A STAR IS BORN

[geordie]

i heard a few years ago,that babs only offered the part to elvis,so that she could somehow humiliate him,by then retracting the offer.
this was mentioned on a internet radio show about 4 years ago.someone was interveiwed about the subject,cant remember the name.does anyone know more about this story,or i have i been dreaming again lol..:blush:

[debtdbruno]

not heard that one.....sorry

The two variations I've heard, is that Tom Parker pulled Elvis out because.....

1..Barbara wouldn't give Elvis top billing

2..Elvis changed his mind, and Tom asked for more money (knowing they wouldn't pay it)

[Brian]

I don't think Streisand was intentionally looking to humiliate Elvis it's that she needed a singer to play opposite her and she thought he fit the character perfectly.

After Elvis turned it down Neil Diamond was offered the part.

Contrary to popular belief i don't believe Streisand offered Elvis the part because she thought he was a great underrated actor though.

The movie was a Star vehicle for Streisand so whoever was cast she was going to come across as better than them.

[Raised on Rock]

Well here's an interesting take on that story:


http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/rge_astaristorm.shtml

[Brian]

Well here's an interesting take on that story:


http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/rge_astaristorm.shtml


I don't agree with Paul Simpson's point of view.

[Raised on Rock]

I don't agree with Paul Simpson's point of view.

It is what it is, just a point of view. I just added it to have something more to talk about in this thread. We would love to read yours my friend.

I would only say that for a guy that was born in 1980, A Star is Born didn't aged well, it might have been huge back then, but today its dull, boring and cheap looking, and neither Streisand has a special place or a place at all among my generation or younger, unlike many other 50's 60's and 70's bands or actors who are iconic both for older to younger generations. So I don't see really much for Elvis doing that flick. Viva las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock or Blue Hawaii aged much much better and resonate better today in younger generations

To me right after Aloha it was a world concert tour, japan, australia, south asia, europe, southamerica, then some half year break, and then yes, a hollywood comeback, but no, not another musical.

[hounddog]

I've read somewhere possibly in Jerry Schilling or Joe Esposito book that it was the Col who asked for top billing not Elvis, Elvis said he didn't care.

[Brian]

It is what it is, just a point of view. I just added it to have something more to talk about in this thread. We would love to read yours my friend.

I would only say that for a guy that was born in 1980, A Star is Born didn't aged well, it might have been huge back then, but today its dull, boring and cheap looking, and neither Streisand has a special place or a place at all among my generation or younger, unlike many other 50's 60's and 70's bands or actors who are iconic both for older to younger generations. So I don't see really much for Elvis doing that flick. Viva las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock or Blue Hawaii aged much much better and resonate better today in younger generations

To me right after Aloha it was a world concert tour, japan, australia, south asia, europe, southamerica, then some half year break, and then yes, a hollywood comeback, but no, not another musical.

My point of view on this is about the same as yours.

I believe that if Elvis wanted to be taken seriously as an actor he should have been doing good non singing roles and not musicals.

A Star is Born is the most overrated thing in the Elvis World.

A Star is Born became a big hit because of Barbara Streisand's popularity at the time.

[Snake Eyes]

It is what it is, just a point of view. I just added it to have something more to talk about in this thread. We would love to read yours my friend.

I would only say that for a guy that was born in 1980, A Star is Born didn't aged well, it might have been huge back then, but today its dull, boring and cheap looking, and neither Streisand has a special place or a place at all among my generation or younger, unlike many other 50's 60's and 70's bands or actors who are iconic both for older to younger generations. So I don't see really much for Elvis doing that flick. Viva las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock or Blue Hawaii aged much much better and resonate better today in younger generations

To me right after Aloha it was a world concert tour, japan, australia, south asia, europe, southamerica, then some half year break, and then yes, a hollywood comeback, but no, not another musical.

Completely agree with that. I haven't seen a Star is Born, nor do I have any plans to so I can't comment on whether Elvis should've or could've played the part well. Whenever I think of Kris Kristofferson, it's always Convoy that springs to mind.

[Raised on Rock]

Completely agree with that. I haven't seen a Star is Born, nor do I have any plans to so I can't comment on whether Elvis should've or could've played the part well. Whenever I think of Kris Kristofferson, it's always Convoy that springs to mind.

