Elvis Presley felt Hollywood portrayed his ‘wrong’ image, reveals new Netflix documentary

Elvis Presley felt Hollywood portrayed his ‘wrong’ image, reveals new Netflix documentary
Elvis Presley worked in over 30 movies as he continued to make popular pop music (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Elvis Presley expressed his frustration with how Hollywood depicted him during his struggling days on the big screen.

In a rare interview, which features in his new documentary ‘Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley', the music legend talked about his portrayal amid a series of flop movies.



 

New documentary shares rare interview of Elvis Presley

The Netflix documentary, which will premiere on Wednesday, November 13, explores the famous comeback of 1968's ‘Elvis’.

Director Jason Hehir shared a clip with People, in which Elvis can be heard saying, "Hollywood’s image of me was wrong and I knew it, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I didn’t know what to do. I just felt I was obligated to things I didn’t fully believe in.”

The 'Jailhouse Rock’ singer further added, referring to his movie career, “At a certain stage, I had no say so in it. I didn’t have final approval of the script, which means I couldn’t say, ‘This is not good for me,’ and so I became very discouraged."

“They couldn’t have paid me no amount of money in the world to make me feel I had any satisfaction inside,” he added.

Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) being fed a mouthful of wedding cake by his bride Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas.   (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) being fed a mouthful of wedding cake by his bride Priscilla Beaulieu at the Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas (Keystone/Getty Images)

What did Priscilla Presley say about Elvis Presley's creative vision?

Another segment of the documentary shared the reaction of Elvis Presley's wife Priscilla Presley to him singing ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’.

“That to me is a crime,” the actress said, before adding, “It is a crime. To put him in that situation and sing that song. It made him a laughingstock. And he knew it.”

Priscilla has previously talked about Elvis' wish to create substantial work with his talent, "Musically, I think he was pretty happy with how things had turned out. He loved knowing that his music meant something to people,” she told The Times UK in 2023.

“I remember sitting with him at Graceland listening to some of the songs he was recording, and I asked him why he sang so many ballads. He answered me straight away, 'Because those songs touch the heart. Life’s truth is in those songs.' He was right," recalled 'The Naked Gun' actress.

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