This Is Elvis (1981) - full transcript

Woman: Here he comes!

Oh, it's turning.

Oh, oh, Elvis! Elvis!

Mr. P., can I get you
some sandwiches?

That will be fine, Pauline.

I'm gonna check
on Lisa Marie, honey.

Okay.

Sleep tight, darling.

Radio announcer:
Good morning, everybody.

It's WGAN radio
in Portland, Maine.

It's ?? Degrees
and 8:05.



Time to get ready
for Elvis Presley.

Elvis will be coming
later today

for his concert at the
Cumberland county auditorium.

Elvis' show is almost sold out,

but we have six tickets
here at WGAN

and we'll be giving them away
to you, so stay tuned.

You just might be
a lucky winner.

Colonel Parker is already over
at the Sheraton hotel,

and Elvis' guys are setting up
for his arrival.

So don't touch that dial
if you want yo know everything.

I'll be talking to some
of the "Memphis mafia,"

as they've come to be known,

and we'll have
the up-to-the-minute word

on what's happening
with Elvis in Portland.



Elvis is still in Graceland,
his home in Memphis. ??

But he'll be arriving here
later this afternoon

in his personal jet,
the "Lisa Marie."

Now, here's another Elvis
record, his latest hit ...

"Moody blue."

♪ Well, it's hard
to be a gambler ♪

♪ betting on the number
that changes every time ♪

♪ when you think
you're gonna win ♪

♪ you think she's givin' in ♪

♪ a stranger
is all you'll find ♪

♪ yeah, it's hard to figure out
what she's all about ♪

♪ that she's woman
through and through ♪

♪ she's a complicated lady
so color my baby moody blue ♪

♪ oh, moody blue...♪

Excuse me, colonel,

Joe Esposito is on the phone
from Memphis.

Yeah, Joe.

Colonel, I'm at
baptist memorial hospital.

I'm afraid I've got
some terrible news.

Elvis is dead.

Reporter:
Pandemonium has broken out

here on Elvis Presley boulevard
in Memphis.

Thousands of fans
from all over the country

are converging on Graceland
trying to get in

to view the body
of the 42-year-old

king of rock and roll.

The world is shocked
by Elvis Presley's sudden death

after attempts
to save his life failed.

The apparent cause, according
to his personal physician,

Dr. George Nichopolous,
is a heart attack.

The singer's father,
Vernon Presley,

has requested that an autopsy
be performed.

Everyone stay back!

I was raised on Elvis.

We started
when I was 10 years old.

My mother and daddy loved him,

and I just say I was raised
on him.

There's nobody else like him

and there won't ever be
anybody else like him.

Man: Why go
to all this trouble?

Because we love Elvis.
We still do.

You're not going
to get in, you know.

Doesn't make
any difference.

I'm friends
with a few

people in the group,
I want them to know I'm here.

Maybe they'll see me
on the street.

We loved him very much.

I just can't believe
he's dead.

It's terrible,
but I just thank god

that Elvis died here
in Graceland

instead of on the road

like any other
rock and roll singer.

Whether you're black or white,

whether you're country,
redneck, or a freak,

young or old, from Moscow,
London, or Memphis,

Elvis Presley will still be

the king of rock and roll
to me.

Please wait up against
the curb.

Elvis: I was born
in a small cotton town

in the rolling hills
of Mississippi.

I guess Tupelo was as good
a place as any to grow up in.

As far back as I can remember,
grandma lived next door.

Daddy was a sharecropper,

and most of the time
we got by alright.

But one year,
he went to prison

after writing a bad check
for some food.

Mama got us through by taking in
washing and sewing.

Mama and I
were always real close.

I had a twin brother, Jesse,
but he died at birth,

so I was an only child.

[ People singing gospel music ]

We were a religious family.

The first singing I ever did
was in church.

Gospel songs were always
a strong influence on my music.

♪...some fine morning
when this life is old ♪

♪ I'll fly away ♪

♪ I'll fly away, oh, glory ♪

♪ I'll fly away ♪

♪ when I die
hallelujah by and by ♪

♪ I'll fly away ♪

I guess I was kind of a loner,
but I wasn't much different

than the other kids
I grew up with.

I'd hang around parts of Tupelo
my folks never even knew about.

If mama had known
where I was half the time,

I would have caught hell for it.

This friend of mine
used to take me across town

to an area called Shakerag,

and that was when
I first heard the blues.

It sure was a lot different

than the music
we were singing in church.

Let's watch them play.

♪...treatin' me this way ♪

♪ baby, goin' to Gary...♪

I realized then that music ...

The blues, gospel,
or whatever ...

Is all about letting out
what you're feeling inside.

♪ Baby,
you had no business ♪

♪ treat me this way ♪

Gladys: For Elvis's birthday
Vernon and I saved up

and gave him a choice
between a bicycle and a guitar.

Elvis sure loved that guitar.

There simply wasn't enough work
for Vernon in Tupelo.

He tried everything he could,

but we just couldn't make
a steady living down there.

We hated to admit it,
but we were broke...Flat broke.

We packed everything we could
into our old Plymouth

and moved on.

Things just had to get better.

Elvis: The years in Memphis
weren't much easier for us,

but at least daddy had a job
at a paint company

and mama was working part time.

Around other kids,
I felt kind of different.

Maybe it was the clothes I wore,

that I had long hair
and sideburns

when other guys had crew cuts,

but somehow
I just didn't fit in.

I guess, in a way,
I was kind of shy,

but I knew something good was
going to happen to me someday.

I just didn't know what.

♪ Let me introduce
my new rocket 88 ♪

♪ yes, it's straight
just won't wait ♪

♪ everybody likes
my rocket 88...♪

I worked different jobs
after school

so I could afford my favorite
R&B records and sharp clothes.

People always bugged me
about my hair.

Later on, I had so many kids
using pomade ...

That greasy kids' stuff ...

I should have got
a piece of the action.

But I liked my hair long,

'cause that's the way
truck drivers wore it.

I went to Humes High in Memphis,

where I got my share
of B’s and C’s.

I thought I might do better
in music,

but the teacher gave me a flat F

and wouldn't let me
in the glee club.

[ Accordion music plays ]

That was very good, Mandy.
Thank you.

Alright.

Our next "club day" performer
is Elvis Presley.

Elvis? Come on up.
It's your turn.

Elvis: I was real nervous
when I had to get up there.

I thought most of the kids in
class were going to laugh at me

'cause they figured
I wasn't good at anything.

When my turn came,

I tried an old rhythm and blues
song

I'd been practicing.

♪ Train a-ride ♪

♪ sixteen coaches long ♪

♪ train a-ride ♪

♪ sixteen coaches long ♪

♪ well, that long black train ♪

♪ got my baby a-home ♪

♪ train, train ♪

♪ comin' down, down the line ♪

♪ train, train ♪

♪ comin' down, down the line ♪

♪ well, that long black train ♪

♪ got my baby a-home ♪

Elvis: Everything seemed
to change for me

that day I sang
in front of my class.

And after that,
I could always count on my music

to help me make friends...
Especially girls.

After graduating high school,

I made a record
for my mama's birthday.

I'd kind of gone there to be
heard by the owner, Sam.

Later, Sam called me back

to work with Scotty Moore
and bill black,

two fine musicians.

At the time,
Sam Phillips was recording

a lot of black artists,
and the word around Memphis was

he was looking for a
white singer with a black sound.

We tried to cut a record
for six months

with about 50 songs.

Nothing sounded right.

Alright.
Hold it, you guys.

Bottom line here is
this is just not making it.

Now, if we can get
something that will, great.

If not,
let's rack it up.

Elvis, you can pull it
out of yourself.

You can do it.

Alright, sir.

Do you guys remember

that old blues song
we used to do?

Elvis:
Then it all kind of clicked.

Even on the first take,
we knew we had something.

