Original subtitles

- (Announcer) He is coming.

So I want you to give him a big, rousing welcome

cos he will be here.

He actually is coming.

He's backstage, he's gonna be out here.

- (Steve) What's goin' on, Elvis?

- (Elvis) I'm sorry, Steve.

I can't do it, man, I can't go on.

- What?

- This whole thing was just a bad idea.

I haven't played in front of a live audience

in more than seven years, man.

I don't know if I can do it anymore.

And what if they don't like me?

- Don't like you? Oh, my God.

Elvis, you created rock and roll.

You were the king.

You step out there, you're gonna be king again.

- (Scotty) It's like ridin' a bike, Elvis.

Once you get on the stage, it's gonna be like old times.

# That's all right now, Mama #

# Any way you do #

# But that's all right #

# That's all right #

# That's all right now, Mama #

# Any way you do #

(upbeat rock and roll music)

# Well my Mama she done told me #

# Papa told me too #

# They like your livin' son #

# Now women be the death of you #

# But that's all right #

# That's all right #

# That's all right now, Mama #

# Any way you #

- (Gladys) Elvis!

# Yeah, man #

- (Vernon) Two weeks is all I'm askin'.

Two weeks. Come on!

- Elvis, you're gonna be late for school, baby.

# Baby one and one is two #

# Two and two is four #

# I love that woman, man #

# But I got to let her go #

Oh, baby, don't you look nice.

Only thing that would make me happier

is if I had the two of you.

- I know.

I love you.

- He's gonna fine us a dollar a day till we pay rent.

- A dollar a day?

Lord, how we ever gonna get out from under that?

- Where'd you get the money for that getup?

- Malansky's.

I put 50 cents down, I gotta pay 25 cents a week.

- Vernon, don't you give him a hard time.

- If he's got money for that, maybe he can

help us out with the rent. - Elvis, go.

Go to school, baby.

- Goodbye, Mama. Bye, Daddy.

And don't fight now, you hear?

Someday I'm gonna buy you a house.

And Cadillacs. Bye.

- (Gladys) George Klein. I appreciate your vote.

George Klein. Senior class president.

- Nice guitar. - Thanks a lot, Jim.

- Oh, my Lord. - Hey, Dottie!

Hey, Presley, how you doin'?

- OK, George.

- Nice outfit.

- Thanks. - George Klein for president!

- (Gladys) How's school today, Elvis?

- Fine. They don't cotton too much to me there.

- Well, I don't doubt it.

Those clothes you wear and that hair.

- Don't you start in. That's his style.

Everyone's gotta have a style.

You used to have a style, Vernon.

Woo-wee, your daddy was a looker, Elvis.

- You're right about that.

- Still is when he sets his mind to it.

Boy, could he dance.

Play your guitar,

maybe your daddy will dance with me. (chuckles)

- No, no, no, no. I'm not dancin', I'm eatin'.

Is there any more?

- No.

It's all they'd give us down at the pantry.

You eat any more tonight,

and there won't be enough for the week.

- No, I'm really not hungry.

- (Gladys) Put that back down, Vernon.

- I'm done, Mama. Really.

I'm not hungry.

I'm goin' out with Gene and Junior.

Mama?

- It's all right.

- Good night, Grandma.

- (Minnie) Tell your cousins I expect 'em in church Sunday.

I know their mama didn't raise a bunch of atheists.

- OK, Grandma. I'll be there too.

- I know, honey.

- Good night, Mama. Daddy.

- Good night, baby.

(door creaking) (door clunking)

- What?

- Hey, man, look at them outfits!

- (Gene) What about 'em?

- The one with the pink trim?

(men laughing)

That's slick.

- Elvis, you ain't right, man. Come on.

(upbeat rock and roll music)

# I heard the news #

# There's good rockin' tonight #

# Gonna hold my baby as tight as I can #

# Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty man #

- Boy, that Wynonie Harris can sing.

- Hey, cous, how do you know all these guys?

- I listen to 'em on the radio.

Howlin' Wolf, Arthur Crudup, B.B. King.

- Who?

- WDIA, mother station of the Negro.

Broadcasting to all of Memphis and beyond.

- Elvis, you're not right. You know that?

# I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight #

# Go and meet me and a-hurry behind the barn #

- Yeah like it's one big party all the time.

If I was a Negro, I think I'd hang myself.

- Why'd you think they call it the blues?

- That's what I'm sayin' right there.

Everyone's got someone's foot on their neck.

- No one's foot's on my neck.

- No?

Didn't our daddies work shares for old man Bean?

- Well, they sharecropped with Grandpa.

- Wanna ask him who his daddy worked fields for?

There ain't so much difference as you think.

They all end up workin' shares for the guy in the big house.

- One day, I'm gonna be the man in the big house.

- Hope you do.

(gentle blues music)

# Blue moon of Kentucky #

# Keep on shining #

- Dixie.

# Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue #

# Blue moon #

(Dixie groaning)

I'm sorry. Sorry, Dixie.

Sorry.

- You crossed the line, Elvis.

- I know, I know.

Nothin' six inches above the knee,

and nothin' below the belly button.

I know.

- And no chest!

- I got it.

- Not till we're married, anyway.

- I got it, I got it.

Sorry.

I was thinkin' about makin' a record.

- How?

- Down at Sun Records. They do it for you.

I was thinkin' about it for Mama's birthday.

- Her birthday was last April.

- Well?

- You just wanna make a record.

- So?

And then a lot of people could hear it and maybe,

you know.

I don't know.

- Next thing you know, you'll be on the radio

like Bill Monroe! (chuckles)

- Now, sit on your hands!

- All right. - Come on!

Put 'em under your keister.

- OK. (sighs)

# Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining #

# Shine on the one that's gone and proved untrue #

# Blue moon of Kentucky # (door clunking)

- Can I help you? - Yes, ma'am.

I wanna record somethin' for my mama's birthday.

You do that, right?

- Yes, we do.

- It's 3.98 for a two-sided acetate.

- (Elvis) I know.

- You can also make one in a booth

over at WT Grant's for a quarter.

- Oh, no, ma'am. I heard them kind.

They don't sound professional.

(coins rattling)

Ma'am?

This is where they make all those R&B records, right?

Rufus Thomas, The Prisonaires?

- That's us.

- Oh, ma'am. I like those records a whole lot.

I was wonderin', ma'am,

if anyone needed a singer or somethin'.

- Well, what kinda singer are you?

- I sing all kinds.

- You sing hillbilly?

- I sing hillbilly.

- Country? - I sing country.

- OK, who do you sound like?

- Well, I don't sound like nobody, ma'am.

- Go on into the middle of the room.

- Yes, ma'am.

Is that Mr. Phillips?

- That's him.

Now, sing a few bars so he can set the levels.

- (Elvis) Yes, ma'am.

# Evenin' shadows made me blue... #

- Now don't be shy, son.

Bring your head up and lean in close to that mike.

- Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

(typewriter clacking) # Evening shadows #

Is Mr. Phillips gonna come out?

- I don't expect so.

- Oh.

I was kinda hoping to say goodbye.

- (Marion) Here it is.

- Oh, thank you, ma'am.

- Marion. Marion Keisker.

- Elvis. Elvis Presley.

Ma'am, I was wonderin'

if I could drop by from time to time,

see if anyone needed a singer?

- Sure. But we'll call you if anything comes up.

Maybe the right song'll come in.

- Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you very much. Bye.

