This Is Elvis (1981) Movie Script

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 ♪

♪ 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

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

for me to be involved in ♪

♪ uh-huh-huh ♪

♪ 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 ♪

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!

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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

[ 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

This Is Elvis (1981) - full transcript