♪ Well, that's all right, mama ♪

♪ that's all right for you ♪

♪ that's all right, mama,
do just any way you do ♪

♪ well, that's all right,
that's all right ♪

♪ that's all right now, mama ♪

♪ any way you do ♪

♪ well, mama
she done told you ♪

♪ papa done told me, too ♪

♪ son, that girl you foolin'

♪ well, she ain't no good
for you ♪

♪ well, that's all right ♪

♪ that's all right ♪

♪ that's all right now, mama ♪

♪ any way you do ♪

??
Red hot blue

this record'll
flat get it, people.

It's called
"that's all right, mama."

It's gonna be
a big record for a boy.

His name is Elvis Presley.

It's on the sun record label
from here in Memphis.

And it's been
the most requested tune

for two or three nights.

Elvis, Scotty, bill, and me
will all be uptown

next week
at the Chiska basement.

I want you people
to come see us.

Remember, Phillips told you,
"that's all right, mama."

♪ I'm leavin' town today ♪

Suddenly, it was like my
whole world turned upside down.

We played local gigs
all through the south.

Everywhere we went,

the crowds got bigger
and the girls Wilder.

Then one crazy day,

we were somewhere on the road,
I don't even know where,

a man came backstage
and introduced himself ...

Colonel Tom Parker.

Vernon: Our son wasn't even 21

when Gladys and I
first met colonel Tom Parker.

He was already well-known

for having managed Hank snow
and eddy Arnold.

Right from the start, colonel
Parker believed in Elvis.

Then in 1956,

the country got its first look
at Elvis on national television.

Ladies and gentlemen ...
I'd like to present

one of radio's most listened
to disc jockeys ... bill Randall.

William.

[ Applause ]

We'd like at this time
to introduce you

to a young fellow who,
like many performers,

Johnnie ray among them,

come up out of nowhere to be,
overnight, very big stars.

We saw him for the first
time while making a movie short.

We think tonight he's going to
make television history for you.

We'd like you to meet him now ...
Elvis Presley.

[ Applause ]

♪ Well, get out of that kitchen
and rattle those pots and pans ♪

♪ get out of that kitchen
and rattle those pots and pans ♪

♪ well, roll my breakfast
'cause I'm a hungry man ♪

♪ I believe
you was doin' me wrong ♪

♪ and now I know ♪

♪ I believe
you was doin' me wrong ♪

♪ and now I know ♪

♪ 'cause the harder I work
the faster my money goes ♪

♪ well,
let's shake, rattle, and roll ♪

♪ I said shake,
rattle, and roll ♪

♪ I said shake,
rattle, and roll ♪

♪ I said shake,
rattle, and roll ♪

♪ well, you won't do right
to save your doggone soul ♪

♪ hey ♪

[ Applause and screaming ]

♪ I'm like
a Mississippi bullfrog ♪

♪ settin' on a hollow stump ♪

♪ I'm like
a Mississippi bullfrog ♪

♪ settin' on a hollow stump ♪

♪ I've got so many women
I don't know which way to jump ♪

♪ well,
I said flip, flop, and fly ♪

♪ I don't care if I die ♪

♪ I said flip, flop, and fly ♪

♪ I don't care if I die ♪

♪ don't ever leave me
don't ever say goodbye ♪

[ Applause and cheering ]

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Elvis: After that first time
on television,

things really took off for me.

I couldn't believe the fans
around the country.

Wherever we went,
people wanted to get to us.

They didn't try
to hurt me,

they just wanted to take home
part of me as a souvenir.

♪ You make me so lonely, baby ♪

♪ you make me so lonely...♪

People asked why I moved around
so much on stage.

Well, it just came natural
to me,

the way I felt rock and roll.

[ Screaming ]

♪ Well, now
if your baby leaves you ♪

♪ you've got a tale to tell ♪

♪ well, just take a walk
down lonely street ♪

♪ to heartbreak hotel ♪

♪ you're gettin' so lonely,
baby ♪

♪ you're really lonely ♪

♪ you'll be so lonely
you could die ♪

♪ well ♪

[ Cheers and applause ]

Well,
I think Elvis Presley

has a nice style
and sings okay,

but when he gets
on the stage,

he starts to drive
those girls nuts

by shaking and jumping
and laying all over the stage.

You know what I mean?

Right. And you think
that's bad?

Well, it's kind of crazy.

No, it depends on how
you look at it.

If you want to think it's
nasty or sexy you could,

but to me, it's just ...

The two things are not
necessarily the same.

Yeah, well, it's just
so limber and loose.

It's really marvelous.

Well, he just
feels the rhythm.

Digs it the most.

You don't see
anything wrong with it?

No.

[ Screaming and cheering ]

You just stand there.

Now, everybody stand
in line and I ...

Hey, what are
the Ritz brothers doing here?

I was ... hey, young man,
if you want an autograph,

would you stand
in the back there?

I don't care
who you are.

I-i-I'm Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley!

[ Screaming ]

[ Ripping ]

Give me the good old
Rudy Vallee days.

Elvis, sing your hit song.

♪ You ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ you ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ well, you ain't never
caught a rabbit ♪

♪ and you ain't no friend
of mine ♪

♪ well, they said
you was high-class ♪

♪ well, that was just a line ♪

Elvis: I had no idea
this performance of "hound dog"

was gonna cause such a row.

The critics jumped all over me
for it.

I still can't figure out
what got them so riled.

♪ You ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ you ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ well, you ain't never
caught a rabbit ♪

♪ you ain't no friend of mine ♪

♪ you ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ you ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

♪ well, you ain't never
caught a rabbit ♪

♪ you ain't no friend of mine ♪

There is no room
in this city

for the vulgar performances
of Elvis Presley.

It's shocking.

I watched him gyrate his legs
and swivel his hips,

and our
parent-teachers group

feels he should not
be on television.

We've set up
a 20-man committee

to do away with this vulgar,

animalistic, nigger,
rock and roll bop.

Our committee will check
with the restaurant owners

and the cafes

to see what Presley records
is on their machines,

and then ask them
to do away with them.

Elvis: People started
calling me a sex maniac,

saying I was lewd and obscene.

It got to be ridiculous
when the police filmed my shows.

I thought the bad publicity
would hurt my career,

so I took a shot
at telling my side of the story.

[ Ringing ]

Woman: Hello?
Hy Gardner calling.

I have Elvis Presley
on the phone.

Hello, Elvis?

Less than two years ago,

you were earning $14
a week as a movie Usher,

and then $35 a week

for driving a truck
in Memphis.

Today, you're the most
controversial name

in show business.

Has this sudden notoriety
affected your sleep,

your appetite,
or the size of your head?

Not the size of my head.

It's affecting my sleep.

How much sleep
do you get?

I average about four
or five hours a night.

Is that enough?

No, but I'm used to it and I
can't sleep any longer.

What do you keep
in mind mostly?

I mean, some of the songs
you're going to do,

or some of your plans
or what?

What goes through
your mind?

Well, everything has happened
to me so fast

in the last year and a half

till...I'm all mixed up,
you know?

I can't keep up with everything
that's happening.

Your style of gyrating
while you sing

has been bitterly criticized

even by usually mild
and gentle TV critics.

Do you bear any animosity
towards these critics?

Well, not really.

Those people have a job
to do and they do it.

Do you think
you've learned anything

from the criticism
leveled at you?

No, I haven't...

Because I don't feel
I'm doing anything wrong.

♪ You ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

Rock and roll has got to go...

And go it does.

At KWK, we're all through
playing rock and roll records.

This week is record-breaking
week here at KWK.

And after this week,

no more rock and roll
will be played on the air.

The obscenity and vulgarity
of the rock and roll music

is obviously a means by which
the white man and his children

can be driven to the level
with a nigger.

It is obviously nigger music.

It is our feeling here
in Jersey city

that this rock and roll rhythm
is filled with dynamite,

and we don't want the dynamite
to go off

in the Roosevelt stadium
in Jersey city.

