Today’s report originates from St. Louis and Elvis opens everywhere today and it is fabulous in so many ways, I can’t say enough good things about this movie. Starting with Austin Butler who is spot on as Elvis. From the opening scene of a 10 year old Elvis sneaking into and falling in love with music of a black Christian gospel tent revival to the day he dies, it’s all good. When his dad is sent to jail, Elvis and his mother move to a ghetto neighborhood where he is the only white kid. When he is 19 and driving a truck, he records, That’s Alright Mama, on July 15th at Sam Phillips studios in Memphis. Sam is so taken by the song, he drives a few blocks with a copy of the song to WHBQ radio and asks his disc jockey buddy Dewey Phillips (no relation) to play the just recorded song. Phones ring off the hook, everybody wanting it to be played over and over. Elvis is called the King of Rock and Roll, but rejects that honor his whole life saying, that would be Fats Domino.
But this story is just as much about his partner, the man behind the man, Col. Tom Parker played brilliantly by Tom Hanks. This is about the two men and the business of their business! While business is exploding, The Beatles are arriving, and Parker decides it would be beneficial for Elvis to go into the Army. This would be the long beginning of the end. Forced to make three horrible movies a year that all flopped after his discharge, and his music also taking a hit. It is obvious that Parker is creatively clueless and his choices for Elvis are failing. He has a great TV Special, and just when things start to turnaround, Parker signs him to a 5 year Las Vegas deal. It proves a disaster. Unhappy Elvis turns to food and drugs as we learn to hate Parker and pity Presley. Elvis gains 70 pounds, his drug intake takes a toll and he’s dead at 42. (PG-13) – (2 ½ Hours) – (5 Stars).
Talk to you from St. Louis tomorrow, Mike Evans has left the building.
Leave a Reply