Elvis Presley passed away 45 years ago today — way too soon. One of his best pictures is certainly Don Siegel’s Flaming Star (1960). (If you ask me, it is his best.) It gets a chapter in my book, and when I was the guest on the Western Podcast, it was our subject.
Here, they’re shooting the film’s only musical number. That’s Barbara Eden dancing with her back to us. (By the way, Barbara Eden is part of the events happening at Graceland during Elvis Week.)
Elvis drinks a lot of milk on location.
Elvis and director Don Siegel on location.
Elvis on horseback, crew on film truck. The DP was Charles Clarke. It was one of his last pictures.
Lastly, here’s Elvis with the great John McIntire. McIntire would replace Ward Bond on Wagon Train about a year later.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Toby, good write-up of FLAMING STAR(1960). I also think that this is Elvis Presley’s best movie and is well worth viewing. I look forward to reading your book and I’m glad you devote a chapter to FLAMING STAR.
On another note, I’m so sick and tired(I’ve been of lot of that, of late, in more ways than one) of the lies that I’ve been seeing on the internet this week concerning the 1973 Academy Award best actor controversary. I would like to shout from the highest mountain top in praise of the outstanding research and writing of Farran Smith Nehme. I think she sets the record straight concerning John Wayne and Sacheen Littlefeather. Farran believes in the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
I hope everyone will read Farran’s investigation. https://selfstyledsiren.substack.com/p/john-wayne-and-the-six-security-men?utm_source=twitter&sd=pf
Thanks for sharing that, Walter. I hadn’t seen any of the recent hubbub about this Oscar thing, but had heard of it before. Some folks seem to have a real problem with 1) John Wayne in general, and 2) the thought that he might’ve been a nice man.
It’s interesting that there’s a mention that he thought the Oscars were something to be respected. Boy, those days are long gone, aren’t they?
Toby, I haven’t paid much attention to the Academy Awards, or the awards ceremony in many, many years.
Farran Smith Nehme’s investigative article JOHN WAYNE AND THE SIX SECURITY MEN is a must read to counter all the lies that are flooding the internet about John Wayne and Sacheen Littlefeather. Just type in Sacheen Littlefeather and John Wayne into the google search engine and see what you get. I scrolled down the first twenty pages today and Farran Nehme’s article doesn’t come up. You have to type in Farran’s name along with Sacheen Littlefeather and John Wayne to get Farran’s investigative article. How many people out there know to type in Farran’s name?
The old saying is, “The lie is half way around the world before the truth gets started.”
We must spread the word about Farran Nehme’s(what a neat name) fine article.
https://selfstyledsiren.substack.com/p/john-wayne-and-the-six-security-men?utm_source=twitter&sd=pf
Thank you for the reference Walter. I read the investigation article with interest. I was in college in 1973; and, didn’t pay attention to the controversy at the time. So it’s interesting to see how he stitched together the news reports, video, etc. of the period after the ceremony and then applied logical analysis to dispel the current myth. Then he traces back the origins of how the myth came to be.
Given the current state of journalism in the US we are going to have to sharpen our critical analytical skills to try to separate fact from fiction.
Lyson, you’re most welcome. I agree with your assessment of the current state of journalism. Yes, we must cross reference, cross reference, and cross reference today’s so-called factual reporting.
I viewed the March 27, 1973 Academy Awards Ceremony and I remember the controversy surrounding Marlon Brando’s refusal of his best actor award for THE GODFATHER(filmed 1971, released 1972). I recall most of the criticism was toward Brando’s not being there in person to state his reasons for not accepting the best actor award and not so much criticism of Sacheen Littlefeather, although there was some, even from her own race. In my opinion Sacheen Littlefeather, at that time, handled the tense situation in a dignified and gracious manner.
At that time, I don’t recall anything about the John Wayne fiction. I think that if that had actually happened it would have been on the front pages of every major newspaper and every tv newscast in the country and worldwide.
This article by Michael Hiltzik appeared in the LOS ANGELES TIMES TODAY. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/column-did-john-wayne-try-120000653.html Be sure and read the comments.
I wonder if anyone will ever ask Liv Ullmann about what she saw and heard that night. She and the late Roger Moore were the presenters and escorted Sacheen Littlefeather off stage. Liv Ullmann is still very much with us and is still acting, at 83 years young.
At last some good new release news-in December
Germany’s Explosive Media will release Richard Carlson’s
excellent FOUR GUNS TO THE BORDER on Blu Ray.
This is a Worldwide first and has been announced
as being sourced from a brand new HD master.