- Bye. - Oh. Sorry.

- (Marion) That's all right.

# Always thinking how #

- Woo!

# My happiness #

- I knew God spared you for a reason, baby.

# Years it seems have gone by #

# Since we shared our dreams #

# But I'll hold you again #

# There'll be no blue memories then #

# Whether skies are gray or blue #

- (Man) Well. (laughs) Yeah.

# Anyplace on earth will do #

# Just as long as I'm with you #

# My happiness #

# A million. #

(gentle choral music)

- We got 20 minutes before Mama realises we're gone.

Hurry up, I wanna hear these guys.

- I'm hurryin'!

- Hey, I ran into a friend of mine

who's in a professional band with Eddie Bond,

and they're lookin' for a singer.

I got a tryout on Saturday night.

- (Dixie) Elvis, that's wonderful.

- (Elvis) It's at the Hi-Hat, on South Third.

- (Dixie) The Hi-Hat? Isn't that a night club?

- Yeah, but come with me, Dixie. I'll ask Gene to come too.

I need you.

Hurry up, I love these guys.

# Stand up, stand up for the Lord. #

- (Man) Welcome, brother.

# Why don't you, why don't you, why don't you #

# Stand up #

# Stand up for the Lord #

# Oh, oh # # Get up, get up, get up #

# Stand up, Stand up for the Lord #

(upbeat country music) (people chattering)

- So you're a singer, huh?

- Yes, sir.

- (chuckles) What's your day job?

- I drive a truck.

For Crown Electric.

- Well, let's see what you can do.

- Yes, sir.

# If you find your sweetheart #

# In the arms of a friend #

# That's when your heartaches begin #

- Why, that boy's as green as a tomato worm.

- He's nervous. - Ha! Nervous? (laughing)

He's about ready to have a heart attack. (chuckles)

He better stick to drivin' trucks, darlin',

cos he ain't never gonna make it as a singer.

# When heartaches begin #

- (scoffs) Yeah, we had people look down on us

our whole lives, it ain't nothin' new.

We don't pay it no nevermind, cos we got family.

You got a mama who loves you, your daddy, Dixie too.

- I thought Elvis was good.

- I don't know a guitar player

worth a hill of beans, anyhow.

Maybe now you'll put that damn thing away.

Start thinking about a trade, settlin' down.

- Yes, sir.

- Those folks down at Crown Electric like you well enough.

They'll hire you as an electrician.

Electricians earn good money too, you get in the union.

But you gotta work at it.

- Elvis won't have no trouble with it.

He's a smart boy, he can do anything he sets his mind to.

Mind you, honey, you can't be daydreamin' all the time.

Cos you'll wire somethin' up wrong

and burn down somebody's house.

Dixie, when you goin' to Florida?

- Day after tomorrow.

- What will you lovebirds gonna do

without each other for three weeks?

- We'll visit each other in our dreams.

- Oh, please. Not in front of my mama.

- Yoo-hoo?

- Sorry to interrupt.

- That's all right, Ms. Hughes. Come on in.

- Elvis has a phone call. It's some woman.

She said her name is Marion Keisker.

From Sun Records. - Thank you, Mrs. Hughes.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, sir. I can do it again.

- When they first sent me that song,

I thought maybe you'd be right for it.

But sometimes a song and a singer

don't necessarily go together.

Maybe another time.

- I know a lot of songs, sir.

Gospel, hillbilly, pop.

- Well, what the hell, we're already here.

Let me hear a few.

You all right, Scotty? - Yes, sir.

- Bill? - Yeah.

- Thanks, guys.

# Now I know lonely nights #

# For all the while my heart keeps praying #

# That someday harbour lights #

# Will bring you back to me #

- That sounded something like Bing Crosby.

Trouble is, we already got us a Bing Crosby.

And the one before, well,

we got us a Eddy Arnold and a Hank Snow.

Son, give me... (grunts)

Give me some of you.

Give me some of you. Give me some Elvis Presley.

- Easy, Sam.

- (Scotty) Yeah, Phillips, the cat can sing.

- Yeah, and you can play.

But all I'm getting is some second-hand Chet Atkins.

Let's take a break.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Phillips, I don't mean to waste your time.

- That's all right, Elvis. That's all right.

Why don't you get yourself a soda pop?

- (groans) With Sam, it's always all right,

just not good enough.

- What's the right song?

# That's all right, Mama #

# That's all right with you #

# That's all right, Mama #

# That's all right with you #

# That's all right, Mama #

# Any way you do #

# But that's all right #

# Baby, that's all right #

# That's all right now, Mama #

# Any way you do #

- (Bill) Yeah.

# Well Mama she done told me #

# Papa done told me too #

# That girl that you've been messin' with #

# She ain't no good for you #

# But that's all right #

# That's all right #

# Oh, yeah #

# That's all right now, Mama #

# Any way you do #

# Woohooo #

(band laughing)

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Wait, wait, wait! What the hell was that?

- I don't know, sir. Just messin' around.

- You been holdin' out on me, boy?

- What do you mean, sir?

- (laughing) Arthur Big Boy Crudup, for God's sakes.

You know more of that music?

- (laughs) Well, yes, sir. Lots of it.

- Damn, what the hell you been wastin' my time for?

Come on! Let's back it up!

Try find a place to start and do it again.

- What exactly does he want?

- I guess he wants you to do what you just did.

- (Elvis) That?

- I'll tell you what, why don't you just start playing?

You start and you maybe wait two beats.

Come in on that first little fifth you were doing.

Yeah, yeah.

- All right. All right.

Why don't we do it a little faster?

(upbeat rock and roll music)

# Well, that's all right now, Mama #

- That sounds awfully rough, Sam.

- Yeah.

Yeah. But it's different.

Ah, it's something else.

That there song is a hit.

- (laughs) A hit?

- Think old Scotty's right,

they hear this and gon' run us out of town.

- (Sam) Get the cotton out of your mouth

and put it in your ears, boy.

- Dixie is gonna kick herself for missing this.

- (Vernon) You sure that's him?

- You heard the man. - (Vernon) It don't sound like him.

- Would you just listen? - I can't believe that boy's

sitting in a movie theatre right now.

What's wrong with him?

- He's just shy, that's all.

- That boy- - Shush, shush.

Shush up.

# Any way you do #

- I mean, do you just ride around,

or do you go on some sort of a picnic or something?

- A picnic?

Man, you are too square. I have to straighten you out.

Now, listen, you don't go any one special place.

That's cornball style.

You just go. (clicks fingers)

- Elvis, are you there?

Elvis, baby?

- (Vernon) Elvis! Elvis!

Elvis, where the hell are you?

- What are you doing? - Elvis!

- Mama?

- He played it seven times in a row.

- 11 times. You already got 47 phone calls.

- He wants to interview you.

- On the radio, right now. He called the house.

He said, "Get that cotton pickin' son of yours

"down here now, he's got a hit."

- Whoo!

# De-de-de-de #

# I need your lovin' #

# That's all right #

- Hi! - Boy, were we wrong

about that song or what?

- We knew, ain't nothin' like it exists on this earth.

- Oh, you knew! Oh, ma'am.

Bill.

- I know this.

We ain't got a record unless we got a B-side.

Now we gotta come up with something fast.

- Let's get to it while the day's still young.

- (Scotty) Elvis, grab my guitar. We'll play that again.

- Maybe we don't have another one in us. You know?

Maybe just a fluke.

Like you said, never existed before.