After, uh...We, uh...
Heard about the incidents

throughout the country

and the coming of this concert
to Jersey city,

I asked our commissioner
of public safety,

Lawrence Whipple,
to look into the matter,

and he did make a survey
of the situation.

My department made a very
thorough investigation

of these
so-called programs.

We had telephone
conversations

and correspondence
with various municipalities.

Included among these being
Hartford, Connecticut,

orange, New Jersey,
Asbury Park,

and the city of Hoboken.

We find that these programs

are not for the good
of the community,

and that's why
I ordered them banned.

I don't see
that any type of a music

would have any bad influence
on people

when it's only a music.

I mean,
I can't figure it out.

In a lot of the papers,
they say rock and roll

is a big influence
on juvenile delinquency.

I don't think that it is.

What about the rumor that
you once shot your mother?

Well, I think that one
takes the cake.

Where does that one
come from?

I have no idea.
I-I can't imagine.

There's another one, you may not
have heard before.

Several newspaper stories
hinted

that you smoked marijuana

in order to work yourself
into a frenzy while singing.

Well, I don't know.

Elvis: All the attention
I'd been getting

got the studios
interested in me.

My first film was going to be
called "the Reno brothers,"

I had a hit song out
at the time,

so they renamed it
"love me tender."

[ Cheering ]

The colonel put together
a huge premiere

in New York City,

but when the movie opened,

some film critics took
potshots at my acting.

Still, the picture did
real well at the box office,

thanks to the fans.

[ Chanting ] We want Elvis!
We want Elvis!

[ Cheering ]

In the film, Richard Egan
played my brother.

And because we were
both in love with Debra Paget,

we ended up in a shootout.

There's nothing else
between us, I swear it.

Well, go on,
take him now,

or I'll take him myself.

[ Woman screams ]

Vince?

Come on, let's get the money and
get out of here.

Get away from him.
Leave him alone!

[ Gunshot ]

Don't move.
Just lie still.

[ Weakly ] Cathy,
where's Vince?

I got to talk to him.

Right here, Clint.

Vince, I didn't mean it.

I know you didn't, Clint.

You don't have
to tell me.

Everything's gonna be
alright.

Everything's gonna be
alright.

Elvis: I saw the film
for the first time

with my folks in Memphis.

After the picture ended,

I remember having
to calm mama down.

At first, I didn't realize
what was wrong.

She was upset and crying.

Finally, she said
she just couldn't stand

to watch me getting killed
up there on the screen.

♪ ...that I love you ♪

♪ and I always will ♪

Gladys: In 1957,
Elvis bought us Graceland,

a beautiful house and farm
outside Memphis.

We felt like we were living
way out in the country.

♪ Merry, merry Christmas, baby ♪

♪ sure did treat me nice ♪

Elvis insisted Vernon and me
and his grandmama

move in and live with him.

By then, Elvis already had
six or seven Cadillacs.

He used to say
if he ever went broke,

he could always open
a used car lot.

♪ Give me diamond rings
for Christmas ♪

♪ and I'm livin' in paradise ♪

Elvis:
Those were good times for us.

Almost everything
was going right for me.

I liked having people around,

but I started to feel,
even with my old friends,

things were a little different.

♪ Well, I'm feelin'
mighty fine ♪

♪ got good music on my radio ♪

♪ Well, I want
to kiss you, baby ♪

♪ while you standin'
'neath the mistletoe ♪

♪ take it on, baby, take it on ♪

♪ yo, yo, ho ♪

Hey, you guys,

there's that
rock and roll cowboy

I told you about.

Do you want him
to sing?

I hope we do well in the city
as we did in the small towns.

City's just like a small
town, only taller.

Hey you, sideburns,

I got a chick down there
wants to hear you sing.

Why don't you come around
the theater

tomorrow afternoon?
He'll be on the stage.

I told my girl
I'd get you to sing.

A man can't go back
on his word, can he, fella?

Look, maybe you didn't
understand me, fella.

But Mr. Rivers doesn't sing
in Juke joints,

so why don't you run on back
and drink your malted?

Man: Say,
what's the trouble?

These showpeople
starting something?

There's no trouble, sir.

Mind if I sing
a little song for them?

No, he don't mind.

Do you, frank.

No, no, I don't mind.

♪ I got a woman
mean as she can be ♪

♪ I got a woman
mean as she can be ♪

♪ sometimes I think
she's almost mean as me ♪

♪ a black cat up
and died of fright ♪

♪ 'cause she crossed his path
last night ♪

♪ I got a woman
mean as she can be ♪

In the movies, I was cast as a
rock and roll rebel,

and I guess those pictures

helped build my image
as a tough guy.

Well, you ain't bad,
sideburns.

What do you do
for a living?

I'm with my old man
in auto accessories, why?

Well, I usually get paid
for singing as a rule.

I figure you ought to
do whatever you do for me.

How about putting a new set
of seat covers on my car?

Why, sure, sideburns.
What color you want?

I figure his color's
yellow, don't you?

Get the police. Quickly.

[ Jukebox plays ]

Elvis: Not all the fights
I got into were staged.

Around that time,
I got in a scrape with the law

and had to appear
in a Memphis court.

A guy at a gas station
took a swing at me,

I wasn't about
to stand there and take it,

so I punched him
and got busted.

The court finds
insufficient evidence

to support the charge.

It's funny ...
Once you start to make it,

some people want to hassle you.

The judge agreed with me
and threw the case out,

but everyone was still worried
about my effect on young people.

Next time I went on television,

I was only filmed
from the waist up.

Ladies and gentlemen,
we have a big show ...

A real big show ...

With Elvis Presley
headlining tonight.

[ Screaming ]

Here is Elvis Presley!

We'd like to tell you that,
to all the people watching,

and all you people
that are here tonight,

that we really are thankful

for all the success that you
made us have and everything.

This is my biggest record,

and it goes
something like this.

♪ Ah, you know I can be found
sittin' home all alone ♪

♪ if you can't come around
at least please telephone ♪

♪ don't be cruel
to a heart that's true ♪

♪ well, baby,
if I made you mad ♪

♪ for something
I might have said ♪

♪ please let's forget my past
the future looks bright ahead ♪

♪ don't be cruel
to a heart that's true ♪

♪ I don't want no other love ♪

♪ baby, it's just you
I'm thinkin' of ♪

♪ don't be cruel
to a heart that's true ♪

♪ don't be cruel
to a heart that's true ♪

♪ well, I don't want
no other love ♪

♪ baby, it's just you
I'm thinkin' of ♪

Elvis: At the end of the show,
Mr. Sullivan called me back out.

He caught by surprise.

Elvis...

Ladies and gentlemen,

inasmuch as he goes
to the coast now

for his new picture,

this could be
the last time

we'll run into each other
for a while.

But, I..
Wait a moment.

I wanted to say to
Elvis Presley and the country

that this is
a real decent, fine boy.

And wherever
you go, Elvis...

[ Screaming and applause ]

...the guys who accompany
you over there,

we want to say
that we've never had

a pleasanter experience
on our show

with a big name
than we've had with you.

You're thoroughly
alright.

So now, let's have
a tremendous hand

for a very nice person.

[ Applause and screaming ]

After Mr. Sullivan helped put
an end to the criticism of me,

I made the film "loving you."

I don't know what it was
about one song in that picture,

but people
from all over the world

sent me hundreds of Teddy bears.

♪ Just let me be
your Teddy bear ♪

♪ put a chain around my neck
and lead me anywhere ♪

♪ oh, let me be ♪

♪ oh, let him be ♪

♪ your Teddy bear ♪

♪ I don't want to be your tiger
'cause tigers play too rough ♪

♪ I don't to be your lion ♪

♪ 'cause lions ain't the kind
you love enough ♪

♪ oh, let me be
your Teddy bear ♪

♪ put a chain around my neck
and lead me anywhere ♪

♪ oh, let me be ♪

♪ oh, let him be ♪

♪ your Teddy bear ♪

♪ oh, let me be ♪

♪ oh, let him be ♪

♪ your Teddy bear ♪

♪ I just want to be
your Teddy bear ♪

♪ oooh ♪

What is your connection
with Mr. Presley?

