The movie also starred actress Ursula Andress, who had once briefly dated James Dean, and who went on to marry Producer John Derek.
The movie title song was first demo'ed by P.J. Proby. When a songwriter wrote a song with a singer in mind and in this case a song for an Elvis Movie so Elvis, the demo was made to sound as much as possible as that singer.
P.J. who has a strong voice and could sound much like Elvis, was chosen. Here is a Youtube video that features both! I think they both sound great.
This Youtube video has more than one song on it. Elvis looks terrific and towards the end there you can see the blonde beauty, who is Ursula.
Christine here: I'm catching up slowly on Elvis movies. This year I saw Jail House Rock, Double Trouble, and - just the other day - Fun in Alcapulco.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
(270) BACK IN 1962 IT WAS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
Elvis Presley made three films (we called them movies then) in 1962 which were "Follow That Dream," "Kid Galahad," which we posted on recently, and "Girls! Girls! Girls!, which came out in the fall.
Bringing some beautiful girls up to one of Elvis' parties was more appreciated than anything else a guy could bring. It could turn a slow night into a party for the guys. Here's the song from the movie; Elvis is once again in a military uniform.
"I'm just a red blooded boy and I can't stop thinking about girls..."
Bringing some beautiful girls up to one of Elvis' parties was more appreciated than anything else a guy could bring. It could turn a slow night into a party for the guys. Here's the song from the movie; Elvis is once again in a military uniform.
"I'm just a red blooded boy and I can't stop thinking about girls..."
Thursday, April 3, 2008
(127) ELVIS AND MOVIE ROLES / MARLON BRANDO? JAMES DEAN? ELVIS PRESLEY?!
Now, friends, Elvis is criticized for his movie roles these days and I have to admit that he came to be disappointed with his acting career and where movies took his music, but in the early 1960's Elvis was generally open and enthusiastic with making movies. Hollywood was still a movie-making town and it was important to Elvis to be in the Los Angeles area to make them.
Elvis was being offered roles that had been written for actors with great prestige like Marlon Brando and James Dean.
"King Creole" was written by Harold Robbins with the original title, "A Stone For Danny Fisher." James Dean was supposed to star in it. (The movie James Dean is most often known for, "Rebel Without a Cause," was also offered to Marlon Brando, who did a screen test for it.) Marlon Brando was supposed to star in "Flaming Star," which had been written with him in mind but Elvis stared instead.
Elvis would think "If this role is good enough for Marlon or James Dean it's good enough for me."
The studios would add some songs, turn a script into a musical, give the job to Elvis...Elvis could read a script one time through and know his lines and he was the consummate professional on the set, treating people from all walks of life with courtesy.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
(100) ELVIS DANCES and THE ROOM GOES WILD!
At his parties, sometimes Elvis would let loose and dance using his very own innovative, on the spot choreography! When people saw his arms and legs going, they went wild. His living room could be like Grand Central Station, with a juke box on one end, a record playing on the other, and live entertainment in between.
Elvis showed off his dancing skills early on in his movie, "Jail House Rock." This is a YouTube video that shows off Elvis dancing.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
(98) ELVIS and FLAMING STAR : MY FIRST PARTY AT ELVIS' LOS ANGELES
The first party I attended at Elvis' he was in the process of making the film "Flaming Star" at Twentieth Century Fox. The film also stared Barbara Eden who would become famous for her long runing TV series "I Dream of Jeannie." The script was about a "half breed" Indian (Native American) and was originally written with Marlon Brando in mind.
Elvis came home wearing the heavy makeup that the studio artists had put on him to give this "half breed" effect. He welcomed me into his home and went off to remove the makeup which must have taken a couple hours.
Link above to the IMBd datebase information on "Flaming Star." The makeup looks heavy and fake to me now.
Elvis came home wearing the heavy makeup that the studio artists had put on him to give this "half breed" effect. He welcomed me into his home and went off to remove the makeup which must have taken a couple hours.
Link above to the IMBd datebase information on "Flaming Star." The makeup looks heavy and fake to me now.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
(65) G.I. BLUES - LOS ANGELES HERE WE COME! and JULIET PROWSE
In the fall of 1960 I had my Roulette contract and a hit. I was still touring with Buddy Knox, and I was also doing some independent bookings. My road travels brought me to Los Angeles. I was doing radio, television, and live performances.
Colonel Parker's next coup was to have Elvis Presley star in a movie in which he played a G.I. while the American public still had fresh memory of Elvis' patriotic service in the U.S. army. The movie was called "G.I. Blues."
Elvis was staying at a hotel in a suite. This is where the promise we made three years earlier when I first met him in Memphis - "See you on the coast!" came real. I had met some of the men who were in Elvis' early entourage when I went to Memphis to see him come home from the army. In the weeks before his arrival I spent some time with some of the men who surrounded Elvis as friends and as employees. Now, as I made my way through Los Angeles, I stayed on Elvis' sofa in his suite for a short time. This was my entry into Elvis' personal world as it was becoming, a world in which a bunch of high spirited guys - mostly with Southern roots like we had - surrounded Elvis, making his life easier, half working, half playing, providing him trustworthy company.
At the time, Elvis was dating his co-star, Juliet Prowse. She was a South African born dancer, known for her beautiful skin and long, long shapely legs. The two of them were in lock up in his bedroom.
Colonel Parker's next coup was to have Elvis Presley star in a movie in which he played a G.I. while the American public still had fresh memory of Elvis' patriotic service in the U.S. army. The movie was called "G.I. Blues."
Elvis was staying at a hotel in a suite. This is where the promise we made three years earlier when I first met him in Memphis - "See you on the coast!" came real. I had met some of the men who were in Elvis' early entourage when I went to Memphis to see him come home from the army. In the weeks before his arrival I spent some time with some of the men who surrounded Elvis as friends and as employees. Now, as I made my way through Los Angeles, I stayed on Elvis' sofa in his suite for a short time. This was my entry into Elvis' personal world as it was becoming, a world in which a bunch of high spirited guys - mostly with Southern roots like we had - surrounded Elvis, making his life easier, half working, half playing, providing him trustworthy company.
At the time, Elvis was dating his co-star, Juliet Prowse. She was a South African born dancer, known for her beautiful skin and long, long shapely legs. The two of them were in lock up in his bedroom.
Here's a You Tube Presentation of GI Blues. Elvis wore a uniform through most of it.
GI Blues on the IMBd movie database
Click on the title NEW LINK added January 12, 2011
A You Tube presentation on a party for Juliet Prowse.
Juliet had class and real movie star charisma. She was a dancer first and foremost and had a kind of bodily confidence that was dynamic.
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