- Well, it exists now.

And I know, I know he has it in him.

- How about "Blue Moon"?

I've always wanted to do that one.

- No, no, no, I don't want any of that slow crap.

I want some of that fast and biting crap.

- Of course, of course.

What about a fast, biting waltz?

How about "Blue Moon of Kentucky"?

# Blue moon of Kentucky #

# Won't you keep on shinin' #

# Blue moon #

# Blue moon just a shinin' bright #

- How about it like this?

# Blue moon of Kentucky won't you keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

# Blue moon of Kentucky won't you keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

# Well it was on a moonlit night #

- Sam, Sam, Sam. No, this is terrible.

We're just goofing around.

- No, that's what I'm talkin' about.

It's gotta be fun, original.

- Bill Monroe's gonna kill us.

- Bill Monroe's is gonna too busy counting his money.

Marion!

(audience chattering)

- (Woman) Honey, I'm over here.

Come here.

- Oh, man, Mr. Phillips. My knee's shaking, I can't stop it.

I don't do well in public.

- They're gonna love you, Elvis

- All these folks came to see Slim Whitman.

This is a hillbilly crowd and I'm not singing hillbilly.

- Elvis, that is called an understatement.

(Elvis sighs)

Here we go, here we go, here we go.

- Now folks, we have a young man with a record

that's got quite popular here in Memphis.

And here he with his latest recording, Elvis Presley.

(audience applauding) Elvis. Go get 'em, Elvis.

# Blue moon #

# Blue moon, keep a shinin' bright #

# You're gonna bring me back my baby tonight #

# Blue moon, keep a shinin' bright #

# I say blue moon of Kentucky #

# Keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

# I say blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

# Well, it was on one moonlight night #

# Stars shining bright #

# Whispered on high #

# Love said goodbye #

# Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

(upbeat rock and roll music)

- Try and have a little more fun.

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

# Well, it was on one moonlight night #

# Stars shining bright #

# Whispered on high #

# Love said goodbye #

# Blue moon of Kentucky keep on shinin' #

# Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue #

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- What do you think, Mama?

Maybe the boy can make a living at this for a while.

- Whatever makes him happy.

- What was they hollerin' at?

- They scream every time you shake a leg.

- Really? - Yeah.

- Oh!

Slim Whitman. How's he gonna follow that?

How's he gonna follow that?

Who was that up there, son?

Who the hell was that?

- I don't know really know, sir, but I like it.

- Yeah? Well, you're gonna like this too.

Billboard Magazine has us number three

on the Memphis charts.

And I placed a phone call to a friend of mine

at the Grand Ole Opry.

Are you wearing makeup, son? Mascara?

- Helps people see me better on stage.

Actors use it all the time on stage.

- Screw that, screw that!

What about the Opry?

- We are on.

We are on. (all whooping)

And then we are going down to Shreveport

and the "Louisiana Hayride".

We are ridin' in high, high cotton now, boy!

# Well, I heard the news #

# There's good rockin' tonight #

# Well, I heard the news #

# There's good rockin' tonight #

(upbeat rock and roll music)

# I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can #

# Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man... #

# I heard the news #

# There's good rockin' tonight #

# I say meet me in a hurry behind the barn #

# Don't you be afraid, I'll do you no harm #

# I want you to bring along my rockin' shoes #

# cos tonight I'm gonna rock away all my blues #

# I heard the news #

# There's good rockin' tonight #

(audience cheering) (audience screaming)

# Well we're gonna rock, rock, rock, #

# Come on and rock, rock, rock, #

# Well, rock, rock, rock #

# Let's rock, rock, rock, rock #

We're gonna rock all our blues away

(audience cheering)

(audience chanting)

- Now, now, settle down.

All right, all right settle down, now. Settle down.

We still got more acts to go.

All right, so settle down, all right?

He's left the building, OK?

Elvis has left the building.

- (Audience) Elvis, Elvis!

- We're tourin' with Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb,

he's nice, Mama.

And the Louvin Brothers, Carter Sisters,

and Mother Maybelle.

Oh, you should see cute little Anita.

- (Gladys) You behavin' yourself?

- Yes, Mama.

- No drinkin' or runnin' around. You don't wanna go to hell.

- I'm bein' good, Mama.

- Gladys, let the boy grow up for God's sakes.

- I'm just worried is all.

All that drivin'.

Every time I hear on the radio about some accident

I just pray it wasn't you.

I've been having nightmares, Elvis.

It's rainin' out, and you and your brother Jesse,

you lyin' on the side of the road.

You're bleedin' and everythin'.

- Mama, don't do that. I'll be fine.

Look, I gotta go, Mama, I got an 11 o'clock show.

Tell Dixie I'll call after the show, all right?

- All right, I will.

You call your mama too.

- Oh, it'll be awful late, Mama.

- I'll wait up, you know I will.

- I know, I know.

Goodbye, baby.

(Gladys sniffing)

(phone clunks)

- (Scotty) Oh, you being a real good boy! (laughing)

- (Elvis) Damn right I am.

- Well, this little girl thought so. (laughing)

- Hey, you guys see that fat man

with the hat standing in the back again?

- Yeah, I've seen him.

He was at Shreveport too, and Houston.

- That's Colonel Tom Parker, used to manage Eddy Arnold.

I think he's with Hank Snow now.

- No kidding. Eddy Arnold, huh?

- That's Colonel Parker?

I heard of him.

He's as much colonel as I am General Eisenhower.

I heard he's from the carny.

- Then why's he at our shows?

You know the carny, Elvis. Always looking for a freak show.

(Elvis laughs)

- Who do you think you are?

- Call me Colonel.

- I discovered the boy. He's a raw talent.

He didn't even know what he had

when he first came into Sun Records.

Look how far he's gone.

- How much further can you take him?

Can you compete with RCA,

with whom I've had relations over the years?

Do you have the wherewithal to take him national?

I have contacts in New York, Los Angeles,

music, film, television, you name it.

I know you like the boy,

so I know you won't stand in the way of his dreams.

You need the money, Sam.

I checked.

(sparse blues harmonica music)

(coins clinking)

- I'll think about it, Tom.

(traffic rumbling) (horns honking)

- I heard he got Eddy Arnold some movies.

- Yeah, you seen any of those movies?

- No. - No, buddy.

They suck so bad, they leave hickeys

on the bottom of your feet when you walk out the theatre.

(all laughing)

- (Waitress) Have a seat anywhere, boys.

- Colonel Parker, I'm Scotty Moore.

I've been managing Elvis.

- Elvis and I need some privacy.

- All right.

- Yes, sir.

- Young Mr. Presley. (chuckles)

What do you want off all this?

What do you want?

- I wanna buy my mama and daddy a house. And a car.

- No, your secret dream.

Everybody's got a secret dream.

Deep in your heart of hearts,

what do you want more than anything?

- Well,

I've always wanted to be an actor.

Like James Dean.

Or Marlon Brando, maybe.

- You know, don't you,

that I got Eddy Arnold into some movies?

- I heard that.

- You wanna be in the movies, I'll get you in the movies.

But are you ready for the big time, son?

Do you want it enough?

- Oh, I want it, sir.

- Call me Colonel.

I think you do.

I'll get you movies. Are you ready for a big record deal?

Sam, he's got good intentions, but he's local.

He thinks local.

Me, I think nationwide. (chuckles)

I think worldwide.

I dream in Technicolour.

