The Defiant Ones

1 9 5 8 (UK)

HISTORICAL NOTE
Director Stanley Kramer had wanted Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr to play the Curtis and Poitier roles. He had seen the two singers hanging out together and felt they had a chemistry that would work well on film. The King was keen, saying "I'm up to here with these beach and bikini pictures", but the idea was allegedly nixed by Colonel Parker who was none too keen to have Elvis's fans see him "chained up to a colored guy".