Groucho, I'm the president

of the San Diego
Elvis Presley fan club,

and the honorary president

over 100 southern
California chapters

of Elvis Presley fan clubs.

Well, that's quite
impressive.

Do you have any souvenirs
of Elvis, Renee?

Oh, I'm just loaded
with them, Groucho.

I can't get in and out of my
room. I brought a few.

What have you got there?

I've got some Elvis Presley
Teddy bear perfume.

And this is
the sexiest stuff.

[ Laughing ]

And I have a guitar pick,
which I stole.

I want to tell you
something else I have,

which is my very greatest
prized possession.

And that is the red
and white western outfit

that he wore in the picture
"loving you"

when he sings
"Teddy bear."

And I wouldn't take
a million dollars for it.

In fact, it's insured.

I also finagled around, and I
have two locks of his hair.

You have locks of his hair?

Do you have any cream cheese
to go with it?

I'll tell you
what we do, fellas.

Anybody wants to ask
Hedda hopper a question,

if you'll just
raise your hand,

when I point at you,
just get up

and real loud,
ask a question

and we'll try to answer it.

You.

How much money has
Elvis Presley made

since his career started?

Are you kidding?

When he started,
he couldn't spell Tennessee.

Now he owns it.

You've been found guilty
by a jury of your peers

of the crime
of manslaughter.

Elvis: I didn't know if it was
movies following real life

or the other way around,

but in the film
"jailhouse rock,"

I was standing
in front of a judge again.

This time,
I got sent up the river.

A little while back,

I had a vacation
with a bunch of men

in a big place way out yonder.

We always had
a lot of fun with this one ...

The "jailhouse rock."

♪ The warden threw a party
in the county jail ♪

♪ the prison band was there
and they began to wail ♪

♪ the band was jumping
and the joint began to swing ♪

♪ you should have heard those
knocked-out jailbirds sing ♪

♪ let's rock ♪

♪ everybody, let's rock ♪

Elvis: Choreographing
this title song

was a lot of fun.

No wonder this was
my favorite production number.

♪ Spider Murphy played
the tenor saxophone ♪

♪ little Joe was blowin'
on the slide trombone ♪

♪ the drummer boy from Illinois
went crash, boom, bang ♪

♪ the whole rhythm section
was the purple gang ♪

♪ let's rock ♪

♪ everybody, let's rock ♪

♪ everybody
in the whole cell block ♪

♪ was dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

♪ number 47 said to number 3, ♪

♪ "you're the cutest jailbird
I ever did see ♪

♪ "I sure would be delighted
with your company ♪

♪ come on and do
the jailhouse rock with me" ♪

♪ let's rock ♪

♪ everybody, let's rock ♪

♪ everybody
in the whole cell block ♪

♪ was dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

♪ shifty Henry said to bugs
"for heaven's sake ♪

♪ no one is lookin', now's
our chance to make a break" ♪

♪ bugsy turned to shifty
and he said, "nix, nix ♪

♪ I wanna stick around a while
and get my kicks" ♪

♪ let's rock ♪

♪ everybody, let's rock ♪

♪ everybody
in the whole cell block ♪

♪ was dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

♪ dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

♪ dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

♪ dancin'
to the jailhouse rock ♪

Suddenly, the fantasy life
I'd been caught up in

ended when uncle Sam called.

I thought, "well, that's it.
It's all over."

But what really worried me
was my mother's health.

She'd been under
a lot of strain,

and now everything
was changing again.

Congratulations.
You are now in the army.

You are all privates.

That's the way you'll be
addressed from now on.

Private Presley,

you'll be in charge
of the group.

Gladys: As I watched Elvis
say goodbye to his friends,

I kept thinking about everything
we'd been through as a family.

And now, Elvis was going away.

It's not easy for a mother

to say goodbye
to her only child...

Especially a son like Elvis.

Bye! Bye!
Bye!

♪ Hup, hup, hup, hup ♪

♪ I got those hup, two, three,
four, occupation G.I. Blues ♪

♪ from my G.I. Hair
to the heels of my G.I. Shoes ♪

♪ and if I don't go
stateside soon ♪

♪ I'm gonna blow my fuse ♪

♪ we'll get Hasenpfeffer and
black pumpernickel for chow ♪

♪ I'd blow my next month's pay
for a slice of Texas cow ♪

♪ I got those hup, two, three,
four, occupation G.I. Blues ♪

♪ from my G.I. Hair
to the heels of my G.I. Shoes ♪

♪ and if I don't go
stateside soon ♪

♪ I'm gonna blow my fuse ♪

♪ occupation G.I. Blues ♪

♪ occupation G.I. Blues ♪

♪ occupation G.I. Blues ♪

♪ at ease ♪

I went through basic training
in Texas,

and I had my folks move down.

I rented them a nice place
in Killeen,

a small town just off the base.

It wasn't exactly Graceland,

but at least it was off limits
to drill sergeants.

When my mother's health took
a sudden turn for the worse,

she returned to Memphis.

I took a private plane home

as soon as I could get
an emergency leave.

Daddy was already
at the hospital

taking care of mama.

Man: How long are you
going to be in town?

Vernon: When Elvis arrived
at the hospital,

I had the tough job
of telling him

it was more serious
than we thought.

When we went into her room,
Gladys was real weak,

but you could see
a sparkle in her eye

when she saw Elvis walk in.

Elvis: As we left,

I had this empty feeling
in my gut.

When I first saw mama,
I couldn't help crying.

Then she calmed me down,
just the way she always had.

I left there
praying she'd get better,

but she passed away
the very next night.

My mother's death
affected my whole life.

I loved her so very much.

All of a sudden,

I felt like my life
had no meaning without her.

A month later,
we were shipped off to New York,

our point of departure
for Germany.

I was relieved the reporters
didn't ask me about my mother.

Man: Elvis,
did the other soldiers

give you a rough time
because you're famous?

No, sir.
I was very surprised.

I've never met a better
group of boys in my life.

They probably would have

if it had been
like everybody thought.

I mean, everybody thought
I wouldn't have to work

and I would be given
special treatment

and this and that.

But when they looked around
and saw I was on KP,

I was pulling guard and
everything like they were,

well, they figured,
"well, he's just like us."

Elvis, what do you think
about going to Germany?

Well, sir, I'm kind of
looking forward to it.

I mean, just before
I came in the army,

we were planning a tour
of Europe,

and I got quite a bit
of mail from over there

and everything,

and I'm kind of
looking forward to it, really.

[ Screaming ]

Elvis: Arriving in Germany
was something else.

I'd never been out
of the states before,

except for one weekend
when I played in Canada.

It was some kind of surprise,

the welcome
the German fans gave me.

I just couldn't believe it.

It was as wild
as anything back home.

[ Yelling ]

I was stationed
with the third armored division

about 30 miles from Frankfurt.

Colonel and I decided

I was in the service
to be a solder, not a singer.

But a lot of officers pressured
me to perform at army bases.

I never did.

Sometimes we'd go out
on tank maneuvers,

and it would get so cold
at night,

we'd have to pop bennies
to stay awake.

If you fell asleep on watch,
you could get frostbite.

I rented a home in bad Nauheim,
a town near the base,

and I sent for my daddy
and grandma

to come over and live with me.

Well, happy birthday,
son.

I was in Germany
a total of 15 months.

On my 25th birthday,
just before heading home,

we had a small party.

While over there, I met a
young girl, Priscilla Beaulieu,

whose father was a colonel
in the air force.

She was only 14, but she made
a strong impression on me.