(both chuckling)

(sighs) I'm not gonna shine your brass, son.

I don't get your music.

I'm more of a Lawrence Welk kind of fellow.

- You don't like it?

- Well, it's not liking it or not,

I just don't get what all the fuss is about.

But there is a fuss, and I can surely understand that.

And I can sell it.

I can sell anything.

I can sell a wino the sweat off a grape.

And I know I can sell the hell out of you.

How much you makin' now, son?

- I do pretty good.

Sometimes I make $100 a night.

- Well, son,

(hand thuds)

you got a million dollars worth of talent.

- A million dollars?

- Sounds like a lot of banana oil to me.

Elvis is already working too hard. Look how skinny he is.

- Oh, Mama, I'm eating everything

you've been putting in front of me.

And it ain't work. I like it, it's fun.

- The time to sell the apples is when they're on the tree,

not after they've fallen to the ground.

Now, this boy, he's ripe now.

So he has to work hard for a couple of years.

He's young, he can handle it. (chuckles)

Then after a couple of years raking in the cash,

he can take it easy, do what he wants.

- You can retire on a million dollars.

- All this TV and movie bushwa.

That's all in New York City and California.

Who's gonna look after my boy there?

I don't trust them kind of folk.

- Exactly.

Now, Sam Phillips, he's a nice enough fellow,

but those big-city boys they will eat him for lunch.

Me? I'm one of you.

- And where is it you're from, exactly?

- I've wandered the land. Much like a gypsy.

- Well, thank you for stopping by, Mr. Parker.

We'll let you know.

- If you would call me Colonel, ma'am.

I will take my leave now.

But let me just say that, whatever your decision,

it has been a pluperfect pleasure

to be the recipient of your most gracious hospitality.

See ya, son.

(door clunking)

- Come on, Mama. Please.

I want this so bad.

And the Colonel can make it happen for me.

Please, Mama.

Daddy?

- I don't know a thing about this so-called Colonel, Elvis.

I think he'd sell the paint off his own mama's house.

He talks funny.

(gentle music)

- Come here, I wanna show you something. Come on.

Come on.

Now, remember when you scrubbed floors at the hospital,

and you came home and every night

you talking about something you'd seen in the parking lot.

- Oh!

Oh, my Lord.

(gentle rock music)

Oh, my baby!

- (Vernon) Elvis, you're spending money

as fast as you can make it.

- Well, Daddy, I guess I'll just have to keep on making it.

That's why I want the Colonel.

You heard him, he said I'd make millions.

And now he's gonna help organise my next tour.

Let's just give him a chance, Daddy, OK?

Let's try him for just one tour.

- What about Sam, Elvis? I like Sam, I can talk to him.

- I like Sam too, Daddy.

I owe everything to Sam.

He just doesn't have the connections.

He can't take me as far as the Colonel can.

- Maybe we're just afraid of how far that might be, baby.

(upbeat rock and roll music)

(both groaning)

- I missed you so much, baby.

- It's so hard, with you away like this.

- Are you going out with other people?

- Well, with friends.

- That's not what I meant.

I mean, you're not going out with other guys, are you?

I don't want you going out with other guys.

- Let's not fight.

Of course, I don't.

- (Elvis) Oh, baby.

(both moaning)

(car tires screeching)

- It is Presley.

- Hey, Elvis.

- Hey, guys. - Hey, Dixie.

- Hey, Red. Hey, George.

- That's a slick set of wheels you got, my boy.

- You like? - Pepto-Bismobile?

Boy, I hear you've been tearing it up all over the place.

You're famous now.

- Oh, well, I don't know about that.

What are you boys up to?

- Just riding around. Hanging out.

- Come hang out here.

(upbeat rock and roll music)

Hey, Red, you should come on the road with us.

My cousin Gene's going.

I need someone to watch my back.

There's always some gorilla mad at me

cos his girl likes my singing.

- That's why they get mad? (chuckles)

Sorry, Dixie, I was just joking.

- You know what?

That sounds like fun, man. I think I'd like that.

Well, all right.

You'll meet Hank Snow, the Louvin Brothers,

the Carter Sisters.

And George, you come too.

- Can't. I got a good job at WMC.

- All right. Well, if that ever changes.

- I don't know. What would I do?

- Oh, man, what couldn't you do?

(Red laughing)

- Elvis.

- Oh, I'm sorry, baby. Give me a kiss.

Now, everybody get off my new car.

- (Announcer) Boys and girls,

let's give a big Odessa welcome to Elvis Presley.

(audience cheering)

- RCA, meet William Morris.

Boys, meet our future.

# Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby #

# Baby, baby, baby, b-b-b-b-b #

# Baby, baby, baby #

# Come back baby #

# I wanna play house with you #

# Well you may go to college #

# You may go to school #

# You may have a pink Cadillac #

# But don't you be nobody's fool #

# Now, baby, come back, baby, come #

# Come back, baby, come #

# Come back, baby, I wanna play house with you #

# Now listen when I tell you baby #

# What I'm talkin' about #

# Come on back to me little girl #

# So we can play some house #

# Come back, baby, come #

# Come back, baby, I want to play house with you #

# I wanna play house, yeah #

(upbeat rock and roll music) (audience screaming)

# Now this is one thing, baby #

# That I want you to know #

# Come on back and let's play a little house #

# And we can act like we did before #

# Come back, baby, come #

# Come back, baby, I want to play house with you #

# Hit it #

(upbeat rock and roll music continues)

(audience screaming)

# Yeah #

# Well listen to me baby #

# Try to understand #

# I'd rather see you dead little girl #

# Than to be with another man #

# Come back, baby, come #

# Come back, baby, I want to play house with you #

# Baby, baby, baby #

# B-b-b-b-b-b, baby, baby, baby #

Baby, baby, baby

# Come back, baby, I want to play house with you #

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

(audience screaming)

(women chattering)

(women screaming)

- Wait. Whoa, whoa. - No, it's all right.

It's all right. Hi, darling.

Got a pen?

- Oh! Thank you.

- All right.

- Can I have an autograph too? I don't have any paper.

Can you sign here?

- Sure.

(women yelling)

Excuse me.

- (Red) Give him some room. Come on, give him some room.

- You got something you want me to sign, honey?

- I need more than an autograph.

- Well, come here, baby.

(gentle music)

- Was that as good as hers?

- (laughs) Come on, baby, I was just having fun,

giving the girl a thrill.

- Uh-huh. I haven't been getting much of that lately.

Just calls from you telling me

I'd better not be messing around.

Don't, baby.

- I need to spend some time with you.

- I just can't right now, Dixie.

We got to drive south.

These cats on the "Hayride" have us booked back to back.

- Cats?

I've lost you.

- You haven't lost me.

It's just I could be back driving a truck next year.

I have to grab what I can.

For us.

- Not for us, Elvis.

You got what you always wanted.

Good luck with it.

- Dixie.

I love you.

It's not gonna be like this forever.

- Then call me when it's over.

It's just too hard this way.

- (Elvis) Dixie.

- I'm sorry, man.

- (laughs) Everything ends.

- Well, I guess that's true.

- You know I have a twin brother?

- No.

- Jesse Garon.

He died when I was born.

I still talk to him sometimes.

And that's why I think I've got such good rhythm.

You know, I had a backbeat there in the womb.

Two hearts beating.

- Yeah.

- Me and Jesse.

And that's why Mama frets so.

She's just afraid she's gonna lose me too.

- That's not gonna happen.

