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Directed by: Hal Kanter
Writing Credits: Herbert Baker, Hal Kanter
Producer: Hal Wallis
Technicolor and Vistavision.



Cast Overview
Elvis Presley .... Jimmy Tompkins (Deke Rivers) Lizabeth Scott - Glenda Markle, Wendell Corey .... Walter (Tex) Warner, Dolores Hart .... Susan Jessup James Gleason .... Carl Meade Ralph Dumke .... Jim Tallman Paul Smith .... Skeeter Kenneth Becker .... Wayne Jana Lund .... Daisy Bricker Vernon Rich .... Harry Taylor David Cameron .... Mr. Castle Grace Hayle .... Mrs. Gunderson Dick Ryan .... Mack Steve Pendleton .... Mr. O'Shea Sydney Chatton .... Ed Grew

Plot

Elvis Presley's second feature capitalized on the King's meteoric rise to superstardom by autobiographically depicting his real-life experiences with some embellishment. Loving You, therefore, provides fans with a sort of auxiliary examination of a working class kid's practically supernatural odyssey from gas station to recording studio -- shedding light on a few of the darker aspects of being famous (such as rabid fans that rob E of his privacy and, even more telling, the tenuous relationship with a manipulative manager who guides his career with iron will). Loving You boasts beautiful color photography, excellent costuming, and a few of the King's outstanding performances -- particularly "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear and the final sequence with E in fantastic form doing Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do.

Musical Soundtrack

"GOT A LOT O'LIVIN' TO DO"
Written by Aaron Schroeder and Ben Wiseman, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Fast, furious and wild and one of Elvis' finest moments. The film version is slower than the released version. Released on the soundtrack LP (1957). The finale version was released on the soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997).

"PARTY"
Written by Don Robertson. Performed by Elvis Pesley
A rock flavoured rendition with furious vocal Gymnastics by Elvis. The film version contained an extra introductory verse. Released on the soundtrack LP (1957) and the EP Loving You Volume 1 (1957). The film version appears as a bonus track on the CD release of the soundtrack (1997).

"TEDDY BEAR"
Written by Karl Mann & Bernie Lowe, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Rocker with Elvis in an easy groove. Released as a single with Loving You on the flip side (1957). Also on the EP Loving You Vol. 1 (1957). Later on the LP's Elvis Golden Records Vol 1 (1958), Elvis: Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol.1 (1970), Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden (1972), Elvis In Concert (1977), Elvis A Canadian Tribute (1978) and Elvis Sings Songs For Children (And Grownups Too) (1978). Later on the CD release of the soundtrack (1997).

"HOT DOG"
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Rocking little tune. Released on the soundtrack LP (1957). Later on the CD release of the soundtrack (1997).

"LONESOME COWBOY"
Written by Sid Tepper & Roy C. Bennett, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Dramatic C&W number with great vocal tricks from Elvis.Released on the soundtrack LP (1957) also on the EP Loving You Vol. 2 (1957) and later on the LP Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol 2. (1971).Later on the CD release of the soundtrack (1997).

"MEAN WOMAN BLUES"
Written by Claude Demetrius, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Fast straight rocker with hand clapping opening in the film version. Released on the soundtrack LP (1957). Also on the EP loving You Vol. 2 (1957) and later on the LP Elvis The Other Sides-Worldwide Gold Award Hits (1971).Later on the CD release of the soundtrack (1997).

"LOVING YOU"
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Performed by Elvis Pesley
Two versions were performed in the film, an uptempo rocker over the credits and the slow ballad on the farm with Floyd Cramer filling in the background which took some forty takes before Elvis was satisfied. Released as a single with (Let me be your) Teddy Bear on the flip side (1957) and on the EP Loving You volume 1 (1957) and the LP's Loving You (1957), Elvis Golden Records vol 1 (1958), Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1 (1970), Pure Gold (1975) and Elvis A Canadian Tribute (1978). The uptempo version was released on the soundtrack CD as a bonus track (1997)

Recorded at:
the Paramount Scoring Stage and Radio Recorders, Hollywood. Engineers: Phil Wisdom and Thorne Nogar. January - February 1957

Musicians: Guitars:
Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Elvis Presley. Bass: Bill Black. Drums: D.J. Fontana. Piano: Dudley Brooks, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins. Harmonica: George Fields. Vocals: The Jordanaires.

Dolores Hart sang "Dancing on a Dare", "Detour" (a 1951 hit for Patti Page) and "The Yellow Rose". Tex Warner's Rough Riding Ramblers played "Candy Kisses".

The soundtrack album received gold certification and entered the Billboard chart on July 22, 1957, at No. 11 and stayed at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

On June 11, the platinum certified single "Loving You"/ "Teddy Bear" was released. It became Elvis' eighth million seller and stayed at No. 1 for seven weeks. In the United Kingdom, "Teddy Bear" reached No. 2.

In October, Billboard introduced a new chart for extended play records. Elvis had four of the 10 listed: Loving You, Vol. 1 (1), Just For You (3), Peace in the Valley (9) and Loving You, Vol. 2 (10).

During October 1957, the United Kingdom issued "Party" and "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do' as a single from the film. They reached No. 2 and NO. 17 respectively in the national singles chart.

Fast and slow versions were recorded of the Leiber and Stoller title track.

Trivia

"Loving You" was originally titled "Lonesome Cowboy" and then changed to "Running Wild". Famous TV host Ed Sullivan referred to this title when Elvis made his last appearance on his show, January 6, 1957.

Production began on January 21, 1957 and was completed in early March.

"Loving You" was based on a story called "A Call from Mitch Miller" by Mary Agnes Thompson

Dolores Hart made her film debut in "Loving You". She also appeared in Elvis' fourth movie, "King Creole". In 1963 she retired and became a nun. Hart is now know as Mother Dolores at the convent of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut.

"Loving you", Elvis' first color film, premiered in Memphis on July 9, 1957, at the Strand Theater and opened nationally on July 30.

Director Hal Kanter spent some time on the road with Elvis and his band for research prior to the film's production. In December 1956, he went to see his performance at the "Louisiana Hayride" in Shreveport.

Elvis' mother and father, Gladys and Vernon, can clearly be seen in the audience while Elvis performs "Got a Lot o' Livin to Do" during the closing sequence.

"Loving You" reached No. 7 on Variety's weekly list of top-grossing films.

In its review The Los Angeles Times said "A furtive step on Presley's part in a screen career".

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