Priscilla:
I met Elvis about six weeks

before his tour of duty
was completed.

A friend of mine who knew him

asked me
if I wanted to meet him.

What girl wouldn't?

Elvis was real friendly,
but it was all over so soon.

As I waved goodbye,

I wondered
if I'd ever see him again.

Elvis: After landing
on the east coast,

we traveled cross country
by train.

I'd been thinking about this day
for almost two years.

Now it was finally here.

It felt great
to be back home in Memphis.

[ Screaming ]

Colonel Parker
organized a homecoming.

He was back at work

before I could even
get out of my uniform.

People usually forget you

when you're out
of the public eye,

but the colonel felt we'd
be able to rebuild my career.

I kept hoping he was right.

Coming home to Graceland
was kind of strange.

It felt great
to be home and all,

but it was a lot different
without my mother there.

Being home just didn't feel
like it used to,

and it was hard not to show it.

Before I even had a chance
to unwind,

I had to give
a press conference.

Man: Elvis, there have
been a lot of rumors

about your love life.

Did you meet anyone
special in Germany?

Not any special one, no.

There was a little girl

that I was seeing
quite often over there.

Her father
was in the air force,

and, actually,
they only got over there

about two months
before I left.

I was seeing her,

and she was at the airport
when I left.

And there were some
pictures made of her.

But it was no big romance.

I mean,
the stories came out,

"the girl he left behind,"
and all that.

It wasn't like that.

I mean...

[ Laughing ]

I have to be careful

when I answer a question
like that.

Elvis, did you like the food
over there...

When you would go out?

I never went out.

You never ate out
at the restaurants?

I never ate in a restaurant
the entire time I was there.

It's funny. I either ate
in the mess hall or at home.

One of the two.

In fact,
I never went anywhere

while I was in Europe,
except to Paris.

I went to Paris on a leave,
and that was all.

Can you give us
any details

on some
of your future plans?

Well, the first thing
I have to do

is to cut some records.

And then after that,

I have a television show
with frank Sinatra.

Elvis: Then it was off to Miami
to tape the show.

It's funny, I was a lot more
nervous about performing again

than I thought I'd be.

Here's the star of our show,
Elvis Presley!

[ Applause and screaming ]

♪ It's very nice
to go traveling ♪

♪ but it's so, so nice
to come home ♪

♪ he's here in person ♪

♪ I may pass out ♪

Where the heck
are his sideburns?

♪ Well
I'll be a hound dog ♪

♪ and that's the opening,
friends ♪

[ Applause ]

Alright,
I'll tell you what we do.

We'll do, uh...
You do witchcraft, okay?

Then I'll do one
of the other ones, okay?

[ Band plays ]

We work in the same way,
only in different areas.

[ Laughing ]

♪ Love me tender
love me sweet ♪

♪ never let me go ♪

♪ you have made
my life complete ♪

♪ and I love you so ♪

♪ those fingers
in my hair ♪

♪ that sly,
come-hither stare ♪

♪ that strips
my conscience bare ♪

♪ it's witchcraft ♪

♪ love me tender
love me true ♪

♪ all my dreams fulfill ♪

♪ for my darling
I love you ♪

♪ and I always will ♪

♪ it's such
an ancient pitch ♪

♪ one I wouldn't switch ♪

♪ 'cause there's no nicer
witch than witchcraft ♪

♪ I love you
and I always will ♪

♪ for my darling, I love you ♪

Man, that's pretty.

♪ And I always will ♪

Priscilla:
After he left Germany,

Elvis and I stayed in touch.

He must have run up some
incredible phone bills.

When I was 16,

Elvis thought it would be great
if I came to live at Graceland.

He called my parents
and assured them

that I would attend
a good private school

as well as study modeling
and ballet.

My father approved
when it was decided

that Mr. Presley
and his new wife, Dee,

would be my guardians.

Elvis never lived a normal life.

He couldn't even go
to the movies like most people.

Elvis would have to rent
the Memphian theater

after midnight
when it was closed.

Fans would somehow always
find out about it and show up.

Elvis had a thing
about Cadillacs.

Over the years,

he bought more than 100 cars
for friends.

I remember, in one day,
he bought seven of them.

He just loved seeing

the expressions
on people's faces

when he'd give them gifts.

Elvis was the most comfortable
at home.

I'd have to say
the best times we had

were when we were totally alone.

We always had
so much fun at Christmas.

Elvis would have
goldsmith's department store

open up after hours,
and we'd go crazy buying gifts

for all our friends
and relatives.

Christmas was always
so important to Elvis.

Those were wonderful times
we spent together,

but most of the year,
Elvis was away making movies,

and it would get awfully lonely
in Memphis without him.

Elvis: For the next few years,

I made about three pictures
a year.

By the end of the '60s,
I had racked up 31 films in all.

At first,
we worked in Hollywood.

Then we started
going to locations

like the Seattle world's fair.

I always took my guys along,

and most of them
had small parts in the pictures.

[ Cheering ]

Woman:
Elvis, smile for me!

After a while, the movies
I was making became so similar,

it was hard to tell
one script from the next.

We'd always be kidding around
on the set,

and colonel Parker
was up to his old pranks again.

He gave me am award
for all my challenging roles ...

A ham.

♪ Too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business
for me to be involved in ♪

♪ uh-huh-huh ♪

♪ blond hair, good-lookin'
tryin' to get me hooked ♪

♪ want me to marry
settle down ♪

♪ and get a home
and write a book ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business
for me to be involved in ♪

♪ uh-huh-huh ♪

♪ Workin'
in the filling station ♪

♪ too many tasks ♪

♪ wipe the windows,
check the tires

♪ check the oil, dollar gas ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business
for me to be involved in ♪

♪ uh-huh-huh ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

♪ too much monkey business ♪

Elvis: While I was making
those silly movies,

the Beatles
were conquering America.

♪ Oh, yeah, I tell you something
I think you'll understand ♪

Man: One psychiatrist
recently said

you're nothing
but four Elvis Presleys.

It's not true.

[ Laughing ]

♪ I wanna hold your hand ♪

♪ I wanna hold your hand ♪

♪ I wanna hold your hand ♪

You know,
something very nice happened,

and the Beatles
got a great kick out of it.

We just received a wire

from Elvis Presley
and colonel Tom Parker

wishing them a tremendous
success in our country,

and I think that was
very, very nice.

Priscilla: Elvis and I decided
to get married on may 1, 1967.

We called our friends
and families to Las Vegas

for the wedding.

I could hardly believe
that I was Mrs. Elvis Presley.

♪ You have made
my life complete ♪

♪ and I love you so ♪

♪ love me tender, love me true ♪

♪ all my dreams fulfill ♪

♪ for my darling, I love you ♪

♪ and I always will ♪

My reaction
to Elvis' marriage?

Well, it's wonderful.

It's about time
he settled down.

I hope he'll be happy,
you know,

'cause he deserves it.

Actually,
I'm quite relieved.

It's been nothing
but Elvis this, Elvis that

between me and my girl.

I'm tired of hearing it,
really.

He looks so good.

It's hard to believe he's
been single all these years.

That Priscilla must be
some kind of special lady.

Priscilla: After the wedding,

we flew to palm Springs
for our honeymoon,

where Vernon and his wife, Dee,

joined my parents
and our friends.

The celebrations continued
back at Graceland.

♪ I got something to tell you ♪

♪ that I think
you ought to know ♪

♪ that my eyes
are on you, baby ♪

♪ since a long time ago ♪

♪ now I've finally
got the nerve ♪

♪ and I'm goin'
to make my move ♪

♪ now don't you try
to turn me off ♪

♪ 'cause this is goin' to be
hard to do ♪

♪ I got a thing
about you, baby ♪

♪ ain't nothing I can do ♪

♪ I got a thing
about you, baby ♪

♪ a thing about loving you ♪

♪ do-do do do do
do do-do ♪

♪ ain't no two ways
about it, baby... ♪

Priscilla: Nine months
to the day after our wedding,

our daughter, Lisa Marie,
was born.