I promised your mom we'd take care of you.

- And you have, man.

And I appreciate that.

- I know you do.

Let's get out of here. Come on.

- Let's go. - All right.

- My baby's exhausted. He's been in riots.

He even lost his girlfriend.

That your idea of good management?

- Well, as to the girlfriend, (laughs)

I think he'd prefer I didn't undertake to manage that.

As to the other, I understand your concern, Mrs. Presley.

If I had the boy's contract I could work it

so that we wouldn't have to book him into these small places

where they can get at him.

He wouldn't be driving so much.

This boy, he's like a son to me too.

And I guarantee you, I promise you, that as long as I live,

I never want to see anything like a riot happen again.

All right.

- I set the price at nearly twice

what anyone's paid for a singer before,

figuring he'd just go away. (chuckles)

I guess they think you're worth it.

And you are, son.

(relaxed blues music)

You know, I opened this studio

to give coloureds a place to record,

cos I truly believe their music comes from the very soul.

And I believe if enough people listen to 'em

it can't help but to connect us all.

And (laughs) I always knew if I found a white man

who could sing it I'd make a million dollars.

Somebody else will be getting that, not me.

No, first they're gonna try and clean you up, son.

Then they're gonna try and slick you up.

You stay true to yourself. You know what you're doing now.

You stay true to yourself, you'll be OK.

- All right. (slapping back)

(door creaks) (paper thuds)

- We're going to do great things, you and I. (chuckles)

Guess what's next.

We're booked on TV.

- TV?

- "The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show."

I've got big plans for you, son.

And they all hinge on the whole country seeing you,

body and flesh, on the TV.

Then after that,

we're going to get you a Hollywood screen test.

- Really?

- You'll learn that when the Colonel says

he's going to do something it will come into being.

- Oh, Colonel, I don't know how to thank you.

- There's only one way. Loyalty.

I'm investing a lot of time and effort in you, Elvis.

I hope you don't leave me in the lurch

when you get rich and famous, like old Eddy Arnold did.

- Colonel, us Presleys are as loyal as a milk-fed dog.

You do what you say you're gonna do, I'll never leave you.

- Never?

- You have my word.

(sparse rock music)

- Good enough.

(traffic rumbles) (horns honking)

- Elvis. Welcome to RCA.

Colonel.

So, Elvis, I would like you to meet Barry Shultz,

head of RCA Records.

And this is Anne Fulchino, head of publicity.

- Ma'am. Sir.

(electric buzzing) - Ow!

(all laughing)

- Very funny.

That may be big in Memphis, boys, but it'll never work in New York.

(Elvis sniggers)

- It's never gonna work in New York.

- Red.

- So, Elvis, this is Chet Atkins, who'll be producing.

- I'm a great admirer of yours, Mr. Atkins. It's an honour.

- Well, thank you, son.

Thank you. - All right.

There's Scotty. All right, D.J.

Billy.

- So (chuckles) the clock's ticking.

- Oh, yeah, right. - Yeah.

- Hell, these guys can't take a joke.

(electric buzzing) (men chuckling)

- So, Elvis, I sent you some demos to check out.

Which would you like to record?

- Actually, I wanna do something else,

by Mae Axton and Tommy Durden.

It's called "Heartbreak Hotel".

- Gee, Elvis, that's an awfully moody song.

We were thinking something more along the lines

of what you've done in the past.

- Oh, yeah, but this here is a great song, Mr. Sholes.

Great song.

- Mr. Atkins, is there anything special you want us to do?

I mean, Sometimes Sam would really want us-

- You just keep doing what you've been doing.

- Well, this ain't no Sun Records,

so this must be the big time.

- What was it they told you?

Whoever buys Presley is gonna get stuck.

- Imagine us on "The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show".

- Imagine us being on TV at the same time as Perry Como.

- Perry Como's a square, man.

What you talking about? I like Perry Como, son of a bitch.

- You're on, Mr. Presley.

- OK, baby.

This is it, men. This is TV.

- All right. - All right.

# Well, since my baby left me #

# Well, I found a new place to dwell #

# It's down at the end of lonely street #

# At Heartbreak Hotel #

# I've been so lonely, baby #

# Well, I'm so lonely #

# Ah, baby, so lonely I could die #

# Now, the bellhop's tears keep flowin' #

# And the desk clerk's dressed in black #

# Well, they been so long on lonely street #

# They never ever look back #

# Well, they're so lonely, baby #

# Well, they're so lonely #

# Well, they're so lonely they could die #

(sultry rock and roll music)

# Oh, if your baby leaves you #

# And you've got a tale to tell #

# Well, just take a walk down lonely street #

# To Heartbreak Hotel #

# Where you will be #

# Feelin' so lonely, baby #

# Well, they're so lonely #

# They'll be so lonely they could die #

(coins clattering) - Long live the queen.

- You gotta be kidding me. - That's right.

(door knocking)

- I swear you cheat, man.

Hey, Colonel. - Where's Elvis?

- He's entertaining some fans.

Elvis!

(door knocking)

Get up and take a pee. The world's on fire.

You know, I really appreciate you boys

keeping Elvis out of trouble.

- He don't like to be alone, if you know what I mean.

(men chuckling)

- Look, what you have here is what you call a gravy train.

Now I think you wanna do everything you can

to keep it on the tracks.

- Boys, give me and the Colonel some privacy.

- (Colonel) You look like hell.

- Well, I'm exhausted, Colonel.

I've been touring everywhere from Tampa to Tulsa.

Everyone's just plain tired.

And you oversell the shows, then we get double-booked.

And why are we playing these small theatres anyhow?

It always seems to be full, and we're turning folks away.

And half the time there's a bigger venue down the road.

- That's what we're after, that line around the block.

That's what they'll write about.

- You promised Mama less traveling and bigger venues.

- Elvis, I'll take care of the business,

you take care of the songs.

You think I don't know what I'm doing, huh?

- No, sir.

- Did I not say that you'd make a million dollars?

- (Elvis) Mm-hm.

- Well, you're on your way.

"Heartbreak Hotel" just sold a million copies.

You got your first gold record.

- I gotta call Mama. - No. Now, now, hold on.

Did I not tell you that TV was the place to start?

- Yes, sir.

- And because he was knocked out by your performance,

which he saw on "Stage Show",

a movie producer, Mr. Hal Wallis, produced "Casablanca",

wants to fly you out to Hollywood for a screen test.

- Woo! (Colonel laughing)

And while we're out there we're doing Milton Berle.

- All right. (Colonel laughing)

- What happened?

- I'll be back in a minute, baby.

- No, no, no, no.

(women chuckling) (door clunking)

- Son, we got an investment here, and we gotta protect it.

Now, I'm not one to interfere with your personal life,

but what you do on the other side of that door

can mean big-time trouble.

No.

More than one showboat's been sunk

by a pretty face with a ready cooch.

- Come on, Colonel. I was just having some fun.

- Oh, that kind of fun can lead to jail time

and end a career.

Your daddy spent some time in jail, didn't he?

- Yes, sir. But that was for a bad cheque.

- Did he say it was a good thing?

- No, sir.

- Boy, you ever do anything to make me ashamed of you,

and we're through.

Stars come and go, but a manager can work forever.

(gentle acoustic blues music)

(door clunking)

- (Director) Cut. Print.

That's a wrap. Great job, Elvis.

- Is he sure, Mr. Wallis? I can do it again.

- No, that was fine, kid.

