Elvis Presley and Barbara Stanwyck.
This post is a double-whammy since it’s Barbara Stanwyck’s birthday today. If you haven’t read Dan Callahan’s biography, then you really must (and I’m not just saying that because he quotes me in it): Barbara Stanwyck: The Miracle Woman
what a glorious combo — holding hands!!
I know!! and her cigarette!
Okay so here’s a funny story: It may be apocryphal but it sounds right, considering what I know about these two:
Stanwyck did not suffer fools and she was slightly dismissive of Elvis at first when they started filming. He knew who she was – admired her greatly – but she was not really a warm person. Nor should she be, if that wasn’t her thing. It’s not that she felt she was slumming – or who knows, maybe she did. Roustabout is not a high-class movie. (Entertaining, but dumb).
Early on in filming, she referenced “Aphrodite” in conversation and poor Elvis said “Who’s that?” (Maybe he thought it was one of the dancers under contract – hahaha) Stanwyck said, “You don’t know who that is???” Really scornful.
The next day, Elvis – in between takes – was seen reading a book of Greek mythology. (If you know anything about him, you know that this is so him. A totally curious self-learner.)
Stanwyck saw this and felt bad – maybe even her heart cracked a little bit, who knows – and the two of them ended up becoming good friends and having a really good time making this dumb movie. He would ride around on his motorcycle, with her perched behind him. HEAVEN.
One of the best pictures EVER! They had so much respect for each other, I just love it.
Right? I love it too. An unlikely pair – but beautiful together!