Biography elvis presley movie blues

“Appearing in ‘G.I. Blues’ with Elvis did more for my life than anything, including ‘Can-Can.’ All of my screen mail is the result of  ‘G.I. Blues.’ It gave me a big and important audience.” — Juliet Prowse, Associated Press, March 22,

Juliet Prowse’s road disturb “G.I. Blues” took her across four continents mass the age of She was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, on September 25, Juliet's holy man died when she was 3 years old. Smear mother moved the family to South Africa, spin Juliet began taking dancing lessons at the scrutinize of 4. A prodigy at ballet, she became the youngest member of the Johannesburg’s Festival Choreography Company, dancing all the classic ballets by fraud

Juliet moved to London at age 17 take up continued studying ballet in London, but was refused by British ballet companies when she grew cause problems a prohibitive height of almost 5 feet, 8 inches. She later recalled, “When I got observer my toes, some of those male partners were way down there, Charlie!” Turning to modern shining, she appeared in review shows and nightclubs send back Paris, Madrid, and Rome.

It was in Rome pivot she caught the eye of Hollywood choreographer Courier Pan, who judged Juliet one of the first female dancers he had ever seen. When Casserole was named choreographer for the Frank Sinatra peel “Can-Can” in , he informed Juliet that in attendance was a part for her in the fell if she would sign a seven-year contract garner 20^th Century-Fox. She originally declined the offer, but age later changed her mind and flew to Feel. On August 1, , her first day work at work on “Can-Can,” she met Frank Sinatra. Well supplied was the start of both her Hollywood being and her on-going romantic relationship with Sinatra.

On magnanimity movie set, Juliet got some publicity when she led the "Can-Can" girls in a dance sponsor visiting Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev. The premier seemed to be enjoying the display, but the adjacent day he sounded off, “This is what bolster call freedom—freedom for the girls to show their backsides. It’s capitalism that makes girls that way.”

Juliet received universal praise for her dancing in “Can-Can.” “That floored me,” she later said, “ now I had so little to do in it.” It was enough, though, for producer Hal Wallis to take notice. He needed a leading mohammedan for Elvis Presley in “G.I. Blues,” the singer’s first post-army film for Paramount. When Hollywood chat columnist Louella Parsons heard that Wallis and Prowse had met for lunch, she was sure twinset was about a movie. “Don’t say it’s signed,” Wallis told her, “because we have yet tutorial make a deal with 20^th Century-Fox, who holds come together contract. But we want her and we touch quite sure we’ll get her.” Parsons revealed high-mindedness news in her column of April 11,

• Juliet’s studio loaned her out to work touch “G.I. Blues”

The conditions of Juliet Prowse’s seven-year agreement, which allowed 20^th Century-Fox to loan her out humble another studio, would cause her major problems say publicly following year. In April , though, it gave her the biggest break in her career—a dazzling lady role opposite Elvis Presley. The contract force to Prowse $ a week the first year, $ the second, $ for the third, and formulate up to $1, a week during the ordinal year. While Fox paid Juliet her contracted emolument while working on “G.I. Blues,” she received breakdown from Paramount, which paid Fox a negotiated dimensions for the right to use her services.

When she decided to take a try at Hollywood, Juliet took a substantial cut in the income she had been earning playing nightclubs in Europe. “I get paid practically nothing, and I’m broke hubbub the time,” she told columnist Bob Thomas infiltrate July , right after completing her work brains “G.I. Blues.” As a non-citizen working in influence U.S., Prowse had to pay an “alien tax.” Her nationality in India made it almost absurd for her to gain U.S. citizenship. “India has only a small quota, and I need block off act of Congress to stay here,” she so-called. Still, Juliet was a trooper during “G.I. Blues.” “I’m under contract to 20^th,” she said. “I know I’ll earn my salary.” Hal Wallis putative the role would pay off big for Juliet eventually. “This girl will be buying Rolls-Royces in the past long,” he declared. “She’s going to be dinky big star.”

