Viva Las Vegas: Elvis starred in a 1964 teaser with Anne Margaret
This month, Elvis Presley was celebrated in cinemas with the release of the new biopic Elvis Baz Luhrmann. Although the movie shows some of the biggest moments in the star’s life, it misses one main character: Ann-Margret.
Elvis met Ann-Margret before they started shooting a movie together, Viva Las Vegas, in 1963. Ann-Margret described their first meeting as “electric,” and it was the beginning of a romance that nearly dragged King away from his life. Long-term lover, Priscilla Presley.
Ann-Margaret has been very open about Elvis in the past. She wrote about him extensively in her memoir, My Story, detailing the love and commitment the pair shared during their relationship.
They weren’t together for very long, but their relationship was without a doubt. And to this day, Anne-Margaret is very careful about what she says about the King.
This caution was evident during her 1994 interview with Charlie Rose. During that time, she was reluctant to bring in the star.
In the end, the journalist became very direct. He said “EP”. “Why are you so reluctant to talk about it? Even when I watched you in conversation, it seems that there were… clan spirits seeing in each other something deep within you that both of you know. Now it seems as if you were trying to protect it?”
Ann-Margaret replied solemnly: “Oh, yes.”
Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret had a relationship for just over a year (Image: Getty)
Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret met on the set of Viva Las Vegas (Image: Getty)
Speaking 17 years after Elvis’ death on August 16, 1977, she revealed, “Our relationship was so strong, so dangerous, so real. It was so special. It was so strong.”
When pressed further, the star revealed that she didn’t want to tarnish the king’s memory in any way.
“We were together for one year and trust me,” she said. “And I don’t want to betray his trust in death.”
Obviously, Anne-Margaret remembered Elvis very fondly. But, beneath it all, there was still a lot of anger within her about how the king had died.
READ MORE: Elvis Presley: Priscilla ‘didn’t’ want to marry King
Ann Margaret and her husband Roger Smith (Image: Getty)
Elvis Presley performing Hound Dog in 1956
Anne-Margaret was the only person from Elvis’ days in Hollywood to attend the star’s massive funeral at Graceland, which took place two days after his death. But before that, he was not in good shape.
Many reports have been written about how overweight King became and was, in general. Fans now know he’s been trying to make a comeback to Hollywood – but in more dramatic roles, rather than in his romantic musical comedies by heart.
And that wasn’t how Anne-Margaret wanted Elvis to be remembered. “I knew him very well,” she continued. “There is so much writing about him that I want to celebrate his life [and] The man I knew.”
With this in mind, Ann-Margaret criticized those who had spoiled his reputation.
do not miss …
Elvis Presley: A terrifying reason why the King didn’t tour abroad [NEWS]
Elvis Presley: Priscilla “didn’t” want to marry King [INSIGHT]
Elvis Presley ‘gave Priscilla Presley pills’ after her move [INFO]
Anne-Margaret exasperated: “He was so talented, it makes me so angry because all those people who made fun of him near his death, all of a sudden – right after his death – were writing reams and reams of stories about him. [about] How talented he was.”
I asked, “Why didn’t they do that while he was alive?” Despite this, she still has a special relationship with the star.
She admitted: “I cherish his memory.” Unfortunately for the couple, their relationship wasn’t meant to be.
A little over a year after they started seeing each other, Elvis and Ann-Margaret broke up. And the actress remembers exactly why.
Anne Margaret wrote in her diary: “We kept seeing each other periodically until we dated for about a year. Then it all stopped. We knew the relationship had to come to an end, and Elvis had to make good on his commitment.” (sic)
That “commitment” you mentioned was undoubtedly Priscilla Presley, whom Elvis had not married at the time. While the King was touring with Anne-Margaret, Priscilla was at Graceland, faithfully awaiting his return.
But when I found out, there was hell to be paid. She asked him to end the relationship, and he did. He proposed shortly thereafter.
A few years later, Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967. Just a week later, Ann-Margate married her husband Roger Smith on May 8, 1967. They are still together to this day.
[ad_2]