Elvis was totally ecstatic.

He always loved
having family around,

and now he was happier
than ever.

♪ Know that I can't live
without you ♪

♪ I think about you
all the time ♪

♪ I got a thing
about you, baby ♪

♪ ain't nothing I can do... ♪

Priscilla: Lisa Marie
changed his whole life.

Elvis adored her.

Announcer:
This is another convention

of the official Elvis Presley
fan club of Great Britain.

The only snag

to cloud this nostalgic
jaunt back to the 1950s

is that the object
of their affections

won't actually be here
in person.

♪ Save me
too good to miss ♪

♪ want more of this ♪

Announcer:
The dancing in the aisles

recalls nostalgic memories
of the '50s,

when Elvis inspired the youth
of the world

with his unique style
and smash records.

Will you tell me why
you're dressed this way?

Well, rock and roll,
wouldn't it? You know.

Elvis first started it.
That was the thing.

He brought it in.

I think Elvis is great.

Man: What's so
great about him?

Oh, he's marvelous.

There's nobody
that can sing like him.

I feel that if more people
in the world

would follow Elvis Presley's
way of life,

the world would be
a much better place.

Announcer:
Middle-aged women are here

to recall their long-lost days
as trendy mums,

and Teddy boys of years ago
have brought their children

to show them what it was like
when dad was a teenage bopper.

But where is this man
they've come to worship?

Is he a relic of the '50s?

Will we ever see Elvis
in person again?

Elvis: After a while,

I was getting tired
of making movies.

The scripts were so bad,
I'd actually get physically ill.

I guess I cared too much.

Then we came up with the idea
of doing my own TV special.

It had been almost 10 years

since I'd performed
in front of an audience.

I started getting excited
just going to rehearsals.

It was just the challenge
I needed.

The guys closest to me
knew what I was going through,

especially Joe Esposito.

Esposito: 1968
was a turning point for Elvis.

He was 33,
and his personal life

had changed a lot
with the birth of Lisa Marie,

but Elvis
wasn't creatively satisfied

with what he was doing.

The special
got him all worked up again.

Elvis really wanted
to show the public

he was a lot more
of an entertainer

than they'd been seeing
in his films,

but I knew
he also had his doubts.

[ Playing melody ]

That's it, man.

Well, see you guys tomorrow.

Man: So long, Elvis.

Whenever.

Announcer: Welcome to NBC
and the "Elvis Presley special."

[ Cheers and applause ]

And here's Elvis Presley.

[ Screaming ]

Thank you very much.

Elvis: We opened the special

with some of the guys
I started with back in '54.

My boy, my boy.

[ Screaming ]

It's been a long time,
Jack, I'm telling you.

[ Laughter ]

Jack: It's been a while.

A while.

Wait a minute.

There's something wrong
with my lip.

[ Laughing ]

You remember that,
don't you?

[ Laughter ]

[ Applause ]

I got news for you, baby.
I did 29 pictures like that.

[ Laughter ]

[ Strumming guitar ]

Jack: Hey, Elvis,
the fingers.

Yeah. That's all
I could move in Florida.

Yeah,
that's right.

Elvis: The police filmed
a show one time in Florida.

So I couldn't move.
I had to stand still.

The only thing I moved was
my little finger, like that.

♪ You ain't nothin'
but a hound dog ♪

♪ cryin' all the time ♪

You know, for the whole show.

[ Audience chuckles ]

So I told them, I said,
"well, look, man,

you can do anything
you want to do..."

[ Laughter ]

"You can do anything
you want to do, baby."

♪ Well, it's one for the money,
two for the show, ♪

♪ three to get ready,
now go, cat, go ♪

♪ but don't you
step on my blue suede shoes ♪

♪ well, you can do anything ♪

♪ but get off
of my blue suede shoes ♪

♪ you can knock me down
and step on my face ♪

♪ slander my name
all over the place ♪

♪ you can do anything
that you want to do ♪

♪ but unh-unh, honey,
lay off of my shoes ♪

♪ don't you
step on my blue suede shoes ♪

♪ well, you can do anything ♪

♪ but lay off
of my blue suede shoes ♪

♪ you can burn my house,
steal my car ♪

♪ drink my liquor
from an old fruit jar ♪

♪ do anything
that you want to do ♪

♪ but unh-unh, honey,
lay off of my shoes ♪

♪ and don't you
step on my blue suede shoes ♪

♪ well, you can do anything ♪

♪ but lay off
of my blue suede shoes ♪

One time baby, one time!

♪ Well, you can do anything ♪

♪ but lay off
of my blue suede shoes ♪

The show ended up

the most watched
television program of 1968.

We all felt great
about the way it turned out.

After the special, I wanted
to keep performing on stage.

I had the itch again.

I was booked into Las Vegas'
biggest showroom.

Fans came from as far away
as Europe and Japan.

♪ ...ready to burn
so get those stakes up higher ♪

♪ there's a thousand pretty
women waiting out there ♪

The colonel dressed up
the hotel like a carnival.

There were posters, Teddy bears,

and hound dogs
all over the place.

♪ So viva ♪

♪ viva Las Vegas ♪

"Here's hoping you have
a very successful opening

and that you break
both legs."

Signed "Tom Jones."

"Best wishes for a continuing
successful Vegas show.

"I hope you get a raise
in the next six months.

Joe esposito."

"Dear Elvis, after 15 years,
we have finally learned

to understand
what you say on record."

Signed "RCA."

"Dear Elvis, may you have
the biggest of them all."

[ Laughter ]

Who signed that?

No, wait a minute, man.
I misread it.

"May this be
the biggest of them all."

I know it, man.
I know it...

"My god, my god,
why hast thou forsaken me?"

[ Laughter ]

Signed "the pope."

Huh? What do you mean
you can't use them?

I got a telegram
from the pope.

It's a pleasure
to be able to see Elvis.

He hasn't been on the stage in
10 years and everyone's waiting.

It's like a championship fight,

but I know he's
going to be the winner.

Elvis: As I got ready
for the lights to dim,

I couldn't forget when
I first played Vegas in '56.

A lot of people
thought I'd bombed back then.

It shook me up, alright,

but tonight
would be a lot different.

[ Music begins playing ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

♪ We're caught in a trap ♪

♪ I can't walk out ♪

♪ because I love you
too much, baby ♪

♪ why can't you see ♪

♪ whoa whoa whoa ♪

♪ what you're doin' to me ♪

♪ when you don't believe
a word I'm sayin'? ♪

♪ We can't go on together
with suspicious minds ♪

♪ suspicious minds ♪

♪ and we can't build our dreams
with suspicious minds ♪

♪ why can't you see ♪

♪ whoa whoa whoa ♪

♪ what you're doin' to me ♪

♪ when you don't believe
a word I'm sayin'? ♪

♪ Don't you know
I'm caught in a... ♪

♪ I can't walk out ♪

♪ whoa whoa whoa ♪

♪ because I love you too much ♪

♪ caught in a trap ♪

♪ I can't walk out ♪

♪ whoa whoa whoa ♪

♪ because I love you too much ♪

♪ don't you know
I'm caught in a... ♪

♪ I can't walk... ♪

[ Screaming and applause ]

[ Applause ]

How are you?

Like me to sit down?

First of all,
I plead innocent of all charges.

[ Laughter ]

Man: Is your wife,
Priscilla, with you?

No, she's not.

Why did you start making
public appearances again?

I just missed it.

I missed the...

The closeness of an audience,
of a live audience.

So just as soon as I got out
of the movie contracts,

I started to do
live performances again.

Woman: Mr. Presley,

what is your opinion
of war protesters?

And would you today
refuse to be drafted?

Honey, I'd just soon

to keep my own personal views
about that to myself.

I'm just an entertainer,
and...I'd rather not say.

