LOVING YOU

US, 1957, 101 minutes, Colour.
Elvis Presley, Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey, Dolores Hart, James Gleason.
Directed by Hal Kanter.

Loving You was Elvis Presley's second film. The British Monthly Film Bulletin of the time wrote that 'the phenomenon of Elvis Presley is one of the more puzzling and less agreeable aspects of modern popular music.' The review ended, 'For its sidelights on a contemporary phenomenon Loving You has a certain documentary interest.'

The screenplay is designed for Elvis Presley, echoing aspects of his career. Wendell Corey and Lizabeth Scott are agents and bandleader, Dolores Hart is the attractive heroine. The film has conventional show business elements -but is an opportunity for Elvis Presley to sing and gyrate.

1, Interesting showbiz story? Entertaining Elvis Presley vehicle?

2. Location photography, colour? The atmosphere of the '50s? Show business? Television?

3. The title, the title song. Elvis Presley's screen presence? Singing? Singing style? The film presenting and exploiting it?

4. Deke as a boy from the backblocks, his being discovered by Glenda, the contract? The Warner band? Tex? The gimmicks used? His relationship with Susan? The build-up, his infatuation with Glenda, his discovery of the truth, the gimmicks? His running away? Glenda pursuing him? The nationwide TV coverage? The reaction of the town? The successful performance? Contracts and Susan? The Elvis Presley character?

5. Glenda as the tough agent, her relationship with Tex, doing him a favour, the discovery of Deke, the gimmicks, the bookings, the publicity, the town council forbidding the show, Deke's running away, her pursuing him, the link-up? Success? Tex? Tex and his band, the estrangement from Glenda, the build-up with Deke?

6. Susan as the singer, love for Deke, happy ending?

7. The minor characters: Carl? The people in the town reacting against Deke?

8. The popularity of television shows in the '50s? Nationwide publicity? Contracts?

9. Elvis Presley's songs, their insertion into the plot? The film's contribution to the popularity of the screen image of Presley?