Trust me, that was a good screen test.

It was great, in fact.

Are you sure you haven't had any training?

- I've trained for this my whole life.

In the seventh row of the Memphian.

I've seen every film there is.

I've seen "Rebel Without a Pebble" seven times.

"Rebel Without a Cause". It's a joke, sir.

- (laughs) Well, whatever you're doin', it works.

You're a natural, kid.

- Mama, it's with Katharine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster.

I'd be perfect for the part of the brother, Mama.

I know I'd be perfect for it.

And guess what, Mama, I wouldn't have to sing.

Oh, man, I am so excited.

Tell Daddy and Grandma Minnie, will you?

Listen, I gotta go, the Colonel's here.

All right. I love you too, Mama.

I'll speak to you tomorrow.

OK, bye.

(phone clunks)

- We don't want it even if we got it.

- What?

Why not?

Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn, they're doing it.

- Exactly, and nobody's gonna pay any attention to you.

- We'll hold out for something better, son.

Something where you're the star of the show.

- The star?

Who's gonna make me the star of their show, Colonel?

- I let you down yet, Elvis?

- No, sir.

- Then let me play this Hollywood game for you.

- The director said I was a real natural.

- A natural? (chuckles) How hard can it be?

Shirley Temple did it when she was four years old.

I guarantee that more people will see

this one night of "The Milton Berle Show"

than will ever see that Burt Lancaster movie.

Now come on. Uncle Miltie's waiting.

# You ain't nothin' but a hound dog #

# Cryin' all the time #

# You ain't nothin' but a hound dog #

# Cryin' all the time #

# Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit #

# And you ain't no friend of mine #

# When they said you was high classed #

# Well, that was just a lie #

# Yeah, they said you was high classed #

# Well, that was just a lie #

# Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit #

# And you ain't no friend of mine #

# You ain't nothin' but a hound dog #

# Cryin' all the time #

# You ain't nothin' but a hound dog #

# Cryin' all the time #

# Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit #

# You ain't no friend of mine #

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- "Popular music has reached its lowest depths

"in the grunt and groin antics of Elvis Presley,

"who put on a suggestive and vulgar exhibition

"that was tinged with the kind of animalism

"that should be confined to dives and bordellos.

"What amazes me is that Berle and NBC

"should have permitted this affront."

Daily News.

- Did that guy ever even see the show?

Oh, man, Debra Paget was on that show

with that little feathered thing on her ass.

Bumping and grinding all over the damn place.

I'm like a little boy blue out there.

- Hey, look at this. Here's one.

"The sight of Presley caterwauling

"his unintelligible lyrics-"

- Gene. Cool it.

(door knocking)

(Colonel laughing)

- Ah! (chuckles)

- Oh, they're gonna run me out of the business,

aren't they Colonel?

- Are you kidding? With free publicity like this? (laughs)

Just keep doing what you're doing and watch your sales grow.

This is gonna be like cowpies on clover.

I told you TV would make us.

- I don't know, Colonel.

It scares me. I'm the one in the crosshairs here.

They could shut us down.

- Nobody shuts down a money machine like this.

Not in America, they don't.

Everybody's gonna want a piece of you.

- Ed Sullivan says he wouldn't touch me with a 10-foot pole.

- (Judge) The good folk of Jacksonville

have serious concerns about your performance tonight.

- Your honour,

I really can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I'm a good Christian. I don't drink, I don't smoke.

I don't take the Lord's name in vain.

The music just kind of moves me.

I know my mama approves of what I'm doing.

- Well, son, I can't speak for your mother,

but I can speak for the mothers of Jacksonville.

Now, they don't want any of your lewd movements

when you perform here,

or there will be warrants for your arrest, young man.

Do not wiggle.

# Don't be cruel #

# To a heart that's true #

(audience cheering) (upbeat rock and roll music)

# I don't want no other love #

# Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of #

- And this week is record-breaking week here on KWK.

After this week there will be no more rock and roll

played on the air.

(record smashing)

- (Reporter) Senator, What do you think of the obscenity

of Presley rock and roll?

- The obscenity and vulgarity of the rock and roll music

is obviously a means by which the white man and his children

can be driven to the level of the Negroes.

It's obviously Negro music.

# Let's walk up to the preacher #

- I believe with all my heart

that it is a contributing factor

to today's juvenile delinquency of today.

I know how it feels when you sing it.

I know what it does to you.

And I know that evil feeling you feel when you sing it.

And I know that lost position that you get into.

And the beat, the beat, the beat.

# Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of #

(audience screaming)

# Don't be cruel #

# To a heart that's true #

# Don't be cruel #

# To a heart that's true #

# I don't want no other love #

# Baby, it's just you I'm thinking of #

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- I'll see you girls backstage.

Let's try again.

- We've already done 25 takes, Elvis.

It's four in the morning.

- I don't care how many times we done it.

We're gonna keep doing it

until I get it the way I hear it in my head.

- Colonel.

Why don't I bring in some session boys?

We have people that can play anything, any style.

The best in the world. Classically trained.

- Yeah, bring in some pros.

This is costing RCA a lot of money.

- Hey, my guys may not be classically trained,

but they play with feeling.

I don't care if it's note-perfect.

I don't care if it's flat. I don't care the timing's off.

It's just gotta feel right, and it doesn't with take 25,

so we're gonna keep on doin' it until it does feel right.

We straight with that, Mr. Sholes?

- You're the boss, Elvis. - Yes, sir.

If I'm the boss, get the world off my back.

(upbeat rock music) (car engines whirring)

Hey, sir.

Sir, could you check my gas tank?

I think I might have a leak or something.

I've been smelling fumes through the AC.

- I think it's him. - Let's go, let's go.

- You're Elvis Presley.

- I guess I am.

- Can I have your autograph? - Sure.

- My sister went to Humes with you, she was a year behind.

- (Elvis) Was she as pretty as you? How are you?

- Good.

- (Elvis) What a pretty bunch of girls.

- Move this thing out of my drive.

I've got other customers.

- I don't see any others, sir.

- Don't give me any lip. Just move the land yacht.

We don't like your kind around here.

- Oh, man, lay off of me.

(women gasping) (fist thudding)

- (Woman) Watch out, Elvis!

(women screaming)

- (Elvis) Get off me!

- He's got a knife! (women screaming)

- (Elvis) Whoa! Take it easy.

Take it easy. Easy.

You take it easy.

(people chattering) (cameras clicking)

(gavel thudding)

- Son, I find you at no fault.

You have to understand, wherever you go now,

you are bound to attract a large following.

You need to avoid crowds where

businesses would be interrupted.

- I understand, sir. But it's not so easy for me.

It's getting so I can't even leave my own house.

You boys heard from Red?

- No. He's gettin' shot at, probably.

- I ain't heard nothin'.

- Sure he's all right. Red's a tough character.

- Real tough. - Probably shot his own

foot off.

(group laughing)

- (Gene) I doubt that now.

- Oh, Mama. You're goin' straight to hell.

- Now, Elvis, Gene and I are gonna have a beer.

There's no harm in havin' one or two.

Besides, I need somethin' to steady my nerves.

- Oh, Mama, it was nothin'. Even the judge said I was innocent.

- Innocent people get hurt all the time, Elvis.

It's a miracle you didn't.

What if some nut comes after you with a gun?

- Oh, Gene'd take the bullet, won't you, cous?

- (Gene) Heck, no.

- (Elvis) Go on. Go on.

