As we saw in the first look for Baz Luhrmann’s film, Elvis is a look at the history of the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, through the perspective of his long-time manager Colonel Tom Parker. And now we’ve seen quite a bit of the movie poster! It seems like the kind of poster we’d expect from the director of Moulin Rouge! It looks like a fantastic dive into the kind of universe Luhrmann is known for creating.
The movie trailer for Elvis, starring Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as his manager Tom Parker, gives us a nice taste of Luhrmann’s in-depth look at the renowned musician’s life. While the poster’s simplicity is a little unexpected, it weirdly fits with the overall vibe we’ve been getting from the film.
The poster has a black backdrop with red and gold text spelling out “ELVIS” across a bedazzled belt buckle similar to one worn by the singer. It’s a Broadway musical, therefore it’s a good fit for a Luhrmann picture. It also harkens back to Elvis Presley’s legendary comeback special, in which the artist performed in an all-white outfit in front of a red light-up sign spelling out his name.
While the poster isn’t as bright as it could be, given the subject matter, it contrasts wonderfully with the trailer, which is highly flamboyant and over-the-top. Elvis is a fascinating film since the subject of Elvis Presley is frequently confusing. His music is wonderful, and he is still one of the most popular performers, but he is also a man who drew inspiration from Black artists and exploited it.
Something that the film’s trailer tries to emphasize with this close insight into Elvis’ world. And, based on Butler’s resemblance to Elvis Presley in the trailer, we’re in for a film that’ll evoke feelings of nostalgia for Presley’s life.
In my opinion, Baz Luhrmann is the ideal filmmaker for a project like this. His flamboyant style and storytelling prowess are ideal for a story like Presley’s. Even though Hanks’ make-up as Parker is already outrageous, it seems to fit in with the rest of the film’s vision.
On June 24, the film Elvis will be released in theatres.
Is “Elvis” based on a true story?
The biographical musical drama chronicles the narrative of Elvis Presley’s relationship with his dominating, greedy manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and is based on a true story.
Director Baz Luhrmann’s next film is a musical drama about Elvis Presley (Romeo + Juliet, The Great Gatsby). In the biography simply titled Elvis, Austin Butler plays the so-called “King of Rock and Roll.”
It focuses on Presley’s connection with Colonel Tom Parker, who is played by Tom Hanks. Parker discovered Presley and managed him until his untimely death in 1977 at the age of 42. Here’s a quick rundown of the music legend’s and his manager’s true story.
While Baz Luhrmann’s film is titled after Elvis Presley, Tom Hanks leads the cast as Colonel Tom Parker. So, let’s get started.
Parker was born in the Netherlands in 1909. According to a Smithsonian magazine story, he illegally entered the United States at the age of 19 on a shipping vessel, most likely via Canada. He joined the US military after arriving in America.
More details about the individual began to surface in the 1980s. He refused to leave the United States, despite the fact that transporting Elvis around the world would have made him millions of dollars more. He delegated his tax obligations to the Internal Revenue Service. When people inquired where he was born, he said Huntington, West Virginia.
He wasn’t even a colonel in the traditional sense. According to Smithsonian, he served in the army as a private and “finished in ignominy.” He went missing in 1932 and was sentenced to prison for desertion later that year. “He was only released after what his biographer Alanna Nash describes as a “psychotic breakdown,” according to the magazine.
Parker “ate till he weighed more than 300 pounds in a successful endeavor to have himself deemed unfit for further service” when the draught was restored as part of World War II.
Before we get into Tom Parker’s Elvis Presley connections, there’s one more fascinating and disturbing fact from the Smithsonian story. Some speculate that Parker was worried about more than just his immigration status being revealed. After all, Parker’s role as Presley’s manager had made him a strong figure. He had the option of calling the president personally. “The Alien Registration Act of 1940 had effectively provided an amnesty to all illegals,” he added.
So, what was he trying to hide? Parker may have departed the Netherlands after perpetrating a murder, according to some. In May 1929, a journalist received information that he had departed the nation without informing his family. According to an anonymous letter, he murdered the wife of a greengrocer. A journalist did some investigating and discovered that the murder had also occurred in May 1929.
Of course, there was never any concrete evidence given. However, other individuals believe he did it, including Parker biographer and journalist Alanna Nash.
It wasn’t until 1955 that Parker learned of Elvis Presley, a young boy. Presley’s distinctive style and tune attracted Parker in. Sister Rosetta Tharpe (represented by Yola in Luhrmann’s Elvis film) and Little Richard were among Presley’s influences (played by Alton Mason).
Parker was managing a singer named Hank Snow at the time (played by David Wenham). As the opening act, he booked Elvis Presley. A collaboration was formed.
Elvis Presley began to open for Hank Snow on a regular basis. And the Colonel set about courting Presley’s parents as well as his manager at the time, Bob Neal. Parker persuaded them to allow him to provide professional advice to young Elvis Presley. Presley agreed to hire Parker as his counselor later that year.
Elvis Presley joined with Parker when his contract with Bob Neal expired in 1956. The alliance was now fully formalized. The contract said that Parker was Presley’s “exclusive and exclusive counsel, personal representative, and manager,” according to the New York Times. Presley had earned tremendous, passionate success across the country following the publication of “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956. He was adored by the children. When he got to the older crowd in Vegas, though, they didn’t know what to say.
Vegas was in the midst of a transformation at the time, but it was far from the last time they saw Elvis Presley. And it wasn’t all bad for Presley that year. With Paramount, he inked a multi-picture deal. And “Love Me Tender,” a song from the film of the same name, was a huge smash.
Elvis Presley was offered millions of dollars to perform in numerous nations during his final years. Colonel Parker, on the other hand, declined. The rumors regarding his immigration status and history came in the way once more.
Presley died of heart illness on August 16, 1977. He was only 42 years old at the time. Parker maintained control over Presley’s image and career even after he died.
Parker continued to manage Presley in the years that followed. As a result, legal fights such as the one described above arose. People started to learn more about him. At the age of 87, Parker passed away on January 21, 1997.