Radio 2 Elvis Season - Elvis: Movie King or Celluloid Sellout? - Episode 2

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. In part two, as the Elvis movie machine is in full swing, we look at to what extent his film career was being run by Colonel Parker and how the Elvis movie "formula" was born. In rare archive, Elvis discusses his film career, and talks about his resentment of being pigeonholed into contracts - making fast turn-around musical comedies. Were the films an embarrassing episode in the King's career, or are their forgotten musical gems and global success at the box office worthy of celebration today?