Baz Luhrmann interviews Elvis Presley’s childhood friend Sam Bell 

Yesyes ❤️🙏

God bless you Sam great memories

@@danielupsdell2697 Amens's Lords's

R.I.P Mr. Bell 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

He died? Shame I was thinking he looked good for someone in the their 80s.

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

You guys have been so sweet!

I agree. I miss grandparents as well. The folks seemed to work really hard back then!

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

YESSSSSSSSSS!!! I loved this. I spotted it right away. OSCARS ARE MADE for legendary work like this. Just imagine we can hear traffic in the background of this video... while life is moving on your got a LEGENDARY HISTORY LESSON with a producer FROM AUSTRALIA traveling this far, to meet someone not famous TO GET THE MOVIE RIGHT!! THIS IS what Oscars were made for. Baz deserves one. I think the movie will sweep the Oscars. I predict at least 4 now - Austin, Baz and cinematography and custume teams

Yeeeesssss I did too

Yes the little boy dancing and pointing barefoot. I realized that once I saw this interview.

Yes I noticed :)

Whites and blacks were living together long before your forced pseudo "diversity"

If you think there weren't black and white people that got along just fine in America before the Civil Rights movement, you need to stop listening to the neoliberal propaganda machine.

Proves, for the billionth time, that racism is something that is taught by ugly adults, not innate in a child.

Unbiased friendships have always been possible and always will be!

They sould have mentioned Sam Bell in the movie and documentaries about Elvis. But they segregated Sam like they do the other stories , such as Elvis giving Muhammad Ali a boxing robe and his friendship with James Brown.

He failed to make an effort to visit with the 2 living people that knew Elvis better than anyone , his cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo. As you might know, Billy was with Elvis his whole life up until Elvis died.

@@warrendelay yeah I know about Billy, and he has a lot of stuff recorded that Baz could use for info. He may have reached out to Billy I am not sure, but Billy has been well documented with many hours online and many books, whereas Sam Bell has not been nearly as documented. I think just from one book alone, "Revelations of the Memphis Mafia," Plus with what he has contributed to his son's "Memphis Mafia Kid" channel and his own RU-vid channel, there are many, many hours of stories from him, not including the 5 hour sit down series with Billy and 4 other "Memphis Mafia" members on " All the Kings men."

Agree. He should have spoken with them.

@@warrendelay Billy Smith is in the movie. A guy named Charles Grounds portrays him. Elvis started singing in church when he was very young. I doubt that Billy was born yet. I think Baz is trying to show where it all began, where the music started.

@@norway178 If there is a portrayal of Billy, they won't be using Billy's name without Billy's permission, which according to Billy's wife Jo, no one ever contacted Billy. as for what Baz is trying to show,,,,, obviously we can see from the trailer that he is covering Elvis's life. Not just the beginning, Billy would be invaluable in sharing how Elvis reacted to and REALLY felt about MANY things events, such as MLK and RFKs assassinations. such as exact quotes by Elvis to those closest to him, rather than relying on casual acquaintances of Elvis. So I repeat , and it cannot be disputed, if Baz had any desire to make an accurate or factual movie about Elvis, he would have had to at LEAST consulted Billy. and it can't be excused away. this movie is going to be a fantasy of baz's imagination.

💯

Jealous people keep repeating the same easy lies.

I remember watching Dream Girls and there was a scene where this dude calls Elvis a thief for stealing black people's music. All these time I thought he stole songs and never had any originals. I started disliking him. Never was I misinformed so much.

Yes, indeed Derek! Sadly, after all of these years people are using social media to spread slanderous untruths about EP's character. Currently, even a few monetized-intended RU-vid channels are engaged in skullduggery type practices to discredit EP.

I wish he would've seen it, I wonder what he would've thought of it

I agree. The people that were his childhood friends have all mostly passed. I teared up while watching this. My grandmother would have been so happy to see this film!

Jii

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This totally refutes every person who now calls Elvis racist It shows he helped changed segregation laws by beung 'colour blind ' rememberblthis is the superstar who when told not to take his Sweet Inspirations backing group because they were black said They dont come I dont come Just a brilliant interview I do hope this gent got to see the finished film God Bless you Sam

He has other interviews on RU-vid. His stories are better than a documentary with actors playing the parts.

Word R.I.P

Oh my gosh. I learned quite a bit. We wished that my grandparents could see this movie! Thank you to the family and others that paid respect to the area.

I carry it on if it looks silly! Miss them alot!

