mid June, 2006
- America is a backwater toilet in 'The King': Royal Flush
By Bill Gallo
(City Pages June 21 2006, Volume 27 - Issue 1333 - Film)
It's clear by now that British director James Marsh regards America as a vaguely amusing madhouse - a reliably primitive, thoroughly benighted backwater infested with dangerous grotesques. He is, after all, the fellow who gave us the supercilious TV documentary The Burger & the King: The Life & Cuisine of Elvis Presley and a morbid piece of business called Wisconsin Death Trip, which sought to show us how - if not why - the twisted citizens of a quiet Midwestern town went on a binge of suicide, arson, and murder back in the 1890s. For smug condescension, this wallow in obscure social history was hard to beat.
In his first fiction film, The King (co-written with Monster's Ball author Milo Addica), Marsh goes slumming in the bland suburbs of Corpus Christi, Texas. There, without even trying, he discovers a stern cowboy preacher named David Sandow (an almost unrecognizable William Hurt), who has a handlebar mustache sprouting from his face and a nasty streak of fascism deep inside him; and a drifty young punk named, well, Elvis (Mexican star Gael García Bernal, spouting accent-perfect American English), who pops into town after a three-year hitch in the Navy to announce that he's the good reverend's illegitimate son. Dear old Dad, if that's what he really is, wants nothing to do with this unexpected news (bad for business), and, once thwarted, Elvis undertakes his own reign of terror - seducing his clueless, 16-year-old half-sister Malerie (Pell James); stabbing his guitar-strumming, sweetly sanctimonious half-brother Paul (Paul Dano); and otherwise playing the snake set loose in the garden. The film seems to take as much amoral pleasure in its protagonist's gory misdeeds as Elvis does. Evidently, the self-righteous Sandows all have it coming.
By all accounts, Marsh has absorbed classic crazy-killer thrillers such as Psycho, The Night of the Hunter, and Badlands, but The King isn't likely to join such esteemed company. The movie's atmospheric surfaces are just right, even hypnotic‹the sun-scorched strip malls of a south Texas port town, stunned rapture on the faces of Reverend Sandow's congregation, the sickening slap of a severed deer's head dumped into a plastic bucket when the Sandow men return from a bow hunt. But Marsh and Addica make too easy a target of Texas-style Christian fundamentalism, and in their zeal to combine incest, religious hypocrisy, and bloody murder in a purse of melodrama, they forget all about motive. The assorted outbursts of the troubled Elvis, who we early on behold with a rose clenched in his teeth, may be triggered by the competing urges to torture and win over his putative father. But there's no workable way to fill out this blank slate. Is Elvis an inverted idealist? A dead soul? An outright lunatic? Is he actually capable of love? Forget about the attractions of dramatic ambiguity or the movie's insistent Cain and Abel echoes: Marsh simply doesn't give us enough to go on, emotionally or psychologically, to get a fix on Elvis. By the time the credits roll, we understand no more about him than we did in the beginning, except that he represents some sort of amorphous evil, full of con and bereft of conscience. So what? Marsh carelessly asserts. Shit happens.
Given that failing, the blustering evangelist is the more compelling character, if only marginally. The harsh patriarch of a rigid Christian household (son Paul dutifully campaigns for the addition of "Intelligent Design" to his school's curriculum), Reverend Sandow struts around in camouflage fatigues and a dirty straw cowboy hat in his off time, but beneath his chicken-fried machismo, Hurt convinces us that he's genuinely tormented by his sinful past and genuinely anguished about man's capacity for forgiveness. If, in the wake of young Paul's mysterious disappearance, the Rev effects an uneasy alliance with Elvis, we also grasp that he's trying to make peace with his own demons. Bernal, star of The Motorcycle Diaries and Amores Perros, enjoys no such advantage. The magnetic young actor gives it his all, but Elvis remains an unfinished picture, a kind of nihilist caricature. If Marsh sees this repugnant creature as the embodiment of irrational American violence‹and it's hard to avoid that inference‹the filmmaker at least has a responsibility to get some of the guy's ethical, moral, and mental details right. After all, even bastards deserve a square deal in the end. What do you think?