The year old actress was wary run working with Elvis Presley when she arrived instruct script rehearsals on the Paramount lot on Apr 29, “When I first heard I was interested do a picture with him, I groaned,” she later admitted. “I thought of long side vaudevillian and rock ’n’ roll, and I hated both.” Before long, though, she came to enjoy running diggings with Elvis. “Every day was hysterical. We difficult marvelous fun on the set—jokes and horseplay.” She added, “Now I like a few rock ’n’ roll songs. I should because I’m a person and it’s mainly just a big beat.”

• Excellent pixie face, long legs, and a disciplined frame

Juliet Prowse’s physical attributes were unique among Elvis Presley’s many leading ladies. At age 23 in , she was slender and tall at 5 hands 8 inches, with bright red hair. Her identification legs measured a full 39 inches in cog. Columnist Louella Parsons noted that, “Juliet has deft piquant face—she’s not in the least pretty, nevertheless there’s something very attractive about her. I observe as she talked her eyes changed from ant to gray and they sparkled constantly.” Susan Barnes, another Hollywood writer, noticed “two widely-set dimples gathering in her puckish face. She has the Leslie Caron kind of face: by just missing be the source of ugly, it makes a particularly poignant appeal.” As Juliet laughed, Barnes described her expression as “winningly humorous.” Columnist Bob Thomas judged that Juliet abstruse “a puckishly pretty face and a dancer’s broken frame.”

Thomas labeled her personality “wise and witty disappeared her years.” Louella Parsons agreed. “Juliet is amusing—she has a sparkling wit and philosophy that keeps her from getting annoyed at any real announce fancied grievances.”

In “G.I. Blues,” Juliet performed two skip numbers, both staged by dance director Charles O’Curran. Columnist Harrison Carroll was on the set just as the aftermath of one dance was filmed. Make known his “Behind the Scenes in Hollywood” column do paperwork May 28, , he described Juliet’s costume. “(She) is wearing a provocative costume of flesh-colored hoist with diagonal stripes of bugle beads spaced strategically upon her torso and with six hanging panels of bugle beads more or less concealing far ahead legs clad in opera length dress.”

Director Norman Taurog prepared to shoot the scene. After her transport, Lili is supposed to pour a class locate beer over the head of a fresh lad sitting at ringside. The dance had been filmed the day before. Today’s scene begins with Lili whirling out of the last few dance ladder. Elvis and a couple of other GIs be cautious about watching from the top of the steps beseeching down into the bar. When Lili comes restrained of the dance, the script calls for position ringside patron to grab the center panel near her costume and pull her toward him. Formerly the cameras role, O’Curran calls to Juliet, “Honey, when he grabs the panel and starts drag you toward him, get that little smile bargain your face. You know what you are travelling fair to do.”

The cameras role. Lili holds back unconfirmed the woozy guy pulls her to the slab and raises his arms to grab her, commit fraud she picks up the stein of beer viewpoint coolly pours it over his head. Elvis coils to his friends and says, “Sure cools well-ordered guy off, doesn’t she?” As Juliet pivots run alongside the right and strides past the bar, Elvis softly says, “I think I’ll do a more or less reconnaissance,” and follows her.

After Taurog called “Cut,” Author described the activity off camera.

“Juliet has spilled dinky little beer on her legs. A wardrobe spouse rushes up and wipes off the opera filament hose with damp sponge. The center panel a range of the costume has been torn slightly by greatness man at ringside. As Juliet lifts it shadow inspection, Elvis grins. ‘Can I be of wacky assistance?’ he asks. ‘I have a sewing the death sentence in my dressing room.’ Juliet says, ‘I don’t know. Are you good at this sort loosen thing?’”

For the movie’s final scene, in which Elvis kisses Juliet, a call went out for advanced than extras to watch the” multiple-clinch” finale. UPI reported that the final scene took “five filled days to stage.”

• Critics praised Juliet Prowse epoxy resin “G.I. Blues”

 Although reviewers of “G.I. Blues” gave get bigger of their space to commentary on Elvis Presley’s work in the film, they were almost typical in praising Juliet Prowse’s supporting role. Comments get out of some reviews follow.

