I kind of get the feeling that if he became a star today, his southern accent and mannerisms would be talked about, and in a negative way by trolls, but does anyone know if that was the case back then?
shareWhen he hit it big and acquired his Graceland mansion and pink Cadillac, there was some characterization of him by commentators as a "cashed up hillbilly" not unlike The Beverly Hillbillies. But aside from that, I would think criticism during his time was more directed towards his gyrating hips driving girls wild, his poor choice of films in the 60's, and meeting Nixon.
shareI think his voice was so humble and sweet that nobody faulted it, plus he sounded reflectful, which most interpret as intelligent.
Still, I got the sense in the early tv appearances that he felt uncomfortable, and I wonder if he felt talked down to.
He seemed to retreat back to Memphis after his Hollywood stint and made scant appearances in New York.
Maybe he was just a country boy at heart, or maybe he was made to feel not worthy.
He was known to be somewhat shy and sensitive.
shareNixon was and is still highly popular , Including Watergate , which was extremely overblown and misconstrued vis-a-vis Nixon.
rest in peace Nixon and Elvis
Yeah sorry I'm not looking for a Pro-Watergate defence in the age of Trump.
Nixon wasn't exactly popular when the photo opp occured in 1970. The Republicans did badly in the mid-terms that year. Nixon was always seen as a square and his meeting with Elvis was considered bizarre, as well as Elvis photo friendly relations with him. I'm just stating fact. I'm not looking to debate somehow out of all this.
No , you are stating opinion
shareSo it's just my opinion that Republicans failed to gain a majority in the 1970 mid terms and Elvis was ridiculed in some quarters for his Nixon photo opp? Okay then...
share" Nixon always seen as a square " - opinion
Many did not consider Elvis meeting with the President as bizarre- others did - simply opinions
ended war in Vietnam - fact
ended draft-fact
opened up relations with China -fact
imposed wage & price controls for 90 days - fact. huge mistake & blatant socialism- my opinion
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Spoken like a 10 year old.
shareI don't want to fight, least ways not in the GD, and even in the Trump area. I can "fight" there without calling names and being derogatory to my fellows.. I am sorry for doing that here to you, Ret. Please forgive me. I do enjoy your movie input and your Trump materiel gets my dander up and that's a good thing as long as I don't let it drive me to this behavior. It won't happen again.
I will delete my inflammatory posts.
Your apology is accepted and I'm happy that you enjoy my film posts. I won't be writing anything about Trump in the foreseeable and as I've also had issues with the amount of activity on that board.
share"Yeah sorry I'm not looking for a Pro-Watergate defence in the age of Trump.
Nixon wasn't exactly popular when the photo opp occured in 1970. The Republicans did badly in the mid-terms that year. Nixon was always seen as a square and his meeting with Elvis was considered bizarre, as well as Elvis photo friendly relations with him. I'm just stating fact. I'm not looking to debate somehow out of all this."
I really hate to butt in here, but this would have been the time to exit this thread.....
This is the time in a thread where things get dicey! Things get downright STUPID!
Elvis and politics really do not have to mix.
Just a word to the wise......
No - people had more common sense back then - no snowflakes , etc.
shareI don't see where anyone would look down on him for being Southern.
If he was looked down upon for anything at all, it was his movies.
This guy had TALENT. What the hell was he doing making those crappy movies??????
They were easy cash cows going in and remained such. Though he didn't have much more in liquid/a million dollars in the savings account and $100,000 dollars in the checking account when he died.
shareManagement also had a whole lot to do with it.
shareYes. He didn't even do his own taxes. He just sent the whole kit & caboodle to the IRS with a signed blank check.
share"Yes. He didn't even do his own taxes."
I don't do mine either....
What is your point, you goof ball!???
Do you send yours to the IRS?
I thought it was a poignant point about the man. And probably one of the wisest decisions he ever made. That & not fighting his draft induction. They'd a had field day with him at Vietnam otherwise.
No. My husband does ours.
He had a manager and people to handle his finances. Poignant? not really. He was just a kid when he made his first record on the cheap for his mother. His family was poor and without much education and the first real money they ever had was through him.
It was commendable that he didn't fight the draft.
"They'd a had field day with him at Vietnam otherwise."
Once again, you confuse me. What the heck is that supposed to mean?
The guy was stationed in Germany, and that was in the 50s.
Are you saying that if he had been drafted a few years later, it may have been a different story? I agree.
I dont either
The further South i go down the East Coast the nicer the people get and they are just as crafty and capable as us Yankees up here
And how dare you besmirch his amazing filmography Miss?!?
'Clambake! Go and have a clambake!!'
😂
PS: you still owe me that cup of tea;)
Follow That Dream
Kid Galahad
Kid Creole
I believe he didn't get enough credit due the Colonel's handling of his marketing his movies
Oh , and the worst thing the Colonel did was turn down the role offered Elvis in the remake of " A Star Is Born "
You know lots more about The King than me
Thanks for the info...i dont know much about his inner circle
*i dont recall if we have ever actually 'chatted' but every time i see your handle i know you bring quality input
You are good peeps and a fine poster
Thank You coloradotex
Hollywood was seen as the highest of careers in that era. That’s why the Beatles used to say that they were in the pictures as though we should be so impressed.
shareVery few of Elvis' movies were "crappy". Mostly they were 60s style romantic comedy with Elvis music thrown in. Most are very watchable, and a few are among my favorites. There was no need for Elvis to achieve high levels of drama, and it would have been a waste of everyone's time. Elvis' value to a film are his songs.
Anyone who could watch films like "Follow that Dream", "Viva Las Vegas", "Clambake", "Blue Hawaii", or even "Girl Happy" and not enjoy them, I'd feel sad for. ;-) We showed a few to my granddaughter last year. She knew little about Elvis, and nothing about his movies. She became an immediate fan and wanted more. :-)
Elvis movies weren't a unique phenomenon, but they were rare. Most music stars who were tried out for a film or two flopped and died. Stars like Crosby, Sinatra, and Presley were exceptions to the norm. And while Elvis wasn't the actor that Crosby and Sinatra became, he wasn't bad. His dialogue is seldom wooden, and he mostly sells his role.
I view his films as a treat. Except for the very few where they tried for straight drama, even the worst of Elvis films ("Kissin' Cousins", "Harem Scarem", "Tickle Me") have musical performances which include great songs.
You are a true fan. I can see that.
I think he was an extremely talented man. I love much of his music, but let's face it. His movies were more or less music videos. You had your cute little story with an album's worth of songs he broke into every 10 minutes.
I find it sad that he never became the kind of actor he was capable of becoming. He certainly proved he could have been that in Charro, a film you didn't list, and a film that showcased his talent as an actor.
By the way, I did like Girl Happy!
I understand your point, but you're just not being accurate. In most of the films, the stories were compelling. "Follow that Dream" would have been a terrific comedy without a single song in it, as would our agreed upon "Girl Happy". ;-) "Girl Happy" was essentially "Where the Boys Are" without the pathos. I don't intend to contradict my earlier statement though, I think they're all better for having the songs.
You'd be right on "Viva Las Vegas", probably the closest to your music video impression.
I don't know about that because too many teenage girls were in love with him. They didn't care where he was from. Why you you think he was so popular until his death??
shareIt was part of his appeal.
share"Was Elvis looked down upon for being Southern?"
In short, No.
At least not by the public at large. They flocked to his movies and bought his records by the millions. He easily sold out anywhere he chose to perform live.
Luckily there aren't that many ignorant bigots around the USA. I know bigots tend to be vocal, but they aren't the majority. By the same token, people in the South don't look down on Yankees as much as you'd suppose. ;-)