- I just couldn't go on livin' if somethin' happened to you.

- Oh, now, Mama. Everything's gonna be fine.

- Why you keep goin' out there, son?

Enough is enough. Why is it so important to you?

- (sighs) Fellas?

- Baby.

Why don't you just quit it all right now?

We got a wonderful house, we got cars.

You can make yourself a good livin',

get yourself a furniture store.

(Elvis laughs)

You could marry a nice girl, have a baby nearby,

and I can come and visit.

I could help you raise it.

You would make me the happiest woman in the world.

Please, honey.

- Look at me, Satnin. Look at me.

When I'm on stage, I'm a different person.

I am. It's hard to explain it.

It's like I've got goosebumps all over my body,

only it's not goosebumps.

There's not a chill either.

It's like a surge of electricity, only stronger than that.

Sometimes it's so strong I feel my heart's gonna explode.

No, Mama.

No. It's a good thing.

It's a real good thing.

And I don't know what I'd do if I had to stop.

And I'm gonna be a movie star, Mama.

I'm gonna be a real serious movie star.

I can't stop now, Satnin. I can't.

- But you can't go out no more, neither. Mm-mm.

Not like normal folk.

- So? I got Gene, Red, Junior.

I got plenty of guys to hang with.

- Red done joined the Marines, Elvis.

- OK. You remember that guy Lamar Fike?

That big fat funny man?

(both chuckling)

And George Klein, from Humes High? You love him.

- I do. - He's gonna join me.

And his friend Hog Ears.

- (Fans) Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis!

- We wouldn't be here without 'em, Mama.

Come on, let's go sign some autographs

and give 'em a thrill.

- (Fans) Elvis, Elvis, Elvis!

- Come on. Bring some cookies.

- (Fans) Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis, Elvis!

- Maybe while I'm doin' the movie,

you can find us a place a little bit more private.

Come on, baby.

(fans screaming)

Right, come on, back now. Back now.

Cos my mama's here. Back now.

- Please! - All right,

all right, all right.

OK, OK.

- Come on, Lamar. (clapping)

Come on, come on. (Elvis yelling)

- Come on, boy! - Come on!

- (Elvis) Giddy up now boy. Get up!

- Oh! Watch it!

- I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

- Oh. (giggles)

So you're Elvis Presley?

- Guilty as charged, ma'am.

I'm sorry for bumpin' into ya'll.

- You look a lot like you do on TV.

- Well, thank you. Well, I think.

Listen, my friends and I, we're real sorry

for bumpin' into you and roughin' you up and all.

We'd like to make it up to you ladies.

Would ya'll like to join us later?

- (laughing) "Ya'll"?

Where ya'll goin'?

- Oh, you know, just go. (clicking fingers)

The idea is to have a ball.

If you wanna be cool, you gotta way.

Gotta put somethin' down.

You gotta make somethin' jive.

You know what I'm talking about.

- (laughing) I know a five-and-dime Brando when I see one.

Didn't I read that you're on your way

to making a million dollars this year?

- Yes, ma'am.

- All that money.

You ought to spend it on some acting lessons.

And paying someone to wash the back of your neck.

- (Gene) So did you get their numbers?

- Yeah.

- Those girls were beautiful, cous.

I liked the one in the purple dress.

And I think she liked me. What do you think?

- Yeah. I think she really liked you too, Gene.

- Think so? - But she's got a guy.

Actually, they both do.

- Oh, damn.

- Now, come on.

- Wow. Here it is.

- Elvis, the movie star. Who'd a thunk it?

- Elvis, Hal Wallis. Nice to see you again.

- Good to see you, sir. - See you brought

friends along?

- Yeah, we're his posse.

- (chuckles) Well, OK, boys.

Ready for your first movie, Elvis?

- I've been ready my whole life.

- Yeah, he's memorized the whole script.

His part and everybody else's, right?

- That true?

Well, you know, we're only counting on you

for your own lines, and lyrics, of course.

- Tell that New York Irishman it's 50,000 cash,

take it or leave it.

Yes, cash.

I don't wanna end up with warm spit in my ear. (chuckles)

It seems Mr. Ed Sullivan has lost his 10-foot pole.

You're on the show.

What's the matter, Elvis?

Why aren't you out there emoting?

- They told me I've gotta sing in this movie.

"Love Me Tender".

Hell, they're even changin' the title to that.

What did you know about this?

- We signed a contract, son.

We do what they tell us to do.

- But the acting's important to me, Colonel.

I wanna be taken seriously,

and nobody takes a musical actor seriously.

- They put the world's biggest singing star in a movie,

and he don't sing?

What kind of sense does that make?

- It's a damn Western.

They're gonna try to turn me into Gene Autry!

- (laughs) Elvis, let me work this movie thing, huh?

So you sing. Sell some records, make some money.

That's what you want, right? The money?

Movies, Ed Sullivan, and now look at this, huh?

72 different items.

The same fella does 'em for Roy Rogers,

"Lone Ranger", "Ding Dong School", he's doing 'em for us!

You'll be a millionaire by Christmas. Living like a king!

- (Vernon) It was named after the seller's Great Aunt Grace.

You can call it anything you want.

- Graceland. I like it, Mama.

- We'll put chicken coops and hog pens in the back.

Mama'll put in her garden.

We'll do her bedroom up in pink wallpaper.

They said they could have it all ready by September.

- Don't it look just like Tara

in "Gone With the Wind", baby?

- Mama, you remember I told you I'd buy you a house?

Well, now you got a palace.

(gentle upbeat music)

Come on.

Oh, man, it's so beautiful, Mama. Isn't it?

Mama?

Mama?

Mama?

Mama?

(chickens clucking)

(Gladys tutting)

(Gladys tutting)

- Give it here, Elvis.

I'm just using it to wash down them diet pills

the doctor gave me.

They make me feel all jittery.

- Mama, what's wrong?

I don't know.

(gentle emotive music)

I miss my neighbours.

Folks just stoppin' by to borrow sugar, gossipin'.

- Those bastards at Audubon?

Mama, they wanted to run you off for hangin' out laundry.

- No, baby, the folks at Lauderdale Court. (clicking tongue)

- The projects?

Oh, Satnin, we can't go back there. It'd be a circus.

- But it was nice before.

- Before what, Mama?

Before we had money? Squabblin' over a pork chop?

- But I always knew you'd be home for dinner.

And Dixie was there, and we'd all go to church together.

And I didn't have to worry whether or not you were safe.

Or if I looked good enough for all them reporters.

- Oh, Mama. You look just fine.

I just want you to be proud of me, Elvis.

- Proud of you?

Satnin, you are so beautiful.

Now, come on now, look at all this.

Isn't this what we always dreamed of?

Oh, Mama, this should be the happiest time of our lives.

- Sometimes I think our kind weren't meant for happiness.

Life's pleasures were meant for other folk.

Our kind was born for misery and pain.

That's God's plan.

- Then I wanna make you happy.

Now, what'll it take, Mama?

- I'm happy when you're happy, son.

Are you really happy, Elvis?

- Mama, I'm on top of the world.

- (Frank) Rock and roll smells phony.

It's sung, played, and written, for the most part,

by cretinist goons.

And by means of its almost imbecilic reiteration,

with sly, lewd, dirty lyrics,

it's the martial music of every sideburned delinquent

on the face of the earth.

It is the most brutal, ugly, desperate, vicious form.

Of expression- - Turn that crap off.