Well here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pbjo8lm1J4

I think Elvis would have done allright, and the character suited him: the self destructive 70's rock star, that once has been the most... but it was really not the kind of picture that would have raised him from his 60's hollywood standars, but just a 70's upgrade of the old musicals 60's formula, and as I said, the movie haven't aged well, it doesn't resonate well this days. So it wasn't even an improvement from Jaihouse Rock which is for sure a superior pic than A Star is Born, and it does has achieved an iconic status.

I guess the thing is that by '75 Elvis was going nowhere, so anything could have been considered a departure, and that movie being a massive hit at the box office, well, that could have leaded to other things in theory right? but well, we also know that Blue Hawaii didn't leaded to anythig better or different so...

I think The New Gladiators project, the martial arts documentals, could have leaded to more exciting things even if it didn't seem to be going for a huge succes, but at least it was Elvis's brain child, so that could have been a real departure for his artistic emancipation from then on, which in the end its what Elvis most needed, not somebody with new great ideas, but to be able to get them going on his own, with no fears of somebody stoping him, or the fear of not been liked by his audience.

[Snake Eyes]

Well here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pbjo8lm1J4

I think Elvis would have done allright, and the character suited him: the self destructive 70's rock star, that once has been the most... but it was really not the kind of picture that would have raised him from his 60's hollywood standars, but just a 70's upgrade of the old musicals 60's formula, and as I said, the movie haven't aged well, it doesn't resonate well this days. So it wasn't even an improvement from Jaihouse Rock which is for sure a superior pic than A Star is Born, and it does has achieved an iconic status.

I guess the thing is that by '75 Elvis was going nowhere, so anything could have been considered a departure, and that movie being a massive hit at the box office, well, that could have leaded to other things in theory right? but well, we also know that Blue Hawaii didn't leaded to anythig better or different so...

I think The New Gladiators project, the martial arts documentals, could have leaded to more exciting things even if it didn't seem to be going for a huge succes, but at least it was Elvis's brain child, so that could have been a real departure for his artistic emancipation from then on, which in the end its what Elvis most needed, not somebody with new great ideas, but to be able to get them going on his own, with no fears of somebody stoping him, or the fear of not been liked by his audience.

I actually cannot envisage Elvis playing that role at all now after seeing that trailer. Although the parallels are there, I just don't think it was for him, it's very hard to explain why but I just keep thinking life imitates art and had Elvis played this role and still ended the way it did, it may have just been another tool to use against him.

I do agree with the Gladiator project, even if not a success could've given Elvis the drive and ambition to pursue the things he actually wanted to do, instead of being told what he could do. Your last statement hit the nail on the head.

[debtdbruno]

I agree, Jen, don't think playing a character at that point (too close to how he was in 'real' life) was a good idea. If it was earlier, yes, great idea when he was 'clean'.....

[Snake Eyes]

I agree, Jen, don't think playing a character at that point (too close to how he was in 'real' life) was a good idea. If it was earlier, yes, great idea when he was 'clean'.....

Glad I'm not the only one of that opinion, but I agree with it being a great idea earlier in his career too.

[KPM]

Its hard to judge a picture by what might have been....Elvis giving his total concentration to the part and knowing this is his chance to break away from the fluffy image could have made this film...I liked the picture when it came out-I know it did great business when we went to see it it was packed. Elvis needed to do something that was not expected, this could have been it.
I liked Kristofferson, Streisand was not as annoying to me as usual (just me?)

[cibetty]

I use to wonder what if Elvis got this role. I read Elvis was asked before Kris and he found the story was interesting and he wanted to do it, just the colonel said no, cause he found the money was few what they wanted to give to Elvis. Of course he was not in that form in 77 what the movie should have needed. I recommend for you Jen and for everyone who hasn't watched it yet, it was wonderful movie with special meaning. Once I'd like to buy it on DVD and watch it with original sound. Kris Kristofferson's look makes me remember my father who also was slim and wore beard. It is really touching and not that category what you watched only once and then you forgot it and never wanted to watch it again. If it ever went on TV (unfortunately not too often), I always watched it till now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4omV4XDrGSg