- Murder suicide 'a complete shock'
By Steve Connolly and Chris Herde
(Daily Telegraph June 21 2006)
A FORMER Sydney businessman who apparently shot dead his wife and her mother at their rural mansion before turning the gun on himself referred to his mother-in-law as the "wicked witch". Police believe Stephen Kirton, 42, shot his estranged wife Suzanna, 40, then his mother-in-law Ilona Pall, 59, before turning a .22 calibre sawn-off rifle on himself early yesterday at their property near Maleny, on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The couple's 17-year-old son Ben found the bodies. He and his 14-year-old sister Jessica have been left orphaned. Mr Kirton ran a vacuum cleaner import business in Sydney before moving to Maleny more than three years ago. He built a home on the Maleny-Kenilworth Road at Witta, on the town's northern outskirts. The four bedroom, three bathroom house included a home theatre and featured a huge guitar-shaped swimming pool, as the semi-retired Mr Kirton was a big music fan, particularly of Elvis Presley and AC/DC. Sunshine Coast builder Kent Blackwell, whose company constructed the Kirtons' home, said Mr Kirton "didn't like his mother-in-law". ... Local real estate agent David Avery said the Kirtons moved to the area for a "treechange" and built a dream home. "Steve was pretty proud of the pool because he was an Elvis Presley fan," he said. "He said it was his ambition to always have a pool shaped like a guitar." ...
- Japan bringing its troops home from Iraq: Japan, one of the staunchest allies of the U.S. in Iraq, is withdrawing its troops, who were serving in a noncombat status as required by Japan's constitution
By EMI DOI AND TIM JOHNSON
(Miami Herald / Knight Ridder News Service June 21 2006)
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Tuesday that Japan would pull its 600 troops out of Iraq after a two-year deployment that strengthened its alliance with the United States but distressed some citizens at home. The move will end Japan's first foray into an active war zone since World War II. Koizumi said Iraqi forces were assuming control of an area where multinational troops had been protecting a Japanese noncombat mission, opening the door to Japan's withdrawal. ''We played a big role in reconstructing the water supply, offering medical support, building schools and rebuilding roads,'' Koizumi said. He didn't say how soon the Japanese Self-Defense Force troops would leave Iraq, but Defense Chief Fukushiro Nukaga indicated that it could be a matter of weeks. The announcement came as Koizumi, who will leave office in September, prepares for a farewell tour to the United States on June 29-30. President Bush will give him a parting gift of a trip to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. Koizumi is a big Elvis fan. ...
- MEYERS: 'ELVIS WAS GAY'
(contactmusic.com June 20 2006)
JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS is convinced ELVIS PRESLEY was homosexual - as he is suspicious of his glitzy wardrobe and maternal attachment. The Irish actor, who played the title role in 2005 TV film ELVIS, has branded the HEARTBREAK HOTEL rocker "the gayest f**king thing on two legs" after time spent researching the star yielded truly camp results. He says, "Anyone who lives with their mama that long and dresses up in that much spangly gold with black lacquer on their eyes has definitely got something going on."
Go to pr-inside.com to e-mail your opinion on this topic.
- Orchestrating an entrance fit for the King
By Mary Rogers
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram June 19 2006)
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra president Ann Koonsman couldn't stand to have Elvis simply walk onto the stage. We're talking about the King of Rock 'n' Roll here. Why, the King had to arrive in style, she said, and called her longtime friend, car dealer David Moritz for help. He hustled up a 1984 vintage white Cadillac convertible, and internationally recognized Elvis impersonator Kraig Parker rode into the Botanic Garden like a beauty queen perched on the back of that Caddy. ...
