Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Blue Moon]

I'm nearly done reading Ed Parker's "Inside Elvis" book and in it, he talks about Elvis really wanting to do a dramatic movie role. And Elvis was serious about it; not just talk, as he had come up with plans (I think in the 70's), and then requested the Colonel to to make them happen. But Parker intentially sabotaged Elvis' every effort, with Elvis never knowing about it.

My heart just felt so sad for Elvis when I read this:

Elvis wanted to do a film in which he would play a heavy, dramatic lead. . . .Elvis outlined our plans and asked the Colonel for his thoughts. The Colonel seemed to be all for it. He said that he would contact the major studios. . . . Later, I learned from some of Elvis' entourage that the Colonel had told them confidentaially, he was going to make every effort to squelch the project. . . . Unfortunately, Elvis didn't realize that his personal desires were being shelved without his knowledge. The more intensely Elvis worked on getting the project going, the more intensley the Colonel worked at undermining it. . . . Until the day of his death, Elvis earnestly fought for this opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of his talent. Elvis had fully expected this project to be a reality.

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[Amanda Viola]

[MaryInTheMorning]

I'm nearly done reading Ed Parker's "Inside Elvis" book and in it, he talks about Elvis really wanting to do a dramatic movie role. And Elvis was serious about it; not just talk, as he had come up with plans (I think in the 70's), and then requested the Colonel to to make them happen. But Parker intentially sabotaged Elvis' every effort, with Elvis never knowing about it.

My heart just felt so sad for Elvis when I read this:

Elvis wanted to do a film in which he would play a heavy, dramatic lead. . . .Elvis outlined our plans and asked the Colonel for his thoughts. The Colonel seemed to be all for it. He said that he would contact the major studios. . . . Later, I learned from some of Elvis' entourage that the Colonel had told them confidentaially, he was going to make every effort to squelch the project. . . . Unfortunately, Elvis didn't realize that his personal desires were being shelved without his knowledge. The more intensely Elvis worked on getting the project going, the more intensley the Colonel worked at undermining it. . . . Until the day of his death, Elvis earnestly fought for this opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of his talent. Elvis had fully expected this project to be a reality.

.

.......This is EXACTLY what I was talking about in my post on the "Love of films" topic........How was the "Col" able to live with himself doing something like this to Elvis???!!!!???? Amanda, I'll second your with a It just breaks my heart to know that our poor baby's dreams were being DELIBERATELY crushed behind his back without his knowledge. Oh, I have to be honest--it makes me damn too!!! Again, please forgive me guys.

[Barbara Lea]

WELL MARY IN THE MORNING IT IS JUST LIKE THE REST GOT TO LIVE ALONGER LIFE THEN OUR SWEET MAN DID. LIKE THE COLONIAL LIVING TO BE IN HIS 90'S, ALL I CAN SAY IS EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT OUT LIVED ELVIS THEY STILL DIDN'T BRING HIM DOWN LIKE THEY WANTED TO BECUASE ELVIS IS EVEN MORE POPULAR. THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE OUR WANDA FOR ONE, AND EVEN THOUGH THE COLOMIAL WENT BEHIND ELVIS'S BACK AND DIDN'T FOLLOW HIS WISHES LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSE TO AT LEAST WE ALL KNOW WHAT A GREAT ACTOR ELVIS WAS. FAIRYTALE!

[ALNA]

He was great , also in those teenager movies. He acted so good.
And he did the best he could in those movies.

[Amanda Viola]

What calls more my attention is the fact that he was seldom directed into acting by most of his directors. With a fine training and more good direction, Elvis would have been an extraordinary actor. But again, even in those conditions, he expressed himself as one of a kind.

[Wanda June Hill]

It is a shame that these kinds of things can happen to those persons who are born into this world to be trusting, honest, naive and lovingly good as was Elvis.
The Col. was underhanded, a thief in many ways and not just in money, but in Elvis' chances, talent and dreams. He stole them from him out of greed and the obsession he had for being " the greatest Snowman" in the world. And he helped to cut Elvis' dreams up in every possible way he could... I firmly believe that the Col. in his ego trip or sptupidity, mis management, and carnival minded mentality, thought of Elvis as one of his "dancing chickens". I hope that he has had to view his actions, thoughts and plans in the life he led as Elvis' manager so many times since his passing that he finds it a "living hell" emotionally and physically as was Elvis' last days on this earth. That ought to be about punishment enough. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

It is a shame that these kinds of things can happen to those persons who are born into this world to be trusting, honest, naive and lovingly good as was Elvis.

