July 8 - Elvis

Here is a movie with a scene that happens today - July 8. I hope you enjoy the film and watch it tonight. 

ELVIS

Elvis arrives in Las Vegas to play at the International Hotel, for his first live stage performance in 10 years. He thinks back to when he got his first guitar. He obsesses over his twin brother Jesse, who died at birth. Elvis is very attached to his mother. After the family moves to Memphis Elvis, with his pompadour hairstyle  does not fit in with the crew-cut students. He gets talked into performing at a school talent show. Elvis hangs out on Beale Street listening to blues singers. He goes to Sun records to make his own record as a present for his mom. They’re so impressed the owner, Sam Philips calls Elvis to come back and they record him with some back-up musicians.  On July 8, 1954 [41:32 to 43:32] Elvis first hears one of his songs played on the radio. He starts performing and goes to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville,  but they don’t like him at all. Col. Tom Parker agrees to become Elvis’s manager. Elvis starts making serious money and he’s glad he can help his family and buy expensive presents for his mom. Sun records sells his contract to RCA. He records his first big hit “Heartbreak Hotel” and goes to Hollywood. He later appears in an iconic performance on the Ed Sullivan show. Elvis buys Graceland and moves his family in. Then Elvis gets drafted. His parents come to live near his base. When she has a stroke, Elvis gets emergency leave, but she dies a few days later. Elvis is transferred to Germany,  where he meets 14 year old Priscilla Beaulieu. When he gets out of the army, he brings Priscilla to Graceland. After four years they get married and a daughter is born nine months later. His movie and music career slowly decline in the sixties. He starts to turn on his entourage and distance himself from Priscilla. In spite of her wanting to spend more time together, Elvis arranges his comeback special and a concert tour. Elvis goes out and gives his concert at the International. 

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick (Little, Brown and Company, New York, 1994) at pages 100-101 gives this date

Producer - Dick Clark and Anthony Lawrence

Director - John Carpenter

Screenplay - Anthony Lawrence

Runtime – 2 hours 30 minutes

Released – February 2, 1979

Starring -

Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley

Shelley Winters as Gladys Presley

Season Hubley as Priscilla Presley

Bing Russell as Vernon Presley

Pat Hingle as Colonel Tom Parker

Charles Cyphers as Sam Phillips

Ellen Travolta as Marion Keisker

Charlie Hodge as Himself

James Canning as Scotty Moore

Elliott Street as Bill Black

Watch Elvis