JERICHO, N.Y., January 4, 2002 – AMC pays tribute to the "King" on his birthday, Tuesday, January 8, when it presents the "Happy Birthday Elvis" festival. The line-up includes the comedy EASY COME, EASY GO, the romantic drama LOVE ME TENDER and the documentaries ELVIS IN HOLLYWOOD and ELVIS 56.
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, where he first heard the black rhythm and blues and gospel that would later shape his unique sound. At 13, he moved with his family to Memphis, Tennessee. He cut his first commercial record, "That's Alright, Mama," at the local Sun Studios in 1954 and made his film debut two years later, launching a prosperous Hollywood career. Elvis made 33 films, starting in 1956 and continuing throughout the 1960s.
AMC's "Happy Birthday Elvis" festival begins at 10:15 AM (ET) with the documentary ELVIS IN HOLLYWOOD (1993), featuring interviews with friend and DJ George Klein and songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Next, at 11:15 AM (ET) Elvis is a diver going after sunken treasure in the musical comedy EASY COME, EASY GO (1967). Dodie Marshall co-stars as a wacky yoga instructor.
At 1:00 PM (ET) the documentary ELVIS 56 (1995) chronicles the year that Elvis burst onto the scene – a year in which he recorded "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Blue Suede Shoes" and other early hits. Narrated by singer Levon Helm, the documentary features clips from "The Milton Berle Show," "The Steve Allen Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." Following, at 2:00 PM (ET), Elvis is one of two brothers in love with Debra Paget in his film debut, LOVE ME TENDER (1956). This Civil War period piece features the title song, which became an Elvis standard. (Also at 4:00 AM.)
The "Happy Birthday Elvis" festival concludes at 3:45 PM (ET) with the drama CHANGE OF HABIT (1969). In his last screen role, Elvis stars as an inner city doctor and Mary Tyler Moore is a nun who must choose between her love for the doctor and the church. (Also at 5:45 AM.)
AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS is the nation's premier movie network, bringing timeless favorites to a broad audience by placing them in a fresh and contemporary context. Award-winning original documentaries, series and specials are infused with the energy and excitement of Hollywood past and present. Launched in 1984, AMC is currently available in 81 million homes.
AMC is owned and managed by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. A subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC, Rainbow manages American Movie Classics, WE: Women's Entertainment, Bravo, The Independent Film Channel, MuchMusic USA, Rainbow Sports, News 12 Networks and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. In addition, Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in FOX Sports Net. AMC is one of the assets included in a new series of Cablevision common stock — Rainbow Media Group tracking stock (NYSE: RMG) — which began trading on the NYSE on March 30th. MGM (NYSE: MGM) owns a 20 percent stake in four of Rainbow's national networks – AMC, Bravo, IFC and WE: Women's Entertainment.
Contact:
Jaime Saberito
Dina White
516-803-4350
Fenot Tekle
Lynn Weiss
310-998-9300