... Hushaby Burdette: Ellie Burdette is probably the only woman in Texas -- shoot, make that the world -- who ever told the real Elvis Presley to hush up that singing and stop playing that piano. It was 1950-something, long before Elvis made his television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. "I was a stewardess with American Airlines, and my home base was Nashville," Ellie explained. She shared an apartment there with several other flight attendants, and it happened that one was dating a good-looking singer. "She told us all the time that he was going to be a star someday," Ellie remembers. One night the woman brought the young man up to the apartment and he began to play the piano and sing. Ellie had an early flight the next morning and had to be at the airport by 5 a.m., so she put on her bathrobe, introduced herself and asked Elvis Presley to stop making music. "Oh, he was very polite. He stood up and called me ma'am," she said. ...
- Rock 'n' roll class offered at UCC
(News-Review June 19 2006)
WINCHESTER: A new class, "History of Rock 'n' Roll", is offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 3:40 p.m. June 26 through July 26 at Umpqua Community College. The course will answer the question: what influence did Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones have on America? The course taught by Jason Heald will examine the sociological and musical perspectives of the 50 years of rock music. The effects of rock music on society, politics and economics will be explored. The three-credit course is sequence number 10031. It will be held in the Whipple Fine Arts Building, Room 12, 1140 Umpqua College Road. Registration: 957-4520 or 440-4604.
- Hymn for a Sunday evening
(Star-Ledger June 19 2006)
WHEN ELVIS PRESLEY made his first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Sept. 9, 1956, neither Presley nor Sullivan was in the studio. Thanks to a serious auto accident, Sullivan was laid up, his place taken by Oscar-winning actor and guest host Charles Laughton. As for Elvis, he appeared in a remote broadcast from a Hollywood sound stage, where he was making his first film, "Love Me Tender." So James Maguire recounts in "Impresario: The Life and Times of Ed Sullivan," a new biography of the New York Daily News columnist who became the long-running host of his eponymous variety series. ...
Logically, he [Elvis] was in great demand for TV, and actually appeared on three other network shows -- the Dorsey brothers' "Stage Show," "The Milton Berle Show" and "The Steve Allen Show" -- before Sullivan's. Allen's show, however, was a direct Sunday-night competitor. Sullivan -- who hosted his show from 1948 (when it was known as "Toast of the Town") to 1971 -- felt his supremacy challenged. In the end, Sullivan triumphed. Elvis' first appearance drew the largest TV audience to that time, an estimated 60 million people, about a third of the country. The King sang, he shook, he divided the nation. You loved him or you thought he was going to hell, taking the country's youngsters with him. Same reaction when he appeared again, this time with Sullivan in New York, in late October. By his third appearance, in early '57, Sullivan banned the cameras from staring at Elvis' crotch. ...
- New book provides comprehensive view of Bob Dylan
By Ron Wynn
(Nashville City Paper June 19 2006)
With the possible exception of Elvis Presley, no other figure in the rock era has been more reviewed, profiled, scrutinized and analyzed than Bob Dylan. Yet whether you deem yourself a Dylan authority, hardcore fan or just casual admirer, there are no doubt things you didn't know that are contained in the magnificent new book The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia (Continuum). It is written by famed music journalist Michael Gray, arguably the world's most knowledgeable Dylan scribe. ...
- Hitting the high note
By Ray Chesterton
(Beacon Journal June 18 2006)
THE question is inescapable. Why is Elvis Presley's bronze plaque in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville alongside such giants of the industry as Hank Williams? The answer is simple. Presley began as a country singer with Sun Records in 1954, and he is regarded as a pioneer. "In a sense, he had a more powerful and lasting impact on country music than pre-eminent stars such as Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers," the Hall of Fame says. "Until Presley's arrival, country music had been considered regional. He gave a younger generation of country musicians potential access to broader media exposure than their predecessors enjoyed." Illustrating the fusion of styles, Presley, Cash, the Everly Brothers and Hank Williams are among 11 in both the Country and Rock 'n' Roll halls of fame. ...
