ELVIS & NIXON

2016, 86 minutes, Colour.
Michael Shannon, Kevin Spacey, Alex Pettyfer, Johnny Knoxville, Colin Hanks, Evan Peters, Sky Ferreira, Tracy Letts, Tate Donovan.
Directed by Liza Johnson.

Perhaps at the time this visit between Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon was in the news. However, it is suggested that the meeting was rather quiet – and the ending suggests that it is only in later years that the photo of the two has become very popular, requested from the archives.

If one were doing a casting call for Elvis Presley, excellent actor, Michael Shannon, would not be near the top of the list. He does not look like Presley although the hair and the characteristic costumes enable him to pass for Elvis. He is rather gaunt – reminding us that Elvis was to die seven years later, rather bloated.

This is a small film. Shannon does his best with communicating something of Elvis at this particular period of his life, remembering his twin brother’s death and his mother, Col Parker, military service, marriage, daughter, successful films, television, concert tours. However, disliking the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, he has become rather patriotic, regretting the directions youth was taking in America at this time of the Vietnam war, revolution, campus uprisings and deaths. It is suggested that he wanted to be an agent at large, undercover (as if that were possible, the point satirised by his not being recognised by a group of impersonators at the airport). Elvis wants a meeting with Nixon and with J Edgar Hoover.

The film is a showcase for Kevin Spacey as Nixon, giving an interesting performance, as always. This is 1970, he can remember his origins, anti-Communist stances in the 1940s, his term as vice president, the conflict in the campaign against John F. Kennedy. He is reliant on Henry Kissinger. He does not want to see Elvis despite the requests by his young aides (Colin Hanks and Evan Peters) – who later were taken to court and imprisoned after the Watergate scandal.

Elvis is assisted by his friend Jerry (Alex Pettyfer in a very good role) who does his PR work for him despite the pressures. Johnny Knoxville is another in the entourage.

What persuaded Nixon to see Elvis was the enthusiasm of his daughter, Julie. Elvis controls the meeting, doing everything the protocol suggested he not do, intriguing Nixon and getting autographs and photos.

There have been more interesting performances by actors as Elvis – it is the subject matter that is interesting here.

1. Audience awareness of the visit of Elvis Presley to Richard Nixon? The end photo and its popularity from the archives? This screenplay as a speculation?

2. Action taking place over a few days, Los Angeles, Hollywood, hotels and apartments? Washington DC, familiar landmarks, the, the White House, the gates, the grounds, the interiors, the Oval Office? American government in 1970?

3. The score, the songs, Spinning Wheel? But not Elvis’s own songs?

4. 21st-century audiences, their knowledge of Elvis, acknowledging him and his career, the King, music, films, his life, wife, daughter, his military service, Colonel Parker, Gracelands and the mansion, his concerts and performances, his particular dress style, his manner? His popularity during the 20th century? His continuing status?

5. The choice of Michael Shannon to portray Elvis? The hair and the clothes? A rather gaunt and tall figure – with Elvis to die seven years later?

6. Richard Nixon, memories, Watergate, the tapes, the exposure, the court cases, his aides going to prison, Gerald Ford pardoning him? His past, from California, Pat and his daughters, the entry into politics, the anti-Communist stances of the 1940s, the Alger Hiss case, as Vice President to Eisenhower, running against John F. Kennedy? The 1960s, Vietnam, what he had inherited, his prosecution of the war? Reliance on Henry Kissinger? His manner, rough, political?

7. The choice of Kevin Spacey to portray Nixon? How accurately?

8. The idea of a meeting between Elvis and Nixon? Elvis and the build up? The interview with Bob Haldeman the refusal? Elvis and his attitude towards American society at the time, violence on campuses, American youth, drugs? His wanting to be an agent? Undercover? But the difficulty of his always being recognised – except by the impersonators at the airport? Elvis serious, interest in the badge, wanting to talk to Nixon, to J Edgar Hoover? Sharing the ideas and the plans with Jerry?

9. Nixon in 1970, gruff, busy, the attitude towards office? Krogh and Chapin, their work for him, the advice? The request, his refusal? The ploy of Julie Nixon appealing to her father, his agreement, being prepped?

10. Jerry as Elvis’s friend, for a long time? Jerry working at Paramount, Elvis imposing on him, his relationship with Charlotte, the planned dinner, her parents, the plan to propose? Elvis getting him to do PR, giving up his time, his energy, the many phone calls, efficient? Going to Washington, meeting Krogh, the discussions, the idea about the daughters and Elvis? Success? Going with Elvis to the White House, the Secret Service and the examination of the guns, of the gift? Talking with Krogh, the protocols, what Elvis was expected to do, Sonny as part of the group, his character, the entourage? Their having to wait outside while Elvis went in to see Nixon?

11. His interest in the FBI, the meeting with the official, the discussion, the official and the touch of bewilderment, the badge? Putting Elvis off? And the irony of his presenting the badge to Elvis at the end?

12. The Secret Service, security, rigidity and interpretation? Examining the gift? The group having to give up the guns, and Elvis having his hidden gun?

13. Krogh, the protocols, for Elvis to wait at the door, when to sit, which chair, the M&Ms, the bottle of Dr Pepper, how to talk with Nixon, no embracing? And Elvis doing everything the opposite? The impact on Nixon?

14. His bringing Jerry and Sonny and, the gift, the Secret Service man, and Elvis persuading Nixon that Jerry should have an official escort to the airport?

15. Elvis, memories of the 40s 50s and 60s, his life, twin brother, the bond with his mother? Career, Germany, family, the movies and references, his being against the Beatles and the Rolling Stones? His reflection on his image, people’s response, looking to the surface, his not being seen?

16. The effect on Nixon, his enjoying the meeting, adapting, allowing the photos, the gifts, the autographs? Good for the voters?

17. Jerry, talking sincerely with Elvis, leaving, meeting Charlotte and her parents?

18. Subsequent information, Jerry and his life and achievement, Sonny and his career? Krogh and Chapin and their subsequent arraignment and imprisonment and subsequent careers? Nixon and his fall?