Girls on Elvis

June Juanico on meeting Elvis

One of Elvis's girlfriends from the 1950's wrote a book about their relationship. Read an excerpt from the book.

Celeb dates confess!

Ann-Margret and others quoted in 1997 article.

Girl fans quoted

In 1972 NY Times piece.

Oral History of Encounters with Elvis

From Elvis Presley online...

Stella Stevens was recently interviewed by the Fox Movie Channel about working with Elvis.

Q: Did you enjoy working on Girls Girls Girls?

Stella Stevens: I didn’t want to do the picture. I told Paramount the script was a piece of ---. You know what that is. And they hated me for it. Hal Wallis sent down an edict that if I was on the street at the Paramount lot, that I was to turn, walk down another street and not pass him. I played a girl in that gets dumped by Elvis Presley. I didn’t want to do it. The director also hated me. I had a tough time. I was glad I only worked 6 days. I swore I would never see the film again. And I never have.

Q: How did they convince you to do the picture?

Stella Stevens: I was threatened with suspension. I couldn’t work for Paramount and I couldn’t work for anybody else. So my son and I would starve for all they cared. Then I said, "I don’t care. I’ll starve rather then do this horrible piece of junk." So, they told me that if I would do Girls Girls Girls, my next picture would be with Montgomery Cliff. Well, that was the magic word. I said "OK, I’ll do it. " Montgomery Cliff turned out to be Bobby Darrin and that picture was Too Late Blues. I never got to work with Montgomery Cliff. But I was stuck doing the Presley film.

Q: How was Elvis on the set?

Stella Stevens: It was fine working with Elvis. He was nice, but he also was drinking on the set. Anything that Elvis said had to go through the Colonel. He was not allowed to speak for himself. If Elvis had a drink -- and believe me, in Hawaii he loved those rum punch drinks -- it would be swept away and a bottle of Coca Cola would be set there in front of him. He was drunk when he sang "Return to Sender" and not a really professional actor. When I left it after the 6th day, I said, "I’ll just forget about it." Did you ever try to forget about an Elvis Presley film? It totally is impossible. Totally impossible. (she laughs)

Any Elvis fan will find Ms. Stevens comments about Elvis drinking odd, since it's well known that Elvis didn't drink.

Craig Newell of The Craig Newell ELVIS Stage Show in Las Vegas brought up the matter on the alt.elvis.king message board and got a comment out of Marty Lacker, one of the Memphis Mafia:

Re: Stella Stevens calls EL a drunk!!!

Group: alt.elvis.king Date: Mon, Jun 11, 2001, 4:55pm (PDT+7)

Craig wrote:

What the hell is this?!!! This link has an interview with Stella Stevens. She is discussing her experience on the Girls,Girls,Girls set. Stella claims that Elvis was drinking heavy on the set. Rum to be exact. She said Elvis was drunk when he performed RETURN TO SENDER. This does not sound right. Is she lying or what?!! Girls on Elvis

Dawn wrote:

Craig Even though Elvis is known for not drinking............... This is another"unverified" rumor floating around. Marty, can you please comment? Dawn

Marty wrote:

Poor Stella. Nobody made a big deal out of her and her big boobs on that picture, including Elvis, so she's been dissing him ever since. Elvis didn't drink. Every once in a while he had a drink but I have never seen him have one on a movie set. Marty

Thanks, Craig, for getting this clarified!

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