Do you think
other entertainers

should also keep their
views to themselves?

No.

Man: Are you satisfied with the
image you've established?

The image is one thing,
and a human being is another.

How close is the image
to the man?

It's very hard
to live up to an image.

I put it that way.

What about your image as a shy,
humble country boy?

[ Reporters chuckle ]

I don't know
what makes them think that.

You know,
this gold belt...

[ Laughter and applause ]

Starting in 1970,
we spent most of our time

touring from one town
to the next.

In 7 years, we did 1,094 shows
in 130 cities.

[ Screaming ]

I loved being out there again.
It was like back in the '50s.

After a while, the pressures of
life on the road

started getting to me.

Is that when we got caught
that night, chief,

at the gator bowl?

And you guys put me through
a window into a paddy wagon

and took me to the hospital.

Man: Did you guys see
that rocket this morning?

Did the launch chair go off?

Second man: You could
see it through the sky

when it disconnected
up there.

Geege and them saw the
explosion. I didn't know.

It's launched
right over here.

I had "launch" at 12:30.

Elvis: I was
buried in a beaver.

How was your launch?

Just picture it...

Man: Watch out, Elvis,
there's a Mike up there.

Oh, you sneaky ...

I knew they had them.

That's why I didn't
want to say "no."

Now you got to do a five-minute
monologue over this.

♪ What a friend
we have in Jesus ♪

♪ well, I left my home
in Norfolk, Virginia ♪

♪ California on my mind ♪

♪ straddled that greyhound
and rode him into Raleigh ♪

♪ and on across Caroline ♪

♪ had motor trouble
that turned into a struggle ♪

♪ halfway across alabam' ♪

♪ well, the hound broke down
and left us all stranded ♪

♪ in downtown Birmingham ♪

Woman:
I love you, Elvis.

[ Screaming ]

Elvis!
Elvis!

You ain't gonna come in?

[ Laughter ]

Take-off time will be
at 8:15, fellows.

You know that girl
I was with last night?

The dog?

Oh, man.
She gave great head.

Hey, Joe,
that chick last night

gave greatest head...

Remember that dog
he was with?

♪ Well, right away I bought me
a through train ticket

♪ right 'cross
the pacific... ♪

♪ I was on that midnight flyer
out of Birmingham ♪

♪ and smokin' into New Orleans ♪

♪ somebody help me
get out of Louisiana ♪

♪ just help me get
to Houston town ♪

♪ there are people there
who care a little 'bout me... ♪

One year, I was chosen

one of the 10 outstanding
young men in America.

It was a real honor for me.
I was very moved.

So every dream
that I ever dreamed

has come true 100 times.

I learned very early in life

that "without a song,
the day would never end,

"without a song,
a man ain't got a friend,

"without a song,
the world would never bend,

without a song."

So I keep singing a song.

♪ As sure as you were born
to buy me a silk suit ♪

♪ and puttin' luggage
in my hand ♪

♪ and I'm up up high
over Albuquerque ♪

♪ on a jet
to the promised land ♪

♪ I'm workin' on a t-bone steak
a la carte ♪

♪ flyin' over
to the golden state ♪

♪ the pilot told us
in 13 minutes ♪

♪ he would sit us
at the purple gate ♪

[ Screaming ]

The single most exciting concert
I ever gave

was an event colonel Parker
set up in Hawaii in 1973.

It was the first
worldwide satellite telecast

by an entertainer.

It was seen in 36 countries.

Over a billion people
were watching.

How was the sound
in that building?

Very, very good.
Good.

Man: Sounded like
it was good.

It really did.

Man, can Hawaii
get sticky.

It's a hot time
in Florida.

♪ Rainy night in Georgia ♪

Elvis: If only I could have seen
what was happening to me,

I might have done something
about it.

My marriage was falling apart.

Priscilla and I
were hardly ever together,

and even when we were,
things weren't the same.

And one day
while I was playing Vegas,

Priscilla came to tell me
she wanted a divorce.

At first, I was angry and hurt.

It took a long time
for me to accept it,

but losing her really got to me.

After all the years together,

we just couldn't make things
work out.

♪ Maybe I didn't treat you ♪

♪ quite as good
as I should have ♪

♪ maybe I didn't love you ♪

♪ quite as often
as I could have ♪

♪ little things
I should have said and done ♪

♪ I just never took the time ♪

♪ you were always on my mind ♪

♪ you were always on my mind ♪

♪ you were always on my mind ♪

♪ maybe I didn't hold you ♪

♪ all those lonely,
lonely times ♪

♪ and I guess I never told you ♪

♪ I'm so happy
that you're mine ♪

♪ if I made you feel
second best ♪

♪ girl, I'm so sorry
I was blind ♪

♪ but you were
always on my mind ♪

♪ you were always on my mind ♪

♪ you were always on my mind ♪

[ Music plays ]

♪ You were always on my mind ♪

How are you?

After Priscilla and I split up,
it was a strange time.

I was turning 40,

and the only time
I really felt good any more

was on stage.

The best thing
happening in my life then

was my new girlfriend,
Linda Thompson.

Thompson:
I met Elvis at a time

when he really needed someone
to be with.

Living with him
was pretty strange.

I used to say it was a nice,
abnormal life we were leading.

We'd sleep during the day,
then stay up all night.

Over the 4 1/2 years
we were together,

I could see Elvis

was slowly losing
some of his passion for life.

One of the only things
he enjoyed anymore

was practicing karate
was his bodyguards.

[ Grunting ]

[ Cheering and applause ]

♪ Everybody was
kung fu fighting ♪

♪ those cats
were fast as lightning ♪

♪ in fact it was
a little bit frightening ♪

♪ but they fought
with expert timing ♪

♪ it's an ancient Chinese art ♪

♪ and everybody
knew their part ♪

♪ from a feinting to a slip ♪

♪ and a kicking from the hip ♪

♪ everybody was
kung fu fighting ♪

♪ those cats
were fast as lightning ♪

♪ in fact it was
a little bit frightening ♪

♪ but they fought
with expert timing ♪

♪ there was funky Billy Chen
and little Sammy Chong ♪

♪ he said,
"here come's the big boss ♪

♪ let's get it on" ♪

♪ he took a bow
and make a stand ♪

♪ started swaying
with the hand ♪

♪ a certain motion
made me skip ♪

♪ now we're
into a brand new trip ♪

♪ everybody was
kung fu fighting ♪

♪ go ♪

♪ people, people, people ♪

♪ oh-oh, oh-oh-oh ♪

Here at baptist memorial
hospital in midtown Memphis,

Elvis Presley has apparently
checked into a private suite

on the 15th floor.

A sign that Elvis is, in fact,
here is the aluminum foil

that covers his windows
to deflect the sun.

A spokesman for baptist memorial

says Presley has been admitted
for exhaustion.

However, private sources tell me

the singer is suffering from
glaucoma and stomach problems,

including an ulcer.

These problems
have apparently led

to Presley's
increased dependency

on prescribed medication.

A few of Elvis' entourage
are with him here,

including his girlfriend,

former miss Tennessee
Linda Thompson.

Our cameras spotted Linda in
the hospital's gift shop today.

She was wearing a robe
that matched the singing idol's.

On the 15th floor,

we managed to catch Elvis
and Linda strolling together

at the end of the hallway
near his suite,

guarded by an around-the-clock
security man.

We asked some local Memphians
how they feel

about our most famous citizen's
legal and medical problems.

Well, if you don't mind
me saying so,

I don't think Elvis
has really been happy

since he
and Priscilla divorced.

He's been working himself
way too hard.

All those tours and playing
in Vegas so much ...

I think it's taken
a definite toll on him.

We love him and want
to get close to him,

but we can't because of all
of his bodyguards.

I think they're the ones

that are getting him in
trouble with the lawsuits.

They're just bad news.

