American director Norman Taurog was born in 1899, literally during the first gasps of cinema. What an improbable journey. He was born into a world before cinema had even cohered into an artform … and he ended his career helming 9 “Elvis Movies”, all of which were hits. Taurog’s final film was Live a Little, Love a Little, a completely forgotten “Elvis film” and a wonderful film – I keep pounding the drum for its rediscovery. I wrote about Live a Little first for Jeremy Richey’s wonderful blog Moon in the Gutter (which I reprinted here), and then for in my piece for Film Comment about Elvis as an actor. I also discussed it – among other things – during my talk on Elvis’ movie career in Memphis.
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I love Live a Little. Elvis had quite a bit comedic talent. He’s funniest when he’s at his most disgruntled.
I completely agree with Taurog’s observation, both about acting in general and Elvis as an actor in particular. I’ve always thought that Joel McCrea was perhaps the greatest “listener” in movie history, among many others who excelled at this underrated skill. I think it’s an especially appealing ability in leading men because it conveys the sense that they don’t consider themselves on some lofty level above their leading ladies; on the contrary, they believe their partners are truly equals, as expressed by the simple fact that these leading men want to hear what they have to say.
Joel McCrea!! Totally agree! and agree with your assessment on why this is such an appealing quality in leading men.
Hi Sheila, a huge admirer of your writing on Elvis. You have a way of capturing his essence that very few do.
Have you had a chance to see EPiC yet? Looking forward to your impressions.
Cheers
Hi! Yes, I saw it in a press screening at the beginning of February – my review should go up today or tomorrow. Have you seen it yet?
Of course the press screening was at Warner Brothers in NYC – in other words NOT IMAX so I need to go see it in IMAx – although I’m not sure where there might be in my neck of the woods. I will travel for Elvis on IMAX. I want to take my nephews, make a family outing of it.
And thanks so much for your very nice words on my work on Elvis – it’s really important to me and means a lot that an Elvis fan would like what I do!
I have watched it three times already!!
Luhrmann gave us a distilled essence of what this artist was. How it was impossible to tell where he begins and where music ends. His organic connection with his musicians and audience.
And yes, I think watching it on Imax is absolutely worth it. The experience is like one of those tactile, sensuous things you can touch and feel. The sound, the retina popping visuals, that big screen doing justice to his otherworldly beauty.
Very keenly looking forward to your review.
Review is up!!
Loved it, especially :
“Luhrmann took some heat for “going soft” on Elvis in 2022, and there will be those who will want more “interrogation” of the subject here. It’s worth remembering that from the moment Elvis arrived on the national scene in 1954, he wasn’t “discussed,” he was litigated. The immediate response to him was the opposite of “going soft.” He was blamed for everything. Reporters forced him to justify himself. People called for his arrest and banishment. There are decades of litigation out there if you want to find it. EPiC is a concert film, designed to entertain, first and foremost, but to remind people why Elvis was … Elvis.”
Thanks! I feel like – if you want to litigate him there’s SO MUCH out there to give you what you want. Why are you looking for it in a concert film?? Silly!!