Elvis (1979/I) (TV)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writer:

Anthony Lawrence (written by)

Release Date:

11 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The King Lives On!

Plot:

Biographical movie about the famous rock singer Elvis Presley. |

Plot Keywords:

Elvis Presley | Mother Son Relationship | Price Of Fame | Recording | Concert

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Elvis Presley
Shelley Winters	...	Gladys Presley
Bing Russell	...	Vernon Presley
Robert Gray	...	Red West
Season Hubley	...	Priscilla Presley
Pat Hingle	...	Colonel Tom Parker
Melody Anderson	...	Bonnie
Ed Begley Jr.	...	D J Fontana
James Canning	...	Scotty Moore
Charles Cyphers	...	Sam Phillips
Peter Hobbs	...	Jim Denny
Les Lannom	...	Sonny West
Elliott Street	...	Bill Black
Randy Gray	...	Elvis as a boy
Will Jordan	...	Ed Sullivan
Joe Mantegna	...	Joe Esposito
Galen Thompson	...	Hank Snow
Ellen Travolta	...	Marion Keisker
Charlie Hodge	...	Himself
Christian Berrigan
Robert Christopher
Mark Denis
Mario Gallo
Del Hinkley
Theodore Lehmann		(as Ted Lehman)
Jack McCulloch
Larry Pennell
Ken Smolka
David Hunt Stafford
Dennis Stewart
Dick Young
Meg Wyllie	...	Grandma
Nora Boland	...	Teacher
Felicia Fenske	...	Lisa Marie
Larry Geller	...	Himself
Jim Greenleaf	...	2nd Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronnie McDowell	...	Elvis Presley (singing voice)
William Angus Erwin	...	(uncredited)
Luther Fear	...	Chauffer (uncredited)
Helen Kelly	...	Elvis Fan (uncredited)
Jack Philpot	...	Piano player (uncredited)
Ed Ruffalo	...	(uncredited)
Jimmy Williams	...	Cpl. in Hofbrau (uncredited)
Abi Young	...	Natalie Wood (uncredited)

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits
Anthony Lawrence		(written by)

Produced by
Tony Bishop	....	supervising producer
Dick Clark	....	executive producer
Anthony Lawrence	....	producer
James Ritz	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Joe Renzetti

Cinematography by
Donald M. Morgan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Christopher Holmes
Ron Moler

Casting by
Joyce Selznick

Art Direction by
Tracy Bousman
James William Newport		(as James Newport)

Set Decoration by
Bill Harp

Costume Design by
Suzanne Grace
Richard Mahoney

Makeup Department
Ruby Ford	....	hair stylist
Marvin G. Westmore	....	makeup artist (as Marvin Westmore)

Production Management
Francis La Maina	....	executive in charge of production (as Francis C. La Maina)
George Sweney	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Beaudine	....	second assistant director
Larry J. Franco	....	first assistant director (as Larry Franco)
Glen Sanford	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard L. Cowitt	....	assistant property master (as Rick Cowitt)
Russell Goble	....	property master (as Russ Goble)
William Kemper Wright	....	leadman (as William Wright)

Sound Department
Phil Bishop	....	boom operator
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound effects editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)

Stunts
Aaron Norris	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Conley	....	best boy grip (as Tom Conley)
Robert Fiore	....	electrical best boy
Roger Gebhard	....	assistant camera
Jan Kiesser	....	camera operator
Richard A. Mention III	....	assistant camera (as Rick Mention)
Calvin Sterry	....	key grip (as Cal Sterry)
Bill Tenny	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Sharon Benson	....	extras casting coordinator
Edye Ramsey	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Faso	....	costume supervisor
Suzanne Grace	....	costumer: women
Richard Mahoney	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Robert Israel	....	assistant editor (as Robert D. Israel)
Rodger Parker	....	associate editor
Tom Walls	....	supervising editor

Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor
Frank Capp	....	music coordinator
Felton Jarvis	....	music producer: Elvis vocals
Ronnie McDowell	....	vocals: 'Elvis'
James Ritz	....	music producer: Elvis vocals
Ted Roberts	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Linda Cipperley	....	transportation
Donald P. Desmond	....	transportation captain (as Don Desmond)

Other crew
David Bracci	....	production assistant
Dody Dorn	....	production assistant
Larry Geller	....	technical advisor
Dick Grob	....	additional consultant
Mick Haggerty	....	titles
Charlie Hodge	....	technical advisor
The Jordanaires	....	additional consultant (as The Jordinaires)
Cheri Palmer Kluba	....	assistant to producer
Lynn Kuwahara	....	location manager
Marty Lacker	....	additional consultant
Cliff Linedecker	....	technical advisor
Bobby Ogden	....	supervisor
Sam Phillips	....	additional consultant
Lauren Joy Sand	....	researcher (as Lauren Sand)
Billy Smith	....	additional consultant
Janet Lee Smith	....	production coordinator
Fran Sweney	....	auditor
C.D. Taylor	....	titles
Jim Van Wyck	....	production assistant (as Jimmy Van Wyck)
Kathy Westmoreland	....	additional consultant
Carol Westphall	....	script supervisor (as Carole Westphall)
Charlie Westphall	....	continuity
Becky Yancy	....	technical advisor
Linn Zuckerman	....	craft service

Production Companies

• Dick Clark Productions (producer) (as dick clark motion pictures, inc.)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Scotia (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Aspect Ratio  editorial services provided by
• Cinema Research  opticals by (as Cinema Research Corp.)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  creative sound by
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by (as Panavision®)

Also Known As:

"Elvis the Movie" - USA (informal title)

Runtime:

150 min | UK:163 min (1988 video release) | West Germany:105 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | UK:U | Netherlands:AL | West Germany:6 (f) | Australia:PG

Company:

Dick Clark Productions

Trivia:

Although this film was shown on TV in America, it was released in theaters overseas, which was a common practice for TV movies at the time.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the Memphis pawnshop, a display cutout for Fritz the Cat (1972) can be seen on the wall.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jiminy Glick in Lalawood (2004)

Surprisingly good TV movie

Kurt Russell, whose career started when he kicked the REAL Elvis in It Happened At the World's Fair, will probably never top his performance as the King in this biopic helmed by slash and shock meister Carpenter. There are times you feel that you're watching Elvis until something snaps you back to reality...perhaps memories of a hapless Don Johnson in Elvis and the Beauty Queen? All the performances here are excellent: Season Hubley as Priscilla, Pat Hingle as the Colonel, even Shelley Winters brings the right level of nerves and hysteria to her rendering of Momma Presley.

Kurt's dad Bing is here playing Elvis' father Vernon, and there's a fine understated performance from Robert Gray as Elvis' buddy and bodyguard Red West.

A must see for rock n roll fans.