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!

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.

Elvis(now with dyed jet black hair) in his second feature is wonderful and this film is very much a testament to his early acting ability and the raucous sound that was Rock 'n' Roll.

Whether it was the title ballad or 'Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do' or 'Party' or 'Teddy Bear'-they were all golden hits in their own right. It's fantastic to see Elvis perform these numbers in this film, and one might say heartbreaking to watch as we witness that innocence of youth that was at the start of a roller-coaster ride of centuries worth of adulation and respect(at last).

Unlike, his previous debut film, 'Love Me Tender', the 'Loving You' story isn't too demanding as we are treated to a semi-autobiography about a working class boy who hits the big time with those good looks, golden voice and shaky leg. The young Elvis handles the dramatic scenes very well as he did in 'Love Me Tender', he's no James Dean but the makings are there. Wendell Corey is great as the band leader and future Nun, Dolores Hart plays it nice in her film debut.

Another aspect of this movie falls into place in the form of Lizabeth Scott's character who wheels and deals the fate of the travelling show band and gives us an insight into the canny manipulation of publicity that is forever part of an unpredictable business. Did she take lessons from Tom Parker for this one?

This is truly a great Rock 'n' Roll movie that was beautifully filmed and well-directed, and for any fan of that era has got to be amongst their favourites. On the other hand, if you're not a fan of Elvis or that kind of music, just sit back and enjoy the ride because it's such a feel-good kind of thing, especially watching 'The King' portray a young man very similar in character to himself and goes by the name of an equally distinguished name-Deke Rivers.

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!

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 ****