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BBC Radio 2 celebrates the life of Elvis Presley

BBC Radio 2 celebrates the life of Elvis Presley in the fortnight which would have marked the star's 75th birthday, on 8 January 2010

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

Radio 2 Elvis Season: Elvis: Movie King or Celluloid Sellout?: Episode 1

Episode 1

Elvis: Movie King or Celluloid Sellout?

BBC Radio 6 Music - Radio 2 Elvis Season, Elvis: Movie King or Celluloid Sellout?, Episode 1

Paul Morley explores the stories and music from Elvis' early films.

Paul Morley explores the stories and music behind Elvis Presley's early films, including Jailhouse Rock, King Creole and Viva Las Vegas.

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.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals

Paul Morley explores the movie career and overlooked film music of Elvis Presley

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