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Elaine Beckett was born in England, qualified with an Arts Degree and yet was somehow destined to be a co-star in Elvis’ 1966 movie ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’.
EIN: It sounds like one of those unbelievable movie stories - so what happened? EB: They took me over to the studio. I met some incredible people and they put me in some class they were having for young movie hopefuls. There I also met Pat Wayne (John’s son) and I was a very studious soul. I took my work seriously and really wanted to go to University so I don’t think they understood what to do with me. I had no experience with film or acting at all but I caught on very quickly. And they put me in a few little roles, although the film I did with Elvis was out at Paramount.
Two of Elaine Beckett's publicity photos from the sixties.
So I did some acting, modelling and TV commercials and these helped me make some decent money to fund my university career. I have been in Alberto Vo5, Dove, Colgate, commercials and plenty of car commercials. After I got my bachelors degree, I worked for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It was then in late 1966, because I still had an agent, that I was cast for a 10 day, two weeks stint, on Easy Come, Easy Go. EIN: What was it like for you at this point to be told that you were going to be in an Elvis movie - because of the course by then they were pretty low-grade low-budget affairs? EB: Actually Elvis had not made such an impression on me because I was rather square! I still preferred Pat Boone and in our household we listened to classical music. So whereas everyone else working on the movie was awe-struck I had a different reaction. Elvis was indeed a lovely man. He was everything that everyone who worked in his movies says he was. He was handsome, he was sweet he was kind, he was shy, generous, he was all of those things. Elvis was a lovely, lovely man. But when we did some of those rather intimate scenes that we filmed I was not as over-awed as perhaps the others, because Elvis as a star did not mean that much to me at the time.
Elaine Beckett (left) with Pat Priest (centre)
EIN: And they had poor old Elvis standing in a rubber suit!
EIN: Was it good working with John Rich? EB: John Rich was a terrific guy, a wonderful man, with a very happy comfortable crew but it could have been a more spectacular movie in every sense. It was Elvis’ last film with Hal Wallis and John Rich, they just wanted to get the film over with. They cut the budget and Elvis did not get the lead he wanted to which was not Pat Priest, although she was a wonderful woman. It was supposed to be Suzanna Leigh. If Elvis was not particularly happy doing the film, Wallis and John Rich also weren’t thrilled because the budget was cut.
A French lobby card for their re-named film, "Three Guys, Two Girls and One Treasure"
Fascinatingly for an Elvis movie promotion the lobby-card uses no image of Elvis, instead it features co-star Skip Ward - with Catalina Island in the background.
Elvis did however come to the wrap party and - similarly to other actors I have worked with such as Rock Hudson and Angela Lansbury - Elvis was extremely cordial, said thanks and chatted to everybody. This was not always the case with big stars where sometimes the main actors are very aloof and disinterested in the other players. Elvis certainly knew who he was and knew what it would means to all of us to individually say thanks. He personally said thank you, gave us kisses and held our hands - he was a very generous spirit.
Above: Two publicity shots of Elvis and Elaine Beckett that featured in the press
EIN: There is a little dance party scene in Easy Come, Easy Go with a room packed full of people, you weren’t by chance part of that crowd we’re you? EB: No, sadly for me it was just the Catalina stuff, going up and down on the boat getting seasick. Unfortunately I never saw Elvis singing a song, that would have been very special. (laughing) I’m not sure about ‘Yoga Is As Yoga Does’ though - he must have cringed doing that! EIN: Hal Wallis had been with him since 1956, surely he must have known that Elvis would not be happy doing subaqua scenes. Why on earth did he make him a singing, sub-aqua bomb diffuser expert on the last film. It almost seems as if there was something vindictive on the part of Hal Wallis making Elvis do that? EB: Well, Hal Wallis would have OK’d the script. Elvis wasn’t happy and John Rich wasn’t happy either. It couldn’t have been the most pleasant of script choices, but everyone had to do it and get the contract finished and they did. EIN: Do you think Col Parker’s management let him down? EB: Elvis certainly had more talent that he was never allowed to express. If only he had been given a longer leash, perhaps gone to Europe or given better movie roles. Now of course actors fight for every chance to stretch themselves as actors, even doing roles that will challenge their general audience. They do take those risks. Elvis was never allowed to do that.
EIN: After the film finished did you keep in contact with any of their crew from the movie like Pat Priest or Dodie Marshall? EB: No. In fact I went back to university, did a Master’s Degree in fine arts and opened my own arts studio. Everyone had moved on to other projects and for me it was part-time fun work. EIN: it was an amazingly creative time, that period, compared to post-war conservatism. EB: Of course when you’re meeting them at the time you wouldn’t realise what place they would hold in the future in arts history. I met so many people, practically everyone, the only people I didn’t meet was The Beatles. Coincidentally my stepfather also sold Elvis many of his Cadillacs as he had a Cadillac dealership. He also told me what a wonderful man Elvis was. Being British I also connected and chatted with actors like David Niven and Peter Lawford and I met Alfred Hitchcock. Those were the days, it was fantastic. EIN: That all sounds an amazing set of contacts over the years. So what are you doing now? EB: I am still very busy helping with multiple non-profit organisations including many that support animal rights and welfare. Groups I mentioned like ‘The Humane Society of the US’ and their associated Genesis Awards (see note below). I also still follow my arts and continue to paint fine portraits in oil for commissions and for my own pleasure. (see portrait below) EIN: It sounds like you had a fantastic life. EB: I have - and I am still trekking on!
Please go here to find out more about the The Humane Society of the United States. The Genesis Awards are awarded annually by The Humane Society of the United States to individuals in the major news and entertainment media for producing outstanding works which raise public awareness of animal issues. Interview by Piers Beagley. Click here to comment on this interview THANKS as always to EIN's good friend Joan Gansky for the contact.
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Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises. The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club.
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