@@raycarter8070 So sorry for your loss. I wish that they could've lived to see the movie also. Too bad that Covid delayed the opening. Thank you for setting the record straight on Elvis' relationship with his his neighbors.

Now that the whole first trailer is out, what do you think of it? I think it looks like he did a really good job. Looking forward to a great biopic.

Sam gave other interviews. Look them up on youtube

Estou torcendo pra que dê tudo certo com as coisas que querem fazer 😉🙂.com o resultado de tudo,estou gostando muito e ansiosa.maravilha.amizades boas.legal.

@@rong805 Have you seen the movie yet? I've watched it twice already, and seeing this interview with Mr. Bell, I wish more of his childhood was shown.

@@wh4193 Yes twice myself. In short, Baz was perfect for it visually, the story left A LOT to be desired, didn't like the Priscilla character, felt like she was just there. To me, the actress could've played Ginger and it would've made no difference. Finally, Austin killed it! Can't say enough about how good he was.

My mother is 90 and sharp as a tack. I love hearing about how she grew up in the 30's and 40's in Cokeburg, PA. Such a different time, she grew up poor and would tell the story how she would run 2 miles to take a bus that would save her 5 cents in fare. And when she would go to the movies, she would walk instead of taking the bus so she could buy candy from the machine instead. She would play with thistles and 'build' furniture with them because she didn't have toys. I love elderly and the stories they have to tell. They are so interesting if you care enough to just listen. Makes you appreciate the little things we take for granted. Sad to see the greatest generation dying off :(

Mr. Bell was in his 80s when this was done, right? "Well preserved" doesn't even begin to describe him!

I almost cried the other night thinking of my grandparents and Sam bell. They did not a get a chance to see the film!

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

The interview with Sam Bell wrote the beginning of the movie, because it showed where the music came from.

do you feel the movie suggested Elvis was planning to fly away from his image and career to safety in the Lisa Marie plane?

So True ⚡️⚡️TCB ⚡️⚡️

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

@Greenz1100 , Interesting insight about Nelson George reaction. I heard audio from interview of him many months back, discussing this film before he saw it. I've been curious his thoughts after finely seeing it. Curious to know how you heard about his reaction to film last week? I hope you don't mind my asking. Thanks in advance.

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

Chuck D already knows. - "Elvis was a bad ass white boy. He was legit. He came up through the streets and earned respect from black folks and black artists back in the day. It's not like he cheated to get there. And he gave a damn about black music and black people at a time when most white folks did not". - Chuck D 2002 interview with Nolan Strong After he made the racist charge against Elvis in his 1989 rap album, Chuck met a lot of his soul music & rhythm and blues hero's Ike Turner Bobby Blue Bland Rufus Thomas and even Little Richard. He sat down with them and they educated him about Elvis and the misinformation Chuck had been given they actually defended Elvis. Chuck also heard from his other musical Heroes like BB King, Isaac Hayes, James Brown and others. They all stuck up for Elvis also with great respect for him. Decades ago Chuck D tried to make public amends (with his quote I shared above from 2002) and educate others. The problem is that most people over the years ignored Chuck's public quote. What Chuck D thought decades ago though is least of these problems on this issue. He did right thing years ago acknowledged his being misinformed in other interviews too. Not his fault people haven't paid attention. Right now though in 2022 there are many more modern folks out there that are guilty of the same ignorance (that Chuck himself had originally started out with). Some of those people don't even care what Chuck D said all those years ago. They're getting their misinformation in these modern times from other misinformed people like Quincy Jones and others that keep this nonsense alive. It's a hard frustrating ongoing thing to fight.

Jay Viviano yeh, I heard that before. All well and good, I can respect someone who can change their mind. But, genuine question, has he changed the lyrics to ‘fight the power’? If he’s still going on stage and calling Elvis a “racist MF” after all those people have rightly told him otherwise he can go screw himself.

Who is Chuck D ?!?

@Johnny Rocker 100% correct. Chuck D is a low IQ weak mind. In fact, roughly 90% of the democrat party, is extremely unintelligent and easily duped by left wing bullshit propaganda.

@@jayviviano109 Elvis wasn't all white,he was Cherokee Indian

Exactly right, and I don't mean this in a personal way, but from a macro, big picture way. The culture all of us who live in America is predominantly white culture. So, for people to accuse Elvis of cultural appropriation of blacks when that's a big part of where he grew up and formed naturally, would be the same as calling all blacks the same thing because they are living and displaying white culture, because we live in a predominant white culture, from the form of government, European based, and frame of society and it's social norms, torts, and laws, to the economy and how business is conducted. Other cultures have mixed into it as well, but America is the great melting pot, but people seem to forget that white culture is the foundation of it all (I mean foundation of America).

