Loving You *** (1957, Elvis Presley, Lizabeth Scott, Wendell Corey, Dolores Hart) – Classic Movie Review 2161

Co-writer/director Hal Kanter’s 1957 vehicle for Elvis Presley finds him starring as young hillbilly singer Deke Rivers, who’s changed his name from Jimmy Tompkins. He becomes a teenage sensation after he is hired to boost the waning popularity of Walter ‘Tex ‘Warner (Wendell Corey)’s cowboy band.

Presley’s second film (after Love Me Tender) has a story cannily reflecting his own: a small-town boy faces the challenges of overnight fame and fortune. It’s a smooth and entertaining Paramount studio vehicle for a hot young star, with drama mixing with music. Lizabeth Scott c0-stars as Glenda Markle, the wily middle-aged publicist who discovers Deke. There’s romance, too, as Glenda tempts Deke with promises of a rosy future, while another singer in the group, Susan Jessup (Dolores Hart), is hopelessly devoted to him.

A scowling young Elvis looks superbly sulky and spirited in glorious Technicolor, and sings seven songs including ‘Teddy Bear’, ‘Got a Lot of Livin’ To Do’,  ‘Mean Woman Blues’, ‘Lonesome Cowboy’, ‘Party’, ‘Hound Dog’ and Jerry Leiber- Mike Stoller’s standout title tune.

 James Gleason, Jana Lund, Ralph Dumke, Paul Smith and Kenneth Becker are also in the cast.

Leiber (1933-2011) wrote the lyrics and Stoller wrote the music for many songs for Presley, including: “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” / “Bossa Nova Baby” / “Dirty, Dirty Feeling” / “Don’t” / “Fools Fall in Love” / “Girls! Girls! Girls!” / “Hot Dog” / “Hound Dog” / “I Want to Be Free” / “If You Don’t Come Back” / “Jailhouse Rock” / “Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello” / “King Creole” / “Little Egypt” / “Love Me” / “Loving You” / “Santa Claus is Back in Town” / “Saved” / “She’s Not You”  / “Steadfast, Loyal, and True” / “Three Corn Patches” / “Treat Me Nice” / “Trouble” / “You’re the Boss”. The duo wrote “Baby I Don’t Care,” “I Want to Be Free,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “Treat Me Nice” in four hours one afternoon.

Elvis’s parents Vernon and Gladys Presley appeared as audience members in the film. After his mother died, Elvis never watched it again, saying it hurt too much to see her on screen.

Lizabeth Scott was born Emma Matzo in 1922. Her most recent film is Pulp in 1972. From then she was engaged in real estate development and volunteer work for various charities, such as Project HOPE and the Ancient Arts Council of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Scott suffered heart failure at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and died on January 31 2015, aged 92.

© Derek Winnert 2015 – Classic Movie Review 2161