Culture and Societies of English-Speaking Countries

ELVIS. BAZ LUHRMANN. 2022.

I. BEFORE THE SCREENING

1. Find information about the following terms:

 Carnival attraction
 Greasy hair, girly makeup
 To wiggle
 Sideburns
 Lewd gyrations and sudden jerky movements (24:45)
 Tomorrow all of America will be talking about Elvis
(37:20)
 Butler
 Vice Squad
 Draft dodger
 Clean cut all American boy (1:04:18)
 The new Elvis´ film, another flop.
 Stardust

2. Document yourself. Find information about Colonel Tom Parker and his role
in Elvis’s life and career.

II. DURING THE SCREENING

1. When Jimmie Rodgers plays Elvis’s record everybody think he is black.

Why?

2. Describe Elvis childhood.

3. What is the “New Elvis” and why did it happen?

4. After Elvis´ return from Germany, how does life in America change?

5. How does Bindle change Elvis’s career?

6. Elvis sings Suspicious Minds in Vegas (“We're caught in a trap /I can't

walk out…”). Is that foreshadowing his future?

7. How does Tom Parker stop Elvis from touring internationally?

8. How does the film end?

III. AFTER THE SCREENING

1. Comment on each of the following characters:

 Elvis Presley

 Tom Parker

 Priscilla

2. What is the importance of scene at the Hall of Mirrors? (27:50)

3. Can you identify Elvis’s accent? And Colonel Tom Parker?

4. Elvis broke up with previous roles and expectations. Why do you think he
became such a success?

5. Senator James Eastland´s speech and Elvis’s concert are shown

simultaneously. Explain the differences between them and the different
outcome of each one.

6. Religion and gospel are key to understand the historical context of the film
and Elvis’s music. Give some examples.

7. Rock and Roll changed American society through 20th-century key media
elements: radio, television, films, and advertising. Elaborate.