Elvis movie fact vs fiction: What really happened to Elvis Presley?
By Sandy C.
The highly anticipated Elvis movie, Elvis, is now playing in theaters. Though the biopic runs a little long (so close to hitting three hours), it’s worth watching for the performances (both Austin Butler and young actor Chaydon Jay are standouts) and brilliant soundtrack.
Now, this is a biopic, but that doesn’t always mean that the movie is 100% accurate. When it comes to both movies and shows, drama is always thrown in for entertainment. That said, how much of the Elvis movie is fact and what is fiction? What really happened to Elvis Presley? Time to run a fact check!
Elvis movie fact vs fiction
Elvis Presley’s first appearance on the Hayride show
In the movie, we see Elvis absolutely kill his first performance. The audience goes wild and Colonel Parker can’t believe his eyes (or ears). But, in reality, Elvis didn’t do so well during his first show. It wasn’t until his second performance that he blew everyone away. Also, Colonel Parker was not in attendance.
Is Colonel Parker from the Elvis movie a real person?
Sadly, yes. And he was no colonel. “Parker,” whose real name was Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was born in the Netherlands. It’s also true that he was in the states illegally.
Elvis and B.B. King, Siter Rosetta Tharpe, and others
The King of Rock and Roll loved to visit clubs on Beale Street, so it is highly possible that he met and grew close to King, Tharpe, Little Richard, and others who frequently performed at these clubs.
Are the “I Hate Elvis” buttons real?
They sure are! Colonel Parker truly thought of everything and anything that would bring in money. Expect to see these vintage 1950s buttons for sale in the coming weeks.
Elvis stands up for himself
In Memphis, Elvis truly does say “those people in New York are not gonna change me none. I’m gonna show you what the real Elvis is like tonight.” However, the real show did not end in a riot like in the movie.
How old was Pricilla when she met Elvis?
Pricilla and Elvis met in Germany in 1959, when she was only 14-years-old. When she married the singer, though, she was 21-years-old, and Elvis 32. The two were married for six years and had a daughter, Lisa-Marie.
Did Elvis really have a five-year deal with the hotel?
Yes, and it was written up by Colonel Parker on a tablecloth, but a document made it official later on.
Was Colonel Parker a gambling addict?
Yes, and he lost “at least” one million a year.
How did Elvis Presley really die?
Presley passed away at the age of 42 in his home in Memphis. The singer and actor was found face down on the bathroom floor. Some sources claim he died of a heart attack. Another reports says that there were at least 10 different substances in his system, mainly opiates. However, one of the most popular reports shares that Presley died due to severe constipation. According to StyleCaster, Elvis Presley died of a combination of the three biggest theories: Straining so hard in the bathroom that it caused heart failure due to his long abuse of prescription drugs.
Elvis is now playing in theaters. Will you be watching the movie this weekend or wait for a streaming release?