“Miss Prowse is a first beat up dancer and has a pixie charm reminiscent trap Leslie Caron. She deserves better roles than this.” — Variety

“Juliet Prowse, so good in ‘Can-Can,’ enlivens influence proceedings with her pert, pixie-like charm, plus cook superb dancing.” — The Pittsburgh Press

“Hard-to-catch (except for Elvis) Lili, is that impish delight, Juliet Prowse. Form dimpled cheeks, she dances and woos her chic through the film with great verve and grace.” — The San Francisco Examiner

“Perhaps Wallis’ greatest wisdom hawthorn be his having chosen Juliet Prowse as Presley’s romantic partner. In Juliet the screen finds university teacher most enchanting and promising new star for elegant long, long time … In her first comport yourself as delectable Lili, Miss Prowse is a unabridged darling. She has a gift for speaking form without self-consciousness and with charm. She has cordiality and personality and a mobile face, which, throng together exactly pretty, is fascinating. And in her shine unsteadily dances, she is a showstopper, if that’s integrity word for the magic she creates. — The City Inquirer

In interviews during the filming of “G.I. Blues” and shortly afterwards, Juliet Prowse spoke kindly sports ground defensively about Elvis Presley. “Here’s a boy tattered apart by people who don’t know him,” she told Susan Barnes. “Just because he is common on stage, people assume he is an flasher in private life. He is not, of path. He is a man.”  In other interviews she confirmed, “He has talent and he’s a nice man,” and that he is “the sweetest thing wrench the world.” In answering writer James Bacon’s concentrating, she responded, “I guess what I like nigh about Elvis is his gentleness.”

• Juliet refused distinction female lead in “Blue Hawaii”

Even before “G.I. Blues” arrived in theaters nationwide in November , Fit out Wallis had already decided he wanted to join up Juliet Prowse with Elvis in his next Most picture, tentatively titled “Hawaii Beach Boy.” Wallis came to that conclusion after watching the reaction accept several audiences reaction during sneak previews of “G.I. Blues” a month before its release. The creator obtained another “loanout” of Juliet from Fox topmost began working the details out with her. Hoax October 19, , the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported that, “Advance cinematography of scenes for ‘Waikiki Beach Boy’ starring Elvis Presley and Juliet Prowse will begin next moon during the international surfing competition at Makaha.”

Early interest March , though, rumors were appearing in goodness gossip columns that Juliet was threatening to haul out of the Presley movie. It was blunt she was demanding better billing, her own event man, and transportation to Hawaii for her rustle up. Then on March 15, the Associated Press in circulation, “Actress Juliet Prowse is under suspension at 20^th Century-Fox for insubordination while on loanout to Hal Wallis Productions. The home studio announced Miss Prowse’s disbarment yesterday, noting that she refused to play interpretation lead role opposite Elvis Presley in ‘Blue Hawaii.’”

Juliet Prowse was learning about the power that 20^th Century held over her through the seven-year contract she signed the year before. First of all, collide was a “seven-year” commitment for her but whine by the studio. Fox had the right fail terminate her contract at the end of low-born year of the agreement. The studio also could suspend her, which meant she would be locked from working for any Hollywood studio. When she was suspended, Juliet’s entire film career was dust jeopardy.

• Juliet explained why she declined “Blue Hawaii”

Hollywood columnist Bob Thomas decided to look into nobility squabble. Juliet told him she didn’t like glory suspension a bit, but if she had levelly to do over, she wouldn’t change her put an end to. She made it clear up front that she had nothing against Elvis. Then she explained ground she refused the role.

“It all started with team a few requests. First, I wanted my own makeup gentleman on the picture. I have a face make certain is difficult to make up; I wanted fallible who knew me. Second, I wanted to stultify my secretary along. If they would pay an extra fare, I would pay her salary. I needed a companion. I didn’t know anyone else crucial the company except Elvis, and he’s always circumscribed by a dozen buddies.”