@@dougdickason this is such an historically ignorant statement. The further you go back in history the harder it is to consider what is considered "white" vs. "black" by today's standards because from much of the societies that the western world is derivative of in history they didn't see the world in that way. So Romans wouldn't classify themselves as white by today's standards. Even the Christian religion, a big proponent of social ideology and practices in the west, which is rooted in Judeo history is Middle Eastern at best. And the Middle East had its renissance in mathematics, art, and sciences before Europe while it was in the dark ages and the Muslim faith was dominant until European conquest. And this doesn't even touch on the power of trade with the East that influenced western development. Look at the spice and drug trade and the Asian's technological contributions to the advancement of warfare. Look at Africa's cooperation and the role they played in that system as well. So the foundations of the components of the world is very global, so multicultural that it is laughable to say its all "white". Also, there are fundamentally different cultures between white and black America for most of the country's history mainly due to segregation either by slavery or the systems that were built to replace it. One only need to read the history of music in the country to know that. The gospel sound and practices which is I would say 50 percent of the foundation of America's mainstream musical origins finds its roots in the music of the African diaspora. Study the similarities in Latin and US music and one will see this. Anytime you look at the dominant developmental components of American musical genre there are stories of gospel and the initial muting of black voices and their breakthrough despite efforts to suppress them. Watch 20 Feet From Stardom just as an example.

@@paulthebohemian that was an impressive writing, but you didnt line item any of the points that I made for one, and yes, the further you go back in time the color line gets fuzzy, but that has nothing to do with what I was talking about. America is predominantly white culture (in real terms) and blacks are influenced by growing up in that culture. Did they steal it? No. Did Elvis steal black culture (sub culture)? No, he grew up in it. You made a general, historical, assumptive presentation going back thousands of years, where yes, you may be right technically, but just because a caveman was the first to eat with a fork, doesn't mean much when talking about today's table etiquette. Specifically tell me what I was wrong about in my post instead of giving me a historical document about general concepts, and give me some specifics of why my comment was wrong and ignorant. I'm open minded, willing to learn, and if you can show me specifically what I was wrong about in the actual TOPIC OF HOW ELVIS STOLE BLACK CULTURE, and do it in a real way, then I will acknowledge that. There has to be a frame of context, and if we connect everything back to the beginning of time, then there will be black people only, because they were first to breathe on the planet. In that sense, and that was where you were taking it, you are right, but in the real world, in where the context has to be connected to relivency, then the culture in America today is predominantly white culture, with many others mixed in. You didnt allow for this to be seen, and tried covering up, by doing the hip bone is connected to the leg bone, is connected to the ankle bone is connected to the foot bone, explanation for making your point, when it was so far away from the point(truth) that it had lost the meaning of it. I am not arguing any ot the historical claims you make. "Enculturation" is a technique the American government used to "change" the Native Americans into becoming more like the settlers and less like their ancestors, and is what happened to anyone not from America who came here, or was born here, including black folk. Or was that actually black people who enculturated them, because using your reasoning, going back in time, when it was a less white world you wanted to make clear. Is that a real way to view it? Can't have it both ways.

How can black culture be in someone’s dna? You mean he grew up around black culture 😭

@@chickenwings6745 If you are raised in a certain environment and/or around another culture, that culture becomes your DNA as a flection of who you are and where you come from. It's not bloodline DNA but it runs through your soul. Which makes it a centerpiece of you.

Sam was a sorce of information for the book "Last train to Memphis" if you havent read it, Vicki

@@PoboyNCoke Hey how are you? I read Careless Love but not that one yet. Health permitting I'll be at Elvis week this year. Excited. Vicki

@@PoboyNCoke I thought I recognised some of the narrative but seeing Sam's expressions, the smiles, the humour, the cheekiness, you get a far better sense than in the book. This really felt real and heart warming.

@@TM-fu2we Yep you can see how human they all were.

@@PoboyNCoke Yes, Peter Guralnick is a superb researcher and writer. It makes sense that he would have found Mr. Bell while working on the book. But he doesn't really emphasize that Elvis's best friend was a Black kid, which was so rare during that time.

Absolutely!!!