- It has been my Misfortune - Sinatra, man,

can you believe it? - To hear.

- Damn.

Damn. Damn!

- What?

- Well, why didn't they come to me?

And where's their friggin' loyalty?

If they'd have come to me I'd have worked it out for 'em.

- Scotty and Bill quit.

- That's a tough one, Elvis.

- Give 'em a call. Maybe you can still work it out.

- Never.

Oh, they're probably workin' for Ricky Nelson by now.

Money. It's always money.

Why would they do this to me, Mama?

I been with 'em since the beginning.

I can't do it without 'em.

- (Gladys) Sure you can, baby.

You talk to the Colonel.

He's supposed to be handlin' these things.

- I don't talk business with him.

- (Gladys) You're Elvis Presley, honey.

Without you, none of these people are nothin'.

You go ahead, and you talk to him

about any damn thing you want.

Yes, Mama.

- It's not that bad, Elvis.

- How bad is not that bad, Gene?

It was terrible. Come on.

OK, the guy's a great guitar player, I'll give him that,

but he just didn't nail it like Scotty does.

It just didn't feel right. Nothin' does.

(gentle blues music)

(light switch clicks)

Sam.

Where's Marion?

- Oh, she left me, Elvis.

We had a fight a while back,

and she took off and joined the Air Force.

- (Elvis) I'm sorry, man. It's gotta hurt.

- Well, we're both gettin' used to that kind of thing, huh?

- (laughs) Yeah.

(Elvis sighs)

So, Sam, is this how it ends?

- No, son. (chuckles)

No. You just talk to 'em.

They'll do anything for you, you just ask.

- (scoffs) Seems the higher I climb, the lonelier it gets.

You remember the last time I was in here?

You said you were in it for the music, not the money.

- There's a spirituality deep inside the music.

And inside you.

Are you bein' true to yourself, son?

You're doin' what you love.

You gotta be strong, Elvis. Vigilant.

You can't compromise what your heart knows. No, sir.

- (Elvis) I wish you'd come to me.

- We knew business is with the Colonel. We talked to him.

He told us to stick it where the sun don't shine.

$200 a week on the road

and 100 bucks a week at home isn't enough to get by on.

Not when we're responsible for our own expenses.

- No outside work. No cuttin' our own instrumental records.

We can't tour on our own. He had us locked in, Elvis.

And I'm in debt up the wazoo.

- I don't know about that stuff.

- Well maybe it's somethin' you could look into.

You gotta start being the boss of you, Elvis

- Oh, I don't know.

The Colonel's taken me this far and I owe him everything.

- No, sir. You took you this far.

- All I know is, I want you guys back.

- (Colonel) You're kinda crossin' the line, aren't you, son?

- Has a lot to do with the music, sir.

- Look, those guys are second-rate musicians

who hold up the recording sessions.

I've seen the bills.

That goes against our take.

Well, to hell with them.

Now, there's a million guitar players, Elvis.

RCA doesn't want 'em, and I don't want 'em.

- They've been with me from the beginning. I owe them.

Come on, Gene. Is that all you got, baby?

- Yeah. - Come on. Boom.

I'm gonna beat you like your daddy did, baby.

Oh, don't mess his hair now. Hey, Lamar, hold on to him.

Hey, Colonel.

- I had Nudie Cohen make this up for you.

It's like the Liberace outfit.

- Oh, that's some suit, Colonel.

- 100% gold lame, boy.

Cost $2,500.

Treat her gently, my friend.

No gymnastics tonight.

(upbeat rock music)

You happy?

- Yeah. I'm happy.

- Good. Knock 'em dead.

# Well it's one for the money #

# Two for the show #

# Three to get ready, now go, cat, go #

# But don't you step on my blue suede shoes #

# Well you can do anything but stay off my blue suede shoes #

# Well you can knock me down #

# Step on my face #

# Slander my name all over the place #

# Well do anything that you wanna do #

# But, uh-uh, honey lay off of them shoes #

# And don't you step on my blue suede shoes #

# Well you can do anything but stay off my blue suede shoes #

# Let's go, cats #

(upbeat rock and roll music) (audience screaming)

# Oh, walk the dog #

# Well you can burn my house #

# Steal my car #

# Drink my liquor from an old fruit jar #

# Well do anything that you wanna do #

# But uh-uh, honey, lay off of my shoes #

# And don't you step on my blue suede shoes #

# Well you can do anything but stay off my blue suede shoes #

# Well it's blue, blue, blue suede shoes #

# Blue, blue, blue suede shoes #

# Yeah, blue, blue, blue suede shoes, baby #

# Blue, blue, blue suede shoes #

# Well you can do anything but stay off my blue suede shoes #

(audience cheering) (audience applauding)

- Oh, man, we killed, Scotty, we killed!

- Yes, sir. - Woo!

- I thought the Colonel was gonna haemorrhage

when you went to your knees. (laughs)

You must've left $50 bucks of gold on that stage.

- Boys, I'm so glad to have you back.

I missed you guys. - All right.

(glasses clinking) - I guess we're all stubborn people, Elvis.

You can be stubborn longer, you got more money.

(all laughing)

- Yeah, well, we do now. 50 bucks a week.

We're struttin' in high cotton, just like you now, Elvis

- That there's all just water under the bridge.

We're together again, right?

- All right. - Four Musketeers.

- Yes, sir. (glasses clinking)

- Hey, Colonel, do you wanna drink?

Hey, Lamar, fix the Colonel a drink.

Relax, Colonel.

Scotty and me, we picked up all them gold flakes.

Hey, that could be our bonus!

(men chuckling)

- Girls. (clicking fingers)

What?

- Memphis Draft Board has classified you 1-A.

They're lookin' to draft you.

(tense music)

- What does Uncle Sam want with Elvis?

Why do they wanna kill the goose that lays the golden egg?

Hell, he pays a fortune in taxes every year.

- Why they draftin' people anyways?

Ain't no war goin' on.

Oh, Lord, what if there is a war?

- We gotta get us a good lawyer or something.

Elvis, you met the governor. He could pull some strings.

Now's time for you to earn your money, Colonel.

- Hold on a minute. Now, this may not be such a bad thing.

- What? Are you crack, Colonel?

- It's gotten ugly out there.

We're up to our hip boots in bad press.

We even got the Catholic Church pickin' on Elvis now.

- I thought you said it was good for business.

- Yes, but that was when we thought this whole thing

was just going to be a flash in the pan.

Now we're learning that this music and you have some legs.

Maybe we can use this cooling-off period to our advantage.

Clean up the image.

Broaden the appeal. Broader appeal means bigger audiences.

And that means more money for everybody.

- I'd be gone two years. I wouldn't be cool.

I'd be cold dead.

- Not necessarily.

No, see, I've been thinkin'.

Now, we could record a bunch of stuff.

Parcel it out, bit by bit.

That'd keep the record sales going.

Do another movie, hmm?

That could tide us over for a year.

- Mama? What do you think?

- It could get you away from all them crazies.

Maybe all that would die down.

(upbeat blues rock music)

- (New Reporter) America's most famous citizen

trades his blue suede shoes for marching boots

as Elvis the pelvis becomes Private Presley.

(crowd screams)

- I, Elvis Presley, do solemnly swear

that I will support and defend

the Constitution of the United States.

(fans screaming)

(hair clippers buzzing)

Hair today, gone tomorrow.

(all laughing) (cameras clacking)

- (Photographer) Smile, Elvis!

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