I saw the movie Elvis this weekend. When I was young in the early 60s the teenage girl next door would spend hours playing his records. I’d sit with her some as a 6 year old. One day she thought it would a great idea to slick my hair back. I guess that led to my becoming something of a fan.
My Dad made a business trip around that time to Memphis. He came back talking about having seen the gates at Graceland with the iconic musical notes emblazoned on them.
Years later my wife Peggy and I took the tour of Elvis’ famous place. I do remember snowmobiles specially outfitted with wheels as it doesn’t snow much there. He also had some nice racquetball courts.
I was doing an afternoon radio program in Illinois when word of his passing came across the AP teletype machine in the summer of 1977. We received phone calls from distraught listeners.
The movie is good. Austin Butler captures Presley perfectly. It is an amazing performance. The film reminds us that not everyone was enthralled with this strange fellow and the reaction of teenage women to him frightened the established order. It also captures a young Elvis being drawn to African American churches where he could hear the music and also his hanging around clubs on Beale street.
The very sketchy and shrewd Col. Tom Parker helped morph Elvis into an “all American boy” when he nudged Elvis to go to the Army where he served in Germany for two years.
This film poignantly depicts Elvis’ slide into abuse of prescription drugs and the sad end of his marriage to Priscilla.
Some critics have said the movie has some problems with organization. While that point has some validity, Butler’s spot on performance more than compensates. I’m sure we’ll hear more of this fine actor. He even catches the changes in Presley's voice as he moves from his teenage years into adulthood. (He does the singing too.)
I think you’ll like this movie.
Happy 4th.
Cannot edit fixes on my phone. Apologies. I'll fix the typo when I get back to office Tuesday.