Or at the start of the movie!

@@joannemurdock7899 Or at the end.

@@gigimoore3738 yes! I just thought at the start would make u pay more attention at the start of the movie! Sad that good friend and neighbour he interviewed has since passed away!

Amen to that!

I hope it does too! Austin Butler did an amazing job playing Elvis. Seeing the women throw their drawls on the stage brought me back to when my grandmother told me about it😂

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

That is sad to hear. I was just looking through the video list on the right and found a couple more with Sam, so I saved them for future watching.

Good karma to you My friend...

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

I just watched the trailer and someone in the comments talked about this interview. So I just buzzed over here and boy am I glad I did. This was like finding treasure.

Me too!

Is gonna be difficult to wait until June.

I have to agree

Way more good then bad my friend! Don't believe the hype!

Elvis and a broom(like the kid -Forrest Gump)

Me too, everyday.

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

In this video, Sam says he never saw ElVIS again. I saw another video that stated when Sam was in the army he tried to see ELVIS In California, but was turned away by some of his hangerons. He wanted to tell ELVIS how proud he was of his great success. Condolences to the Sam Bell family. Forever Rest In Peace, Sam and ELVIS, Friends Reunited🫂😇😇❤️❤️. 2-26-22

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!

I think there will be very little, if any, of Sam Bell's cherished memories, in this movie. If that happens, it will be a great disrespect to both Sam and ELVIS. Very sad that Sam never saw ELVIS again. Two friends reunited, forever be at Peace, SAM and ELVIS.🫂❤️❤️. 2-26-22

I'll Fly Away Old Glory, I'll Fly Away!! Forever at Peace, May You Rest, Sam Bell ✌️❤️. 2-26-22.

@@Cynthia00007 yes, it wasn't any of those memories in the movie. Which I hate. They barely showed any memories of him as a child in the movie.

Glad you enjoyed it!

@@Epfanarchive I immensely enjoyed it

Baz I hope is creating a cool Elvis flick. 🕺

It was the fault of the racist pop entertainment industry that the Black artists Elvis learned from never got the opportunity to reap the rewards of their own artistry. Elvis was just singing the music he loved. Too often, people have conflated the two.

Mom and dad, born into farming families in 1929 & 32 in rural southern Mississippi explained their childhoods the same way. Their was legal segration with folks separated by a backyard fence, patch of land, a street, etc. of which the kids white and black paid little attention all playing, fishing, trying to stay out of trouble together. Adults knew, respected, and helped each other thru hard times. Mississippi, like anyplace else, was by no means a perfect place. But it speaks volumes that they would never sell their family land & decades after leaving they would always preface family summer road trips to visit as "going back home"

Truth!

I wish people heard more of these stories. People in power now have made us believe we should be segregating ourselves... we are so divided!

Just read how Sam passed recently - my thoughts and condolences to his family and friends 😔

Baz started working on this project in 2014 No other Elvis Movie has had so much attention given to it from its Producer. Even before this project is released, I believe it is Oscar bound!

I can't swear to this, but I've heard that when Elvis met B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and other blues and R&B starts at the WDIA Goodwill Revue in 1956, they were astounded that he called them "Mr. King," "Mr. Bland," etc. In those days, virtually no white person called a Black person "Mr." or "Mrs.," regardless of their ages. Again, I can't verify this story, but I have heard it from sources who should know.

@Anthony Rice Who is a liar? Not me. Not Jackie. Sorry you were not even born yet. These people were close lifelong friends. Elvis was a legendary creative talent that influenced tens of millions of music artists and will continue to do so long after you and I are long gone.

All you need to do is to hear Hamilton's "Don't Let Go" to realized how much Elvis picked up from Roy.

I hope you like it. I saw it last week and it was great! The 2.5 hours went by fast. Gonna have to see it again because it's a visual treat. There's alot missing, but how much of Elvis's story can be included in a few hours... All the best! 😀

Hey Guys, we just got down talking with graceland this week. The record company for the longest time controlled most of Mr. Presleys Image, so the real story of how he grew up was not told properly. We’ve been working with them this week. My grandparents lived on green street and next Mr. Presley in town. A lot of black families records have been destroyed or lost. We also found a second family that lived near him. My grandma was alittle hurt like Sam Bell over this fact, but I can assure you that Mr. Bell did this- because his parents did a lot to stand for the black community! You guys have been great. Graceland and us did not know the full story until now lol! You guys are great. I’ll try to share this around!