- SNACK ATTACK
By Jay Leno
(Beacon Journal June 18 2006)
In a feature on The 50 Dumbest Rock Star Extravagances, Blender mag lists this as No. 1:
On the night of Feb. 1, 1976, Elvis Presley pulled off a stunt that combined three of his favorite activities -- profligate spending, showing off to cops and eating repellent things. While entertaining two Colorado policemen at Graceland, he mentioned a sandwich that he had once eaten at the Colorado Gold Mine Company restaurant in Denver: a hollowed, buttered loaf, filled with peanut butter, jelly and a pound of fried bacon. The sandwich was meant to feed eight, but Presley had finished one unaided. Remarkably, one of the cops expressed an interest. Even more remarkably, Presley insisted they should head to Denver to try it, a distance of 1,000 miles. His stretch Mercedes took them to the Memphis airport, where his private jet, the Lisa Marie -- upholstered in aquamarine plush in further testament to the King's understated elegance -- awaited. Two hours later, they landed in Denver, where 22 of the $49.95 ``Fool's Gold'' sandwiches on silver platters, plus a bucket of Perrier water and a case of champagne, were brought to a private hangar at the airport by the restaurateur, his wife and a waiter.
- Hotel Pontchartrain gets needed upgrade
(Chicago Sun-Times June 18 2006)
Past guests include Elvis Presley, Henry Kissinger and Bob Hope. Danny DeVito and Jack Nicholson also stayed there while shooting the 1992 movie, ''Hoffa.'' But the heyday of the 41-year-old Hotel Pontchartrain [in Detroit] has long since passed. Decreased bookings, lack of a tie-in with a major hotel chain and neglect have hurt the property in recent years. Now, officials are hoping a $12 million overhaul will help restore the hotel's luster. ...
- Nursing home week
(Daily Democrat June 18 2006)
Nursing home facilities across the nation celebrated National Nursing Home Week during the week of May 14 through 20. Residents at Cottonwood Healthcare like Carl Mock and Debra Robinson, celebrated with special events including a Mother's Day Tribute, entertainment by an Elvis Presley impersonator, an ice cream social and a barbecue. The main event of the week was a "Senior Prom," which drew participants like Mock and Robinson. The Activiies Department of Cottonwood Healthcare collected fancy clothing and gowns for months prior to the event. On the night of the prom, residents chose what they wanted to wear. They were matched with corsages as well. The theme of the party was the "Fabulous Fifties." The front lobby of the facility was decorated to match the theme and songs were also from that era. The event was considered such a success that people are now planning a Senior Snow-Ball.
- Oddjob's hat, Elvis's belt sold at auction
(Daily Comet / Associated Press June 18 2006)
The steel-rimmed derby used by the villainous Oddjob in the James Bond movie "Goldfinger" was auctioned for $33,600 Saturday. The hat was among several celebrity items, including Elvis Presley's belt, that were sold to bidders from around the world in an interactive auction held in New York by Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions. ... A belt that Presley wore during his 1972 performance in Honolulu went for $66,000, more than six times the auction estimate. The belt was from the estate of late "Hawaii Five-O" TV star Jack Lord and was sold to Neville Tuli, an art auction house owner in Mumbai, India. ...
- EX-rays of Elvis to be sold on e-Bay
(u.tv June 17 2006)
Fans of the King, Elvis Presley, will soon be able to pick up a rare piece of memorabilia connected to their hero. X-rays of Elvis` head and chest are going up for sale on the internet auction site e-Bay. The profile of the singer`s jaw and ribcage was taken in 1971, in Las Vegas, when he was suffering from sinus congestion. Bidding is expected to be fierce for the items and they are expected to sell for thousands of pounds.
