Elvis (Elvis the Movie) (1979)

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(1,440 ratings)

The first volley in the never-ending "Presley movie" blitzkrieg, the made-for-TV Elvis: The Movie stars Kurt Russell as the King, Season Hubley as Priscilla, Pat Hingle as Col. Parker, Shelley Winters as Elvis' mom, and Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father) as Elvis' dad. The film recounts… More The first volley in the never-ending "Presley movie" blitzkrieg, the made-for-TV Elvis: The Movie stars Kurt Russell as the King, Season Hubley as Priscilla, Pat Hingle as Col. Parker, Shelley Winters as Elvis' mom, and Bing Russell (Kurt's real-life father) as Elvis' dad. The film recounts Presley's life from age ten to his 1969 Vegas comeback. Presley imitator Ronnie McDowell expertly dubs in Kurt Russell's renditions of "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," et al. When first telecast on February 11, 1979, the ratings for Elvis: The Movie went through the roof, even beating out a competing telecast of Gone With the Wind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: John Carpenter
Genres: Drama, Television, Musical & Performing Arts

In Theaters: Feb 1, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Mar 2, 2010

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
[John] Carpenter... puts the dramatic focus on the relationships and tricky social dynamic with the male friends who became Elvis support group and entourage.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
A performance de Russell é impecável; é como se víssemos o próprio Elvis. Porém, o fraco roteiro se limita a retratar momentos da vida deste, sem procurar conhecê-lo melhor.

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moon r

John Carpenter and Kurt Russell's first team-up is this thumbnail overview biopic to Tupelo's baritone bomber and his ever-so-fraught-with-rumor behind-the-scenes relationships: his Ma, his manager, his monkeys, and his wife. Though Russell's King is disconcertingly… More
John Carpenter and Kurt Russell's first team-up is this thumbnail overview biopic to Tupelo's baritone bomber and his ever-so-fraught-with-rumor behind-the-scenes relationships: his Ma, his manager, his monkeys, and his wife. Though Russell's King is disconcertingly spot-on still the piece plays exactly how it was intended to: like a TV movie.

Cast

            Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley

            Shelley Winters as Gladys Presley

            Bing Russell as Vernon Presley

            Season Hubley as Priscilla Presley

            Pat Hingle as Colonel Tom Parker

            Melody Anderson as Bonnie

            Ed Begley Jr as D.C. Fontana

            Nora Boland as Teacher

            Jim Canning as Scotty

            Dennis Christopher
            
            Robert Christopher
            
            Charles Cyphers as Sam Phillips

            Jesse Dabson
            
            Robert Gray as Red West

            Jim Greenleaf as 2nd Reporter

            Peter Hobbs as Jim Denny

            Charlie Hodge as Himself

            Les Lannom as Sonny West

            Joe Mantegna as Joe Esposito

            Larry Pennell
            
            Ken Smolka
            
            Dennis Stewart
            
            Elliott Street as Bill Black

            Ellen Travolta as Marion

            Meg Wyllie as Grandma

            Mario Gallo
            
            Mark Denis
            
            Ted Lehmann
            
            Galen Thompson as Hank Snow

            Ronnie McDowell as 'Elvis' vocals

            Will Jordan as Ed Sullivan
See full cast