Elvis and Nixon:- Politics and Personality come together in true historical style.

In December 1970 Elvis and Nixon had a meeting which spawned the most requested photograph in the national US archives. Classed as a comedy by some, the story of this meeting is now a major movie.  Starring Michael Shannon as Elvis and Kevin Spacey as Nixon, it charts a wish by Elvis to be an undercover Federal Agent working to free young people of drugs and communism.  In the film when Elvis finally gets his wish to discuss his views with Nixon – through a personally penned letter and huge lengthy amounts of protocol, The King derides The Beatles to Nixon – mostly because of some of John Lennon’s lyrics which he considered anti America.  Many might disagree.  A sub-plot is Jerry (Alex Petty)  – Elvis’s right hand man needing to return to his home by plane to propose to his girlfriend at a meal with her parents – an interesting turn of events helps him achieve his goal.

The screenplay is by Cary Elwes, Joey Sagal, Hanala Sagal and Susan Stadner and it includes a number of scenes where Elvis fans – including “pretty young things”, are blown away by meeting and dealing with The King.  When Nixon finally meets him the USA President  discusses his own relatively unattractive looks with the opposite extreme in Elvis’s case. In breach of protocol, Elvis does the opposite of what he has been instructed to do by Nixon’s aides but this wins Nixon’s respect and they have a lengthy meeting enjoying Dr Pepper and M & Ms in the process.

The viewer is treated to some intimate details of Elvis’s grooming habits and this enhances the lighthearted side of the saga. Clothes in this instance do maketh man and he puts on one of his prestigious concert belts and alluring suit and jacket with a lion necklace in pure gold as well as other jewellery – (the rings are always there in plenty) which Elvis was so practiced at wearing and were in no way de-masculinising.

The subject of guns also features in the movie – a few scenes surround Elvis’s habit of carrying at least two with him – one in a holster, one in his sock.  The recent exhibition at O2 London also itemises the gift of a gun which finally gets to Nixon, minus the bullets which were in a special case and had deep significance to the president.

Essentially there have been several films about Nixon already including All The Presidents Men and Frost and Nixon and there have also been many movies about Elvis as well as starring him. So this is good for all who are interested in American giants and the protocol and politics that will eternally surround them.

Enjoy.

Penny Nair Price