FLAMING STAR – a demanding role for Presley (Part 1)
By Mariusz Ogieglo
Billboards promoting the spring 1960 comedy “GIBlues” encouraged viewers to come to the theaters to see “a whole new Elvis.” Meanwhile, his ambitions to become a serious actor and one day play a serious dramatic role seemed stronger than ever. Especially since, like many of his fans and critics, he still remembered his very successful performance in Michael Curtis’s “King Creole.” ”
Well, I’d like to play a dramatic role, but I’m not ready for it yet ,” Elvis confessed in an interview. ”
I haven’t got enough experience in acting yet, and until I do, it would be foolish to take on a very dramatic role .”
Apparently, however, by casting Presley in the adaptation of Clair Huffaker’s acclaimed book, “Flaming Lance,” Hollywood gave the singer a huge leap of faith and wanted to show otherwise. But it didn’t happen right away…
Flamingo Lance
The above-mentioned novel, which the author himself initially titled “The Brothers Of Broken Lance” (allegedly the publisher used the same title before the official premiere of the book), was published in January 1958 by Simon & Schuster and was the fifth * in the output of the American writer, screenwriter, journalist (after the end of World War II, he worked in Chicago as an assistant editor of the weekly “Time”) and author of westerns, most of which, like “The Flaming Lance”, were later adapted into films.
In it, Huffaker told the moving story of the Burton family—Sam, his wife, a Kiowa Indian, and their son Peacer and his half-brother, Clint. “
Their homestead, Flaming Lance, was halfway between town and the Indian camp ,” the publisher wrote. “
For years the Burtons had been able to farm their land, but that time had come to an end .” The Burtons’ fortunes changed dramatically the day a small band of Indians attacked a nearby town and slaughtered their friends. “
The Indian raid and subsequent massacre had a devastating effect on the Burton family because Sam’s second wife was a Kiowa, and Pacer and his half-brother had been loyal and loving to her ,” noted a September 1958 review of the book.
In the face of the above events and the tragedy of their loved ones, Pacer and Clint face a serious dilemma and must make the most difficult choice in their lives so far – answer whose side they want to fight on now. Join the white settlers who want to avenge the death of their loved ones? Take the side of the mother’s tribe who want to regain the lands appropriated by the whites, which Pacer – a half-blood Indian, the new chief, strongly encourages? Or maybe maintain complete neutrality, which in this case might seem the best solution?
Unfortunately, as the story goes on, neither of these options seems to be right for the Burtons… “ When Clint refuses to join the whites in fighting the Kiowa, local reprisals ensue. A herd of cattle is scared off and its mother is killed by a white survivor of the raid ,” continues the author of the review quoted above.
In turn, upon hearing of the death of his beloved mother, Pacer decides to leave his family and join the Kiowa tribe. Shortly afterwards, however, his father is killed by the Indians… As a result, ” there is great bloodshed caused by different approaches to the subject of white and red skin “.
The decision to adapt this gripping story for the big screen did not take long. Just a few weeks after the book’s premiere, Clair Huffaker personally informed the public that 20th Century Fox had acquired the rights to the film adaptation of his latest novel . * In the same interview, he also assured that the probable title of the film would be “The Brothers Of Broken Lance” and the roles of the titular brothers would be played by Marlon Brando (who was supposed to play Pacer) and Frank Sinatra.
The author’s revelations were almost immediately confirmed by 20th Century Fox, which added in a statement issued in May 1958 that filming for the book’s film adaptation would begin the following month, i.e. in June 1958.
The script was to be written by renowned Hollywood director, producer and screenwriter Nunnally Johnson. Author of dozens of screenplays, including such classics of the time as “The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit” starring Gregory Peck, for which he received a nomination for the Directors Guild of America Award in the category of “Outstanding Directing in a Feature Film” and “Casanova Brown” starring Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright in the title roles.
In the book “Elvis Presley In The Movies” one could even read that ” Oscar nominee for the screenplay for The Grapes Of Wrath, Nunnally Johnson adapted Claire Huffaker’s novel expressly with Brando in mind .”
Ironically, however, the talks with both stars, Sinatra and Brando, ended in failure. And the reason for the failure was most likely financial. ” They told me they couldn’t do it (the film, author’s note) because it would cost too much for a Western, ” Johnson remembered his conversation with studio executives. ” And a Western wouldn’t make as much money as the costs that would be incurred, or something like that .”
Due to the above, work on the film had to be postponed until a new cast was found.
It was only at this stage that Elvis Presley began to be mentioned as a candidate for the role of Pacer Burton. His name first began to appear in late 1958. ” With the consent of Buddy Adler (actually, Maurice ‘Buddy’ Adler, producer of 20th Century Fox, author’s note) we would like to take advantage of our opportunity to make a second Elvis Presley film (the first was ‘Love Me Tender’, author’s note) and to speed up the start of shooting, ” wrote casting director Lew Schreiber in a letter to Frank Ferguson dated December 22, 1958.
The catch, however, was that the popular singer was doing two years of military service in Germany at the time and, despite signing a contract in October, was not available. The start of filming had to be postponed for another few months. This time, until the summer of 1960.
” The commencement date of the period of employment in connection with the first motion picture to be made during the term of this agreement shall be August 1, 1960 ,” read the provision in the appendix to the October 29, 1958, employment contract between Elvis Presley and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation dated July 26, 1960.
The same document, personally confirmed by Elvis, also included the standard item regarding the time and place of filming. ” You hereby agree to report to our studio located at 1020 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California on August 1, 1960, to begin pre-production on the aforementioned motion picture, now titled ‘Flaming Lance .'”
- Previously released titles include “Badge For A Gunfighter”, “Badman”, “Rider From Thunder Mountain” and “Cowboy”.
- Some sources even claim that 20th Century Fox acquired the film rights even before the book was released.
Information provided by Mariusz Ogieglo, EP Promised Land (Poland) http://www.elvispromisedland.pl/
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