Elvis **** (1979, Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Bing Russell) Classic Movie Review 9303

Kurt Russell leads as Elvis in director John Carpenter’s compelling 1979 biographical account of Presley’s rise to stardom, making an effective stab at re-creating the King, with help from country singer Ronnie McDowell’s excellent voicing and Russell lip-synching to his vocals.

Elvis [Elvis – The Movie] is one of America’s highest rating TV movies. It is a Golden Globe nominee as Best Motion Picture Made for Television. It is classic television.

Russell, nominated for a Primetime Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special, reteamed with Carpenter for Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from L A.

There are two other Primetime Emmy nominations- for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special (Donald M Morgan) and Outstanding Achievement in Makeup (Marvin G Westmore).

Also in the cast are Shelley Winters as Gladys Presley, Pat Hingle as Colonel Tom Parker, Season Hubley as Priscilla Presley, Bing Russell as Vernon Presley, Ed Begley Jr, Joe Mantegna, Ellen Travolta, Melody Anderson, Robert Gray, James Canning, Charles Cyphers, Peter Hobbs, Les Lannom, Elliott Street, Randy Gray as Elvis as a boy, Will Jordan as Ed Sullivan, and Charlie Hodge.

Elvis runs 150 minutes, or 163 minutes (1988 video release) or 170 minutes (BluRay), and it was also released in cinemas as Elvis – The Movie at 105 minutes.

Elvis [Elvis – The Movie] is directed by John Carpenter, runs 150 minutes, is made by Dick Clark Productions, is released by American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (US) and GTO Films (1979) (UK), is written by Anthony Lawrence, is shot by Donald M Morgan, is produced by Anthony Lawrence and is scored by Joe Renzetti.

Russell appeared in the Elvis movie It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963) as a boy who kicks Elvis on the shin and also played an Elvis impersonator in 3,000 Miles to Graceland (2001), where a boy kicks Russell in Elvis attire on the shin.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9303

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