Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[MaryInTheMorning]

Wanda I remember reading something that Kathy Westmoreland said that I was wondering if you could possibly shed some light on? Kathy talked about being at Elvis' house(not sure if it was Palm Springs or Graceland?) and Charlie setting up clips one time of Elvis's old tv appearances from Ed Sullivan, etc.......and that she was looking forward to watching it. Now the thing that I'm curious about is that apparently Elvis proceeded to go upstairs and said he wasn't going to watch it with them. When Kathy asked him why he said that he thought he looked stupid in them and that he would only watch himself in Kid Galahad. Now I know that Elvis was very critical of himself and didn't like watching himself, but do you have any idea why out of all of his movie roles he said he would only watch himself in Kid Galahad?? It just struck me as curious when I read this and was just wondering if you might know why?

[Wanda June Hill]

Yes, he didn't like watching himself in his movies, especially the ones he thought were "babysitters" etc; and he liked doing Kid Galahad as it had a real stoy line and was well done (directed) and he to work with some bigger names. He enjoyed learning to box and had a good time doing that film. He was extremely critical of himself and his acting...And he thought the Ed Sullivan shows were poor, amaturish and he looked awful, face broke out etc: but it didn't show much if it was. He was funny about things like his own work in films. He thought he did okay in Wild In The Country-again he worked with some good actors. He wouldn't watch Jail House Rock because the costar was killed shortly after and it bothered him alot. Then he wouldn't watch Loving You which is one of my favorites to watch because he is so cute in it and he did a good job acting for the most part too...but his mom is in the audience in one of the last scenes and he just couldn't bear to watch it again. He wouldn't watch Charro because they "ruined it" in the cutting room etc:, and he had high hopes for it at the beginning. He wouldn't watch the other films or even look at rushes because they were "silly wastes of time" and only fit for filling someone's pockets. And he felt so guilt for being paid such a huge sum of money for doing such "crap". He suffered guilt over it, didn't understand why he was getting away with it, why he was so popular and did such stupid teeny bopper movies etc:. He was having anxiety attacks and having to get up and run outside to catch his breath many a time when doing those films. He could think of a hundred reasons not to rush back to LA when he had to do a film and hated it though he tried to make the most of the time it took by meeting people, giving them jobs etc: and that was to him the only saving grace of the whole movie career-his films had a lot of people in them and they got paid.
His guys tried to keep him busy, having fun, etc: and it's too bad he didn't get to study film making himself but there was always someone wanting him to do something
else somewhere etc:. Of course, according the mm dudes he spent all his "spare time" making out in his dressing room etc:....funny, most of those costars say he read to them from his books, discussed life, religion and was very nice and they just loved listening to him and talking with him. Some of them say he was joking and funny and that he was very intelligent. A few even say he was a surprise in that he was not a casanova and that he was shy and polite, then when he got better acquainted he was funny and serious by turns. A few he dated say he was a gentleman and that they'd have dinner at his house because he couldn't go out to eat, watch movies, sit and talk or maybe take a ride on his morotcycle or in one of his cars. They loved him and he was very special, that was the general concensus. wjh

[Sarena]

Wanda, there are always some new details we learn from your answers and I'm really thankful for that!!!

And he felt so guilt for being paid such a huge sum of money for doing such "crap".

He was having anxiety attacks and having to get up and run outside to catch his breath many a time when doing those films.

[Rainbow Light]

Many thanks to Mari for asking such a very interesting question and Wanda for your helpful and information-packed reply! As Sarena mentions, we always have much new to learn and pick up about this very special, precious man of ours and that's something to be truly thankful for!

It's great that you're so open, honest and caring to bring us everything we could want to know; happy, sad and in between, really helps bring an ALL-ROUND vision and understanding of Elvis as a WHOLE!!

Thanks again, Wanda!

[MaryInTheMorning]

Many thanks to Mari for asking such a very interesting question and Wanda for your helpful and information-packed reply! As Sarena mentions, we always have much new to learn and pick up about this very special, precious man of ours and that's something to be truly thankful for!

It's great that you're so open, honest and caring to bring us everything we could want to know; happy, sad and in between, really helps bring an ALL-ROUND vision and understanding of Elvis as a WHOLE!!

Thanks again, Wanda!

You are very welcome sweet Sue and I echo your loving sentiments above as well. Wanda, thank you so very much for your very thoughtful and detailed answer to my question. I never knew either that our precious guy had anxiety attacks over the films he made. Breaks my heart knowing this, but isn't it just like him to have such a humble heart in thinking he didn't deserve the money he was paid to do the movies he did? Bless him. He worked so hard doing those movies and earned and deserved every cent!!

[Rainbow Light]

Breaks my heart knowing this, but isn't it just like him to have such a humble heart in thinking he didn't deserve the money he was paid to do the movies he did? Bless him. He worked so hard doing those movies and earned and deserved every cent!!

AMEN, dear friend!

[MaryInTheMorning]

[Rainbow Light]