Heartbreak Hotel (1988)

When a teen tries to set up a band at his school, his mother who was a big fan of Elvis Presley gets in a wreck he and his band members decides to kidnap Elvis and have him hooked up with his mother.

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writer:

Chris Columbus

Stars:

David Keith, Tuesday Weld, Charlie Schlatter

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Keith	...	Elvis Presley
Tuesday Weld	...	Marie Wolfe
Charlie Schlatter	...	Johnny Wolfe
Angela Goethals	...	Pam Wolfe
Jacque Lynn Colton	...	Rosie Pantangellio
Chris Mulkey	...	Steve Ayres
Karen Landry	...	Irene
Tudor Sherrard	...	Paul Quinine
Paul J. Harkins	...	Brian Gasternick (as Paul Harkins)
Noel Derecki	...	Tony Vandelo
Dana Barron	...	Beth Devereux
T. Graham Brown	...	Jerry Schilling
Dennis Letts	...	Alan Fortas
Stephen Lee Davis	...	George Klein
Blue Deckert	...	Jones

Storyline

Johnny, a 17 year old boy, succeeds in kidnapping Elvis Presley and thus convinces him to meet her mother who is a fan of his and has to stand difficult times at that moment.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | drugged | rock music | rock musician | rock band | 

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Taglines:

1972. My family needed some help, my town needed a hero, and my band needed a break. So I borrowed Mom's pink Cadillac and I kidnapped Elvis Presley, and our lives were never the same again.

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eläköön Elvis

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,063,546, 2 October 1988

Gross USA:

$5,509,417

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,509,417

Company Credits

Production Co:

1492 Pictures, Silver Screen Partners III, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the hotel is "Flaming Star," which is also the name of Elvis Presley's 6th movie.

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Goofs

When Elvis and Marie go to escape the crowd, Marie asks Elvis, "Can you row a boat?" Elvis replies "Can I row? Didn't you ever see 'King Creole?'" - Elvis did have a scene on a boat in "King Creole," but it was a steamboat... no rowing required.

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Quotes

Elvis Presley: When I first met you, I didn't like you at all. I thought you were the most arrogant, selfish, ungrateful little bastard I'd ever met.
[pauses]
Elvis Presley: Then I started to remember how much I was like that at your age.
Johnny Wolfe: Elvis, man. What happened at the talent show - thanks. I know you did that for me.
Elvis Presley: [Frowns] Hell no, kid. I didn't do that for you. I did that for rock and roll.

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Crazy Credits

Disclaimer at the end of the movie that "This was a work of fiction and not a depiction of events that occurred during Elvis Presley's lifetime. "

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Connections

Referenced in Making of 'Bubba Ho-tep' (2004)

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Soundtracks

Can't Help Falling In Love
Written by George David Weiss (as George Weiss), Hugo Peretti & Luigi Creatore
Performed by David Keith with the T. Graham Brown Band
Produced by Robert Kraft
Vocal re-mix produced by Bruce Botnick

User Reviews

A nice interesting, entertaining film

I have seen this film a few times, and I really do like it. Its a nice fictional story, set in the 80's. By this time Elvis obviously didn't die young, and is in his 60's, or at least getting old. Johnny helps his mum who owns a hotel. When he see's his mother in distress, he and a friend kidnaps Elvis in a bid to gain her happiness again. At first Elvis is furious, but he soon begins to live and let live, and a friendship and bond ensues between them all.

It is a pleasant film, and enjoyable. May not be to everyones taste, but I liked it.

With a good soundtrack, and good acting, it really isn't a bad film.