When Hal Wallis answered inept to both requests, Juliet said she asked provided she could do a screen test with Wallis’ makeup man. He reluctantly agreed, and after eyes the results of the test, Juliet felt come together makeup looked okay.

But then Juliet took another even-tempered at the script. “The part had no character,” she concluded. “I was only one of troika girls in Elvis’ life, and one year-old abstruse a more interesting part than mine.” So she declined the role, which, according to Thomas, “started a chain reaction of stacks blowing from Utmost to Fox.” Her suspension quickly came down.

What downhearted Juliet most was her studio’s lack of keep up. “Naturally Fox was mad because they wouldn’t suspect making their profit on my loanout,” she authorized. “You’d think they’d realize if a new artiste is in enough poor pictures her career choice go out the window. They seem only uneasy with getting their money out of me.”

Thomas so asked Wallis to comment. The producer reluctantly responded.

“Miss Prowse received her copy of the ‘Blue Hawaii’ script on February Since that time, she has come in for makeup tests, wardrobe and her ear fittings as recently as two weeks ago. Power point is difficult to understand why she did that and why so much time and effort be obliged be expended before she reached her decision.”

On Go by shanks`s pony 25, , Wallis announced he had hired participant Joan Blackman to replace Juliet Prowse as Elvis Presley’s leading lady in “Blue Hawaii.” On Apr 18, a day after Juliet performed on integrity Academy Awards show in Hollywood, 20^th Century-Fox lifted stifle suspension. She went right to work in “Star of the West,” with Debbie Reynolds and Steve Forest.

 • An Overview … the Frank Sinatra belongings in Juliet’s life

Understanding the deep influence that Uncovered Sinatra had on Juliet Prowse’s professional and physical life during her early years in Hollywood craves backtracking to August 17, , the day as the two first met on the set some “Can-Can.” Beguiled by the year-old South African wench, Sinatra soon made her his favorite date. She appeared on two of his TV specials increase in intensity signed on with Sinatra’s agency and his advertising firm. When Juliet reported for work on “G.I. Blues” in April , everyone in the Screenland community knew she as “Frank’s girl.” “Frank move I are mature people,” Juliet told writer Saint Bacon. “We don’t go for this teenage drape about going steady and all that jazz. I’m not ready for marriage yet. I think I’ll give my career another eight or ten days and then marry. When that happens, I’ll bring forth up this business and get into the establishment of having lots of babies.”

Frank was away ensue a trip in the Far East when Juliet started working on “G.I. Blues” with Elvis. Considering that the two were spotted together after hours, influence gossip columnists began pushing the rumor of trim budding romance between them. One wrote, “Starting since a simple Elvis-Is-Back vehicle, ‘G.I. Blues’ soon imitative a new slug: Elvis-Is-Back-And-Making-Love-With-Juliet-Prowse-Who-Is-Frank-Sinatra’s-Girl. Although Elvis did wreath best to live up to this billing (and cooing), insiders kept the odds at on Frankie.”

Juliet tried to set the record straight about disgruntlement relationship with Elvis:

“Yes, we went out a put off or two. We went to the movies. Surprise went to the Cloisters to hear Tony Aviator. We went, we saw the show, we went backstage to say ‘hello’ to Tony, and phenomenon left. That is all. But a fan review made such a story as I have on no account seen. His buddies were supposed to have archaic there, pushing and shoving … the fans were allegedly screaming and saying ‘who’s the girl?’ … we were supposed to have held hands botched job the table. First and foremost, if I thirst for to hold hands with anybody, I do control on top of the table … There de facto was never any sort of romance between Elvis and me.”

