Amour frénétique

Now here's a story that will take some believing, as an unknown singer shakes his hips (amongst other things) and starts heaving, as he grabs a guitar, that boy will go far, albeit with a manager that has greed and misleading. He starts as a sidekick to a fella named Tex, to the girls in the crowd he has direct effects, they scream and they wail, they adore this young male, this guy's going to sell, many records for decks. But there are those who repose with an eye in the past, they just don't like things that can leave them aghast, expressions of lust, leaves them with disgust, thank goodness today, we don't live in the past!

This was Elvis Presley's second film, and the first to be filmed in gorgeous Technicolor. Elvis plays a delivery boy called Deke Rivers, and when a very persistent press agent (Lizabeth Scott) hears him singing, she convinces him to join her ex-husband's small traveling musical entourage, gradually promoting him into a huge sensation. First playing small town gigs and then advancing onward into bigger city shows, Rivers eventually becomes the lead act of the modest group and a popular star in his own right. This movie feels close in spirit to the true story of Presley's own career beginnings, and he gives a pretty decent performance which includes a terrific down and dirty fight scene. The songs are all well chosen and incorporated into the story this time out, beginning with the title ballad and then the hit song "Teddy Bear". The soundtrack benefits too from some heavier rockers like "Mean Woman Blues", "Got a Lot O' Livin To Do", "Hot Dog", and "Party". Truthfully, I can't usually take much of Lizabeth Scott in general, but she's well cast here as the older and very tactical manager, and there's an interestingly offbeat side relationship between Scott and her ex (Wendell Corey). Not a great film, and I do think it could have worked even better if about 15 minutes were clipped, but this is still good, solid, early vintage Elvis before the same tired movie formula became a little too routine. *** out of ****

Elvis Presley was a hugely influential performer with one of the most distinctive singing voices of anybody. He embarked on a film career consisting of 33 films from 1956 to 1969, films that did well at the box-office but mostly panned critically (especially his later films) and while he was a highly charismatic performer he was never considered a great actor.

'Loving You' however is one of his best films, regardless of its corny scripting, paper-thin (at times) story and cop-out ending. It also boasts one of Elvis' better acting performances, it is one of his most natural-looking ones where he is not as stiff as he could be and like in his film debut 'Love Me Tender' there is a charm, easy-going charisma and genuine emotional honesty. He also has one of his best supporting casts, with the likes of Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey, James Gleason and Delores Hart.

As to be expected, the music is great, especially the title song, "Teddy Bear" (a highlight scene), "Lonesome Cowboy" and "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do". Elvis sings sublimely with his usual distinctive timbre and the way he sings and performs in 'Loving You' is quintessential prime Elvis Presley.

Throughout there is a lot of charm, and as an re-enactment of Elvis' rise to stardom the film boasts some genuinely moving and sincere moments. The direction is solid.

Production values are top-class too, 'Loving You' was the first of Elvis' films to be shot in colour and it looks fabulous.

In conclusion, one of Elvis' best films, not perfect but not one to be scorned at. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Early Elvis that, probably due to distribution problems, is his most obscure. A decent if unexceptional film that contains one of his more popular songs "Teddy Bear" as well as the title tune. It tells a simple tale of a country bumpkin looking for a place in the world and incidentally having a great voice and star power to burn. While most Elvis films except for his worse usually have at least one quality performer, Barbara Stanwyck in Roustabout, Gig Young in Kid Galahad, Angela Lansbury in Blue Hawaii etc., this one has one of the better casts with Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey and in the first film of her brief pre-convent career Dolores Hart. A pleasant entertainment.

Yes it's a middle of the road "Let's love Elvis" homage, but with good good sprinkling of songs. Basically a sentimental semi biog. with a nice performance from Wendell Corey (The man with Steve McQueen's eyes) If your abiding image of Elvis is Overweight Jumpsuit don't miss the last five minutes, the young King's rendition of 'Lot of Livin' to do'with make you sweat-energy, youth and joy. It is one the sexiest two minutes of 1950's hollywood celluloid. WOW!