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Speedway 1 / 3
Sometimes Elvis's movies were released out of sequence with the
order in which they were filmed. Such was the case with his
twenty-seventh movie, the 1968 MGM film "Speedway." It was actually
filmed in June of 1967 prior to filming movie number 26, "Stay Away
Joe". However, "Stay Away Joe" beat "Speedway" to release by three
months.
On June 19, 1967 Elvis reported to MGM to begin work on "Speedway."
The day began with a music meeting at 10:00 AM and at 2:00 PM he had
wardrobe fittings. He and his manager Colonel Tom Parker then gave
the leading lady, Elvis's friend, Nancy Sinatra a car that had
"Speedway" painted on one door and "Starring Nancy & Elvis" on the
other. Nancy Sinatra's role of Susan Jacks first had been offered to
the popular 1960s English singer Petula Clark.
Ms. Clark turned the part down and it then was given to Sinatra, who
also enjoyed popularity as a singer with her #1 songs "These Boots
Were Made For Walking," "Sugar Town" and "Something Stupid." Nancy,
the daughter of Frank Sinatra, had met Elvis in 1960, when he
returned from serving in the U.S. Army. She was on hand to welcome
Elvis at McGuire Air Force Base upon his arrival back to America
from Germany. She also appeared with Elvis on her father's "Frank
Sinatra--Timex Show," which was themed "Welcome Home, Elvis." Today
Ms. Sinatra is still busy recording and performing, especially for
one of her favorite causes - support of U.S. troops, American
veterans and the USO. It was also her voice heard singing the song
"Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" in the 2003 movie "Kill Bill,
Volume I."
Soundtrack recording sessions were held on June 20 - 21, 1967 at the
MGM studio. During the sessions Elvis was visited by his father
Vernon, Vernon's wife Dee and Dee's three sons, Ricky, David and
Billy Stanley. They, along with Elvis and Nancy Sinatra, met Nelson
Rockefeller, then governor of New York,
who had come to the recording studio to record an album of patriotic
recitations.
Principal photography for "Speedway" began on June 26th. Working
titles included "Pot Luck,"
"Guitar City" and "I'll Go Quietly." The producer was Douglas
Laurence,
who also produced the Elvis movies "Stay Away Joe" and "Live A
Little, Love A Little." Mr. Laurence was at one time the director of
entertainment for the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.
This was the last film for multi-award-winning cinematographer
Joseph Ruttenberg who had also worked on Elvis's film "It Happened
At The World's Fair." From from 1939 to 1961, Mr. Ruttenberg was
nominated ten times for Academy Awards. His foru wins were for his
work in the films "The Great Waltz," "Mrs. Miniver,"
"Somebody Up There Likes Me" and "Gigi."
On July 12, 1967 on the set of "Speedway" Elvis announced that his
wife Priscilla was pregnant. He told a reporter, "This is the
greatest thing that has ever happened to me."
Soon after, his co-star Nancy Sinatra gave a baby shower for
Priscilla.
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