11.30pm

Episode 1
Listen:

Today, 23:30 on BBC Radio 2
Synopsis

Radio 2's Elvis season continues with Paul Morley exploring the film career and music of Elvis Presley and considering whether his multi-million dollar movie career damaged his artistic credibility.

Movie producer Hal Wallis declared that a Presley picture was "the only sure thing in show business". During his career The King made 33 films and, despite having no training, he was one of the highest paid actors of the 60s, with his film soundtracks alone grossing around $280 million.

Elvis wanted to be taken seriously as an actor but he was pigeonholed into making musical comedies and turned down the opportunity to act opposite Elizabeth Taylor in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and the Oscar-winning role played by George Chakiris in West Side Story. Despite his box office success, he gave up films in 1969.

Part one looks at the early Elvis films and explores his ambitions to be a serious actor. Through interviews with songwriters Lieber and Stoller and Elvis's close friend Jerry Schilling, we explore the early films Jailhouse Rock, King Creole and Viva Las Vegas.