- Tom Cruise is world's top star
(Pravda June 17 2006)
Elvis Presley, Albert Einstein and Kurt Cobain continue to earn enviable incomes from the grave, according to Forbes magazine. Presley, who died in 1977, raked in an estimated $52 million last year. Cobain, who committed suicide in 1994, generated about $50 million. Einstein, who has been dead for more than 50 years, took in about $20 million in 2005, Forbes estimates.
On the live side of things, Tom Cruise is the world's No. 1 star, according to Forbes' "Celebrity 100 Power List," which ranks famous folks based on earnings and buzz. ...
- Thank you, thank you very much
(Springfield News June 16 2006)
The Smiling eyes, luxurious curls and a love for Elvis Presley that verges on obsession are just a few of the character traits that have made 57-year-old Linda Reed a beloved fixture at The Springfield News. Reed, the newspaper's office manager, celebrated 14 years with the publication Thursday. "I'm the old lady of The Springfield News," she said with a smile. Reed said she's enjoyed watching the area's history play out on the pages of the paper. "I like the variety," she said. "I like the people. You never have to wonder about what's going on." ...
- LOOK WHO'S RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS
By WOODY BAIRD
(Asbury Park Press / ASSOCIATED PRESS June 16 2006)
Elvis Presley is going on a worldwide circus tour. CKX Inc., the parent company of Elvis Presley Enterprises, last week announced a long-term joint venture with Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian-based acrobatic troupe known for its extravagant theatrical and acrobatic productions. Cirque du Soleil (French for circus of the sun) will produce a series of shows focused on Presley's life and music and help design interactive, multimedia museums called "Elvis Experiences," CKX said.
"The partnership promises to not only keep Elvis alive but also to bring a new perspective and vibrancy to Elvis that only the people at Cirque du Soleil could do," said CKX chief executive Robert F.X. Sillerman. Touring productions are expected to get under way in about 18 months in Europe and Asia with the first of a series of "Elvis Experience" museum opening later in 2008, Sillerman said from his headquarters in New York. Production schedules and sites are as yet unsettled. ...
- Elvis still the king for Japanese fans
By CARL FREIRE
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press June 16 2006)
When Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tours Graceland later this month with President Bush, he will be representing a big constituency - Japan has droves of Elvis Presley fans, and the biggest Elvis fan club in all of East Asia.
Koizumi, of course, is the most famous. Last year he serenaded Bush with "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" at a birthday party for the president. Apparently it made quite an impression - Bush and his wife, Laura, will accompany Koizumi on his June 30 visit to Presley's estate in Memphis, Tenn. "It's exciting," Jack Soden, chief executive of Elvis Presley Enterprises, said Wednesday of the upcoming visit. "Two world leaders, plus Elvis, plus Graceland."
The prime minister is just one of thousands of die-hard Japanese Elvis lovers. The Elvis Presley Fan Club in Japan claims to be the largest in Asia with a 5,000-strong membership. Another 2,000 people or so belong to the recently formed Elvis Presley Society in Japan, said society president - and occasional Elvis impersonator - Tomikazu Taguchi. The even newer C'mon Elvis Fans in Japan is on a much smaller scale, with a membership in the dozens.
Some Presleyites are concerned, though, that interest may be waning as Elvis' fan base ages. "Young people here don't really hear much about Elvis anymore," said C'mon Elvis Fans in Japan club President Yoko Hika, 64, who travels to Graceland several times a year. "I hope the attention from Koizumi's visit to Graceland makes them curious and want to listen to his music."
Koizumi, whose Graceland trip was announced earlier this week, has been helping rekindle the flame. Fans snapped up all 200,000 copies of a limited-edition charity CD released in 2002 that featured 25 Elvis songs personally selected by Koizumi as his favorites, said Takuya Matsuyama of BMG Japan, which released the disk. Koizumi, who notes with pride that he shares a Jan. 8 birthday with Elvis, will be in the United States June 28-30. He is scheduled to visit the White House on June 29.
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