Apart from the films starring ‘The King of Rock’, Elvis Presley is a recurring icon in many films and television series. The immediate premiere of ‘Elvis’, Baz Luhrmann’s feature film on the 24th, with Austin Butler as the creator of “The Rock of Prison”, makes us look back at the best films around the ‘king of rock’ , not starring himself. Along with the title and the year of production, we indicate the platform on which they can be seen, which are found on some.
Image from ‘Elvis and Nixon’. /
1. ‘Elvis and Nixon’ (2016)
Directed by Liza Johnson and with Michael Shannon as Elvis, it shows how, on the morning of December 21, 1970, Presley appears in the courtyard of the White House to request an appointment with the most powerful man in the world, the President of the United States. States, Richard Nixon (played by Kevin Spacey). Apparently, Elvis got it into his head that he wanted a federal agent’s badge so he could fight drug addiction in his country, and Nixon’s advisers thought there was no problem in granting such a wish, in exchange for some photographs that they could improve the public image of the president, who was given a collector’s revolver by the King of Rock.
Image from ‘This is Elvis’. /
2. ‘This Is Elvis’ (1981)
Directed by Malcolm Leo and Andrew Solt, with unknown Johnny Harra as Elvis. Semi-documentary film that went through the Cannes Festival. The film combines home tape and concert footage of the King of Rock, with live dramatizations. First-time performances and television appearances are included, as well as real footage of his military service in Germany, his deteriorating health, and his death.
Russell as Elvis /
3. ‘Elvis’ (1979)
A television production that transcends to the small screen both for its director and for the person who gives life to Elvis. It is directed by John Carpenter and features a perfect job by Kurt Russell as The King. Presley is going to reappear in Las Vegas… Before the concert, in a city hotel, Elvis is assailed by memories of his past, of his rebellious youth, of his first days in Memphis, his rise to fame and fortune and Above all, he remembers his true love, Priscilla.
Image from ‘Elvis and me’. /
4. ‘Elvis and me’ (1988)
Also a television miniseries, directed by Larry Peerce, with Dale Midkiff as Elvis. It is a biography of Priscilla, who was the wife of Elvis Presley, which focuses above all on her relationship with the singer. She talks about her pre-wedding romance, family problems, and the causes that led to the couple’s divorce.
Picture of ‘On the tightrope’. /
5. ‘Tightrope’ (2005)
Directed by James Mangold, with Tyler Hilton playing Elvis. The film is a biopic of Johnny Cash, one of the icons of 20th-century American music, brought to life with perfect mimicry by Joaquin Phoenix. The film chronicles his love story with June, another singer of the time, and his self-destructive tendencies indulging in all kinds of excesses of love and drugs, and charts Cash’s rise from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and, of course, Elvis Presley.
Image from ‘Great Ball of Fire’. /
6. ‘Great Ball of Fire’ (1986)
Directed by Jim McBride, it features Michael St. Gerard as Elvis. A biopic of rocker Jerry Lee Lewis, who shocked America in the 1950s and 1960s with his borderline behaviors, his revolutionary music, his addiction to all kinds of drugs, and his eccentricities, many of them anathema to America’s pristine consciences , who never forgave him for marrying a minor and that, moreover, she was his niece. The film shows the relationship between Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, both revolutionizing America with the nascent rock and roll.
Image from ‘Forrest Gump’. /
7. ‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis as Peter Dobson Elvis Presley. Through the experiences of Forrest (Tom Hanks), capable of anything thanks to his determination and honesty, we witness the recent history of the United States, from the birth of rock in the fifties with Elvis Presley to the tense nineties marked by AIDS. A review of American life in recent decades through the story of a man with a poor IQ, who is always in the right place at the right time. The best thing about the film is the amazing special effects, capable of embedding Forrest in period documentary images, with the result that it seems that the character was really in those places.
Poster for ‘Heartbreak hotel’. /
8. ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ (1988)
Directed by Chris Columbus, very much in line with the comedies that this director used to do, it features David Keith playing the King of Rock: When a teenager tries to establish a rock and roll band at school, his mother, who was a huge fan of Elvis Presley, has an accident. He and his gang members decide to kidnap Elvis and introduce him to his mother. To the astonishment of his kidnappers, Elvis, tired of a life full of easy hits, not only puts up no resistance, but decides to stay a few days! From this moment on, Johnny and his family will be involved in a series of incredible adventures that will change their lives and that of their sleeping city forever. It is not a masterpiece but it is a very endearing film.
Stars of ‘Hot shots!’ /
9. ‘Hot shots!’ (1986)
Directed by Jim Abrahams, with Bob Lenz as Elvis. A parody of ‘Top Gun’ (1986) in which a talented but unstable fighter pilot must overcome the ghosts of his father and save a mission sabotaged by greedy weapons manufacturers. He will have to deal with an incompetent admiral and a squadron of select pilots who are downright stupid. As in this type of comedy, many iconic characters appear in small roles, including the king of rock himself.
Picture of ‘Man on the moon’. /
10.’Man on the Moon’ (1999)
Directed by Milos Forman, the director manages to curl the curl: Jim Carrey imitating Andy Kaufman imitating Elvis. A biopic of comedian and impersonator Andy Kaufman, who as a child liked to put on variety shows, even though he didn’t have an audience. As an adult he begins to stand out as a comedian and is discovered by a talent scout, who gets him a role in a famous television series, in which, thanks to his comedic skills, he achieves great popularity. Despite this, he sets himself new challenges: with a colleague he creates the character of Tony Clifton, his alter ego; In addition, he organizes wrestling shows between women that cause him numerous problems. His impersonation of Elvis Presley made history.
Plus…
Don’t forget ‘Elvis’ (1990), ‘Honeymoon in Las Vegas’ (1992), ‘Death suits you so well’ (1992) ‘Only fools fall in love’ (1996), ‘My dear countrymen’ ( 1996), ‘Graceland’ (1998), ‘The Kings of Crime’ (2001), ‘Bubba Ho-Tep’ (2002) or ‘Lonely Street’ (2009).
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.