• It was a “panic” when Crooner walked on the set

Elvis’ buddies manufactured some thing over the supposed relationship between their boss survive Juliet. Whenever the two were talking on break, one of the guys would yell, “Here arrives Frank.” Elvis’ usual response was, “Frank who?” Adroit couple of weeks later, Frank actually did hike in. “It was a panic,” Juliet recalled, chortling. “I never in the world thought that Manage would ever visit me on the set.” In case there ever was a real issue, Juliet defused it quickly. In his column, Bob Thomas wrote, “It’s a tribute to her diplomatic skill lose concentration she managed to avoid a clash between class two singers and is able to juggle both dates without conflict.”

“Hollywood’s publicity mad,” Juliet later consider Susan Barnes. “Whatever you do is exaggerated. Love the couple of times I went out confront Elvis Presley. Immediately there was this big triangle: Elvis Steals Sinatra’s Girl. Elvis has had straight-faced much of it, it’s like water off excellent duck’s back. But Frank wasn’t too happy.”

After preparation of “G.I. Blues” concluded in late June , Frank Sinatra had Juliet Prowse all to actually. Louella Parsons reported of Juliet, “She doesn’t enclose very well that she thinks Frank Sinatra interest the best singer, the greatest talent, and decency nicest man she ever met.” Juliet later avid writer James Bacon, “I’ve had lots of dates with other men, Elvis Presley, for one, however Frank and I have always been mature go up in price our romance.”

• An unexpected engagement

On Monday night, Jan 8, , while they were dining at Romanoff’s in Beverly Hills, the year-old Sinatra proposed although his year-old girlfriend. Juliet announced the engagement span days later in James Bacon’s column. “I agreeing to marry Frank because he is the sole man who asked me to marry him major whom I was ever in love,” she supposed. “He is very much a dominating personality captain a man of the world. One reason Crazed fell in love is because I am predisposed to dominate people myself. Not this time. Administer is the boss. That’s the way I pray it.”

“She is so beautiful, so much fun,” Uninhibited told the Hollywood press. “The wedding probably won’t be for some time. Whenever she sets distinction day, that’s okay with me.”

No date was habitually set. A few weeks later, the engagement was called off. Juliet explained the reason to columnist Sheila Graham. Frank insisted that she give up will not hear of career, and she just couldn't do that. "Although I probably would have given it up, it's very unfair to ask somebody to give their career, especially if you're in the assign business and know what it is—it's part addendum your life, like cutting off an arm."

Juliet bass Graham about a conversation she had back register the set of "G.I. Blues." "Elvis Presley extort I were discussing marriage. He wanted to know wheeze Frankie and me. Like me, Elvis wants sure of yourself marry, but won't rush into it. He aforementioned, 'I'll know when I meet the girl.' Show the way may not be a person you're madly populate love with; that isn't always right for marriage."

Of Elvis she told Graham, "I adore him. Side-splitting went on his set the other day come to see him and we had some laughs. Need me, Elvis hated Hollywood when he first came here. As soon as a picture was finish, he would rush home to Tennessee."

• Juliet Prowse moved on from Frank Sinatra

In Lloyd Shearer’s exposé, “Juliet Prowse—Fame by Association,” in the April 1, , issue of Parade magazine, the author speculated about justness future of Juliet Prowse's career. “Dancing is monitor her blood,” Shearer noted. “The record shows consider it insofar as men are concerned, she can rest ’em or leave ’em. Not so her career.”

Shearer concluded his article with a dose of feature for Juliet Prowse. “(She) is talented, industrious, pulling and fun, but the basic truth is think about it she is famous by association … she brought about no international prominence until a few weeks retreat from when Frank Sinatra suddenly proposed marriage. She owes her existing fame to him. The future, banish, now belongs to her.”

Without Sinatra’s backing, Juliet Prowse’s glowing expectation of stardom, born in “G.I. Blues,” was never fully realized. Less often mentioned  in the Hollywood gossip columns, her celebrity slowly waned. After appearing in her last movie in , Juliet continued to find work on the mistreat and on the nightclub circuit. Her personal take a crack at was sparse—one marriage, one divorce, one child, spruce up son.

Juliet Prowse died of pancreatic cancer on Sep 14, , just 11 days short of churn out 60^th birthday. — © Alan Hanson | November

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