Man: Sonny or Dave,

could one of you tell us
why you decided to write

such a sensationalistic
book about Elvis?

When we wrote this book,

it was out of bitterness
and hurt, to start with.

When we were given three day''
notice by his father

and a week's pay
after 16 years.

We all had families,

and he wouldn't talk to us
himself.

He flew out of town,
and he had his father do it.

Man: Why did Elvis
fire you?

It was told to us
by his father

that there was a cutback
on expenses...

Elvis: In 1977,
I started to feel like things

were slowly getting
out of control.

My health
was a constant problem.

But what really shook me

was a book
by three of my bodyguards.

It hurt me a lot that they
would attack me in public.

I never thought friends
who once were almost family

would turn
and try to destroy me.

...that it was because
of the lawsuits.

Man: Dave, you seemed
to be implying before

that you were writing
the book, in part,

to try and get Elvis
to change his ways.

You bet.

We wanted to point out
to him

what he was doing,

not only to himself,
but to the people around him.

And we didn't want him
to be what he was.

We wanted him to be what we
knew he could be and had been.

We were trying to present him
with a challenge.

If he saw all these things
rolled in front of him

and know that they were true,

I don't know how he might have
dismissed them in his mind.

Maybe it will do
some good for him,

for the drug culture,
for people to realize

no one is out of reach
of drugs.

Here is a man that had it
in the palm of his hand,

and the drugs
took it away from him.

Man: What drugs
are we talking about?

Uppers and downers,
sleeping pills.

We're talking about things
like Demerol.

You actually
saw him...

Yes.

My cousin red charged in
to stop it one time.

He broke the guy's
toe going through the door

and told him he
was going to break him up

if he didn't quit
getting the stuff to him.

Elvis heard about it,
and he called red and Joe in.

They discussed it for a while,

and then finally he
looked at red and said ...

I'll never forget it ...

He said, "I need 'em, man.
I need it."

We wanted more
than anything else

to see him
as he was in his prime ...

On the stage,
just knocking them dead.

Man: If you loved him
so much,

why couldn't you
protect him?

How do you protect a man
from himself?

Esposito: I whispered to Elvis

to be careful
stepping out to the stage.

He was obviously way overweight,

and despite his age, only 42,
we knew he was in bad health.

Through all the years
I knew him,

Elvis had taken great care

to always look his best
in public.

It was tough for him,

but now Elvis accepted
his appearance

and so did his fans.

[ Drums beat ]

[ Cheers and applause ]

In this,
one of his last concerts,

just six weeks before his death,
he still poured his heart out.

To the end,

Elvis' greatest gift,
his incredible voice,

never failed him.

Thank you very much.

Don't let the lights
and cameras throw you.

And don't throw the lights
and cameras, if you can help it.

[ Audience chuckles ]

But they are hot,
I'll tell you for sure.

I'm going to actually play
the guitar.

I know three chords,
believe it or not.

But I faked them all
for a long time.

My kid spent the night,
you know.

If you think I'm nervous,
you're right.

[ Laughter and applause ]

I'm going to do a song called
"are you lonesome tonight?"

And I am, and I was.

Damn...
I mean, darn. Excuse me.

♪ Are you lonesome tonight? ♪

♪ Do you miss me tonight? ♪

♪ Are you sorry
we drifted apart? ♪

♪ Does your memory stray ♪

♪ to a bright summer day ♪

♪ when I kissed you
and called you sweetheart? ♪

♪ Do the chairs in your parlor ♪

♪ seem empty and bare? ♪

♪ Do you gaze at your doorstep ♪

♪ and picture me there? ♪

♪ Is your heart
filled with pain? ♪

♪ Shall I come back again? ♪

♪ Tell me, dear,
are you lonesome tonight ♪

♪ whoo whoo whoo whoo... ♪

I wonder
if you're lonesome tonight.

You know, someone said,

"the world's a stage,
and each of us play a part."

[ Spouting gibberish ]

...plus tax.

[ Stumbling ]
You read your lines so cleverly.

You never missed a cue.

Then he came back too.
He forgot the words.

They'd been changed, you fool.

You're acting strange.
And why, I've never known.

Why I overdid it.

Honey ...
Who am I talking to?

You lied when you said
you loved me.

You ... and I had no cause
to doubt you.

[ Spouting gibberish ]

I'd rather go on
hearing your lies

than to go on living
without you.

And the stage is bare,

and I'm standing there
without any hair.

Uh, no.

[ Audience chuckles ]

If you won't come back to me...

Oh, the heck with it.

♪ Is your heart
filled with pain? ♪

♪ Shall I come back again? ♪

♪ Tell me, dear,
are you lonesome tonight? ♪

Thank you very much.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I'd like to introduce you
to my father.

He's been sick for a while,
but he's doing very well.

Would you stand up
by me, daddy?

[ Applause ]

I'd like you to say hello
to my girlfriend, ginger.

Sit down, ginger.
That's enough for her.

This next song
is called "my way."

♪ And now the end is near ♪

♪ and so I face
the final curtain ♪

♪ my friend,
I'll say it clear ♪

♪ I'll state my case
of which I'm certain ♪

♪ I've lived
a life that's full ♪

♪ I've traveled each
and every highway ♪

♪ and more
much more than this ♪

♪ I did it my way ♪

♪ regrets ♪

♪ I've had a few ♪

♪ but then again ♪

♪ too few to mention ♪

♪ I did ♪

♪ what I had to do ♪

♪ and saw it through ♪

♪ without exemption ♪

♪ I've planned ♪

♪ each chartered course ♪

♪ each careful step ♪

♪ along the byway ♪

♪ oh and more,
much more than this ♪

♪ I did it my way ♪

♪ I've loved,
I've laughed and cried ♪

♪ I've had my fill,
my share of losing ♪

♪ and now as tears subside ♪

♪ I find it all so amusing ♪

♪ to think I did all that ♪

♪ and may I say
not in a shy way ♪

♪ oh, no
no, not me ♪

♪ I did it my way ♪

♪ for what is a man? ♪

♪ What has he got? ♪

♪ If not himself
then he has not ♪

♪ to say the words
he truly feels ♪

♪ and not the words
for one who kneels ♪

♪ the record shows
I took the blows ♪

♪ and did it my way ♪

♪ the record shows
I took the blows ♪

♪ and did it ♪

♪ my way ♪

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen,
Elvis has left the building.

♪ Oh, I wish I was ♪

♪ in the land of cotton ♪

♪ old times there
are not forgotten ♪

♪ look away, look away ♪

♪ look away, dixieland ♪

♪ glory, glory, hallelujah ♪

♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪

Take it, baby.

♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪

♪ his truth is marching on ♪

♪ So hush, little baby,
don't you cry ♪

♪ you know your daddy is ♪

♪ bound to die ♪

♪ but all ♪

♪ my trials, lord ♪

♪ will soon be over ♪

♪ Glory, glory, hallelujah ♪

♪ his truth is marching on ♪

♪ his truth is marching on ♪

♪ Memories ♪

♪ pressed between the pages
of my mind ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ sweetened through the ages
just like wine ♪

♪ quiet thoughts
come floating down ♪

♪ and settle softly
to the ground ♪

♪ like golden Autumn leaves
around my feet ♪

♪ I touch them
and they burst apart ♪

♪ with sweet memories ♪

♪ sweet memories ♪

♪ of holding hands
and red bouquets ♪

♪ and twilights trimmed
in purple haze ♪

♪ and laughing eyes
and simple ways ♪

♪ and quiet nights
and gentle days with you ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ pressed between the pages
of my mind ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ sweetened through the ages
just like wine ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ of holding hands
and red bouquets ♪

♪ and twilights trimmed
in purple haze ♪

♪ and laughing eyes
and simple ways ♪

♪ and quiet nights
and gentle days with you ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ pressed between the pages
of my mind ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ sweetened through the ages
just like wine ♪

♪ memories ♪

♪ memories ♪