What a sweet romance Elvis had with Priscilla. In the book, “Elvis and Me,” written by Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley left Germany March 2, 1960. Priscilla was so afraid he would forget her. Elvis tried hard to convince her he would not.He told her he thought the separation would help him sort out his feelings about her.As they rode together in the car to the airport Elvis told her to write to him on “pink stationery,” and address them to Joe so the letters would stand out and he would know they were from her.He said he would look for her from the top of the ramp on the airplane, smile and wave.Priscilla was instructed to give him a smile, not a sad face and he would take that with him.Elvis handed her his combat jacket and the sergeant’s stripes he has recently been awarded to show she belonged to him. This reminds me of how high school boys use to give their class rings and class jackets to their steady girlfriend so everyone else knows they are going steady. She looked so sad and wounded at the airport.It was obvious she felt as though her world had come to an end.
Priscilla was soon told Elvis was seeing Nancy Sinatra.Many days passed and no word from Elvis, then 21 days after he left Germany, the phone rang at 3:00 a.m.Priscilla answered and it was Elvis.Priscilla says, “There were photographers here and reporters and they kept asking me questions, and – oh, Elvis is it true you are seeing Nancy Sinatra (Presley 1985 Elvis and Me)?”
Elvis’s next phone call to Priscilla revealed he was starting his first film.Of course, the first thing Priscilla wanted to know was who his leading lady was.Elvis was obviously flattered and burst out laughing saying her name was Juliet Prowse, a dancer engaged to Frank Sinatra.Priscilla sighed with relief and then asked what the name of the film was.Elvis replied, “Wouldn’t you know, “G.I. Blues, and at that time he thought it might be pretty good (Presley 1985 Elvis and Me).You know if you think about it and watch those old Elvis Presley movies, the story lines seemed to match up to some of what was going on in his private life. It would seem to be a pretty good fit.
A few weeks later he called Priscilla again.This time his enthusiasm for G.I. Blues had turned to bitter disappointment.He hated the movie because they had him singing around twelve songs that he didn’t think was worth much, and in addition, he had a meeting with Colonel Parker, his manager, about it.Elvis asked for around half of the songs to be taken out sighting one reason as being he felt like an idiot breaking into a song while he was talking to some chick on a train.Colonel Parker told him he was locked into it, already paid, everyone seemed to think the film was wonderful, but Elvis was extremely miserable (Presley 1955 Elvis and Me). And so, began the movie career of Elvis Presley.
The songs in the movie was definitely not his style, but the fans loved him anyhow! You can tell the difference in the songs in the movie and the ones in the below interview. He sings in the video below with all his heart the way he wanted to sing, but in the movies, looks like he just did what he was told to do.
Elvis Presley Leaving United States for Germany Interview