Yep that's just about how I feel too in relation to this! Think it's specially so when one can see Elvis' acting potential portrayed in "King Creole", "Flaming Star", "Wild in The Country" and "Change of Habit" just to name four at the present time but in light of this it seems such a shame really!

[Blue Moon]

The sale of the 700 master recordings he made during his career to RCA for a mere $5.4 million in 1973 is said to be among the most shortsighted deals in the history of the music business. After agents’ costs, the sale netted Elvis just $1.5 million.

Source: Google/Elvisnews

Was there not anyone around Elvis who could have advised him either against this deal or to demand a higher price? Did anyone care?

The Colonel, supposedly so business savvy, made a terrible business blunder for Elvis here, though Parker probably pocketed himself plenty, especially looking at the agents' take.

[Wanda June Hill]

I think that deal was set up because the Col. needed/wanted big money for some thing...we know what that was most likely. And Elvis needed the money to pay Priscilla apparently as the court ordered him to do-and too, there were other things that had to be paid as well besides the regular costs of running the "business" he had become. His organization etc; as he liked to think of it as being. He was after all, Elvis Presley, Inc. and supposedly set up like a business though it seems that HE paid most of the costs out of his cut...The one time I spoke to him about that he just about bit my head off-but he thought women ought to just shut up when it came to such things as business etc;. He was a bit of a "chauvinest pig" at times. He even admitted it. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Thank you, Wanda, for your insight here regarding Parker, costs Elvis paid out etc, much from his own cut. Like yourself I would have wished to query this too, seems very wrong he should have to pay so much specially out of his own money he made. There were also of course, supposed paternity cases from women who Elvis had only actually ever brushed elbows with, etc., hmm!

[MaryInTheMorning]

I agree with the statement above that Laurie posted about the sale of the Masters to RCA being a big mistake considering the menial profit that Elvis made for such a HUGE catalouge of work, effort and love. But good ol' Parker there wasn't always known for looking out for Elvis's best interests now was he?? ALWAYS the bigger, better, deal for PARKER instead of what was better FOR ELVIS or his well being. I understand about Elvis needing the money to pay Priscilla--I just wish that he would have made out better on that deal that's all. Then too, with Elvis paying most of the business costs out of HIS cut---it all just seems so very unfair. Thanks Wanda for your insights on all of this. Like you've said before, no matter how bad things got for Elvis or how bad a situation was, he always seemed to make the best of it. Bless his precious soul.

[Amanda Viola]

Like you've said before, no matter how bad things got for Elvis or how bad a situation was, he always seemed to make the best of it. Bless his precious soul.

it seems that HE paid most of the costs out of his cut...The one time I spoke to him about that he just about bit my head off-but he thought women ought to just shut up when it came to such things as business etc;. He was a bit of a "chauvinest pig" at times. He even admitted it. wjh

This kind of reaction seems to me a defensive one. It signals exactly the opposite direction: Elvis must have had a great opinion of women smartness and a low one of his own to react emotionally and without reasons. Probably he felt that Wanda -like his own mother- hit the head of the nail in certain matters.

Also, maybe he felt often too intruded in his personal affairs and decisions(always so expossed to so many). Probably he took many of them due "unreasonable" feelings of love, gratitude or compassion for others that he simply could not explain, that in the current way to see things, would seem childlike to others and he didn't want to give that impression.

Probably it was easier for him to give the image of a "chauvinist pig" than to tell all the truth behind it: that he had such a tender, loving heart.

[Rainbow Light]

[quote]Also, maybe he felt often too intruded in his personal affairs and decisions(always so expossed to so many). Probably he took many of them due "unreasonable" feelings of love, gratitude or compassion for others that he simply could not explain, that in the current way to see things, would seem childlike to others and he didn't want to give that impression.

Probably it was easier for him to give the image of a "chauvinist pig" than to tell all the truth behind it: that he had such a tender, loving heart. /quote]

Yes, Amanda, I can see what you mean for sure!

[Blue Moon]

In the link below, Dolly Parton talks about her dealings with Colonel Parker when Elvis wanted to record Dolly's hit song "I Will Always Love You". I so wish Parker had been willing to compromise for Elvis' & his fans' sake. As Dolly says, "But I always wondered what it would sound like. I know he'd kill it."

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/news/dolly_parton.shtml