Reply With QuoteI always wondered why Elvis didn't just get a new manager?Elvis was just a money making machine to him?
franny
I noticed that the col ran lots of things for elvis and it was like elvis didn't have a say in anything. Why did the col have such a pull on elvis life? There was so many things in elvis life that he could of stood up for but didn't, so it makes me wonder what the big thing between elvis and the col that only they knew
I always wondered why Elvis didn't just get a new manager?
franny
I think if he did franny, things might of played out different. I so wish he did the things he wanted instead of letting the col hold him back.
It's simple why he didn't leave the Colonel. Elvis and his father knew NOTHING about the show buisness, as it shows when Elvis fired Colonel after closing night during the August 1973 engagement.
Elvis was LOYAL to the colonel, he brought Elvis up and did everything he promised he would to Elvis in the 50's. Had Elvis lived you know it was a matter of time before their relationship ended.
The colonel ruined what could have been an even more wonderful career, but everytime something come up a challenge so to speak that Elvis could have used like A Star Is Born or a world tour it SCARED the Colonel because he didn't want Elvis to realize how big he could get, and scared Elvis would leave him....
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
Elvis was the one who put the kibosh on A Star Is Born, not the Colonel.Originally Posted by Col Jon Burrows
Last edited by Getlo; 06-18-2008 at 06:07 PM.
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
I don't understand what you mean hear Getlo, please explain in more detail.
I always heard it was the Colonel who told Elvis they couldn't do the film.
The way I see it is Parker was into the "fast buck" and the "easy money" and touring had become a formula much like the movies had.
"How do I get placed in situations like this? Ah hell, I guess it's all part of showbusiness "~ Elvis in his limo on his way to perform in Omaha, NE on June 19th 1977
I can agree with this, mostly !
What I never could understand was why Elvis and/or Vernon didn't turn to some of their attorneys to take care of Parker !I would have !IMO, Elvis was mistaken in his loyalties !
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
The usual story is that The Colonel didn't want Elvis to do the movie. That may be true.
But it was Elvis himself who, after initially meeting with Barbra Streisand, devided to pull out. He told Sonny, Red and others that he rushed into it.
Possibly, he was scared. He would have had to have lost weight etc, and it was all too difficult.
The Colonel may have had objections about the plot (ie singer takes drugs, among other juicy tidbits) but there was little objection to the project per se.
Anyway, the film turned out to be one seriously steaming turd. Not even Elvis in the starring role could have saved it. Had he made it, his acting career would be an even bigger joke than it is today.
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
I read this in " Reader's Digest " published in july 2003 :
May 21 , 1977, in Louisville , Larry Geller was in the anteroom of Elvis's hotel suite, waiting for Dr. Nick to finish adminstering the drugs that would transform Elvis from a sick , letargic man to an energized performer. Suddenly Geller heard a loud knock at the door. He answered it to find an angry Tom Parker leaning on his cane. geller was shocked , he hd never known Parker to come to Elvis's private room while on tour. " Whee is he ?" the Colonel demanded. Geller said he would let elvis know he was there . ' No, I'm going in." The colonel said curtly . brushing past Geller.
Parker opened the door to a devatating -elvis , semiconscious and moaning, with Dr. Nick working frantically to revive him. At first Geller's heart sank. Then he felt relieved . Finally , the colonel was seeing elvis at his worst. The star had never been so out of it, so sick. Surely now the colonel would pull him off the road, get him help, instead , Parker thundered out of the room " You listen to me !" he shouted at Geller , stabbing the air with his cane "the only thing that's important is that he is on the stage to night !"
How could the colonel be so callous?!!
I've read this as well ! Maybe you can explain it, I can't !
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
You're assuming, of course, that Geller is telling the truth ...
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
Precisely.Im not saying it didnt happen but Im not sure either.If true it could be the Col was just furious Elvis had gotten himself in that condition with a show to do.I think everyone including the Col was sick of Elvis' drug use.Maybe at this point compassion was in short supply,even for Elvis.The relationship between the two men was complicated to say the least.
After all the movie contracts of the sixties and the bad experiences that went with them it always amazes me that Elvis ended up in a similar situation again with the touring and the vegas contracts.For me the question of how and why the colonel had such a hold over Elvis is probably the singlemost important piece of the Elvis puzzle,more so than any of the questions about his marriage,affairs etc.......I don`t see how we will ever find out.
I said this yesterday. The amazing hypnotic, almost unrelenting hold that Col. Parker welded over Elvis was completely mind-boggling!! Elvis was notoriously known to be a control freak, but this part of the Elvis puzzle is such a mystery!!
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Well Getlo thats debateable some say Elvis put the blame on the Col. because he decided he did not want to do it. Others have said Parker made the demands on his own which nixed the deal. So I don't think theres a definitive answer on that. IMO
I think the COl. being the master of manipulation everyone who knew him admits he was, got Elvis young and (without Elvis realising it) put the thought in his head that he could not get by in the show business world without the Col.I noticed that the col ran lots of things for elvis and it was like elvis didn't have a say in anything. Why did the col have such a pull on elvis life? There was so many things in elvis life that he could of stood up for but didn't, so it makes me wonder what the big thing between elvis and the col that only they knew
There is a letter quoted in the book "Elvis Day by Day" from the early 70s where Parker warns Elvis to not get involved with any friends who want to bring you songs and try to get you to record them. He tells him they want to put their arms around your shoulder as a friend to convince you to do the songs. Parker tells Elvis he is working on a deal for music publishing and Elvis should do nothing. So Elvis is being warned to not look for any new songs and not to commit to any new songs brought to him. Creatively this makes no sense for an artist-but Parker could have cared less it seems. Now this is just one letter-how many others did Elvis get in the 22 year association with Parker of similar content? How many times in 22 years was Elvis warned in private conversation by Parker about doing anything outside Parkers direction
or influence?
I truely think Elvis felt he needed Parker-and thats the way Parker worked to make Elvis to feel.
When Elvis talked to the COl. about it I would venture the guess that the COl used his influence to convince Elvis that it was not the right property for Elvis too much bad language, sex, drugs etc-that it was a Streisand vehicle and Elvis would not be the star.
So Elvis who had been very excited at first-after speaking with Parker was worried that Parker might be right and then the tide turned. What might have happened it Elvis had talked with Parker and instead of all the "anxiety producing advice" he had instead told him "Listen this could be a good role for you. Could move into more mature roles which do not depend on the songs and fluff. So lets do it"
But IMO Parker never wanted Elvis around people who might have influence over him. Streisand was a very strong willed outspoken person-love her or hate her she was and is independant. Parker never wanted the time to come where Elvis was independant IMO
As far as the movie itself once again its a matter of opinion about how good or bad it was. It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and one for the song "Evergreen". Both Kristofferson and Streisand won Golden Globe awards for best Actor and Actress and the soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy It did well at the box office. I think it is debateable about what it might have meant to Elvis's movie career.
Yes. I do think the story is very probably true.
When all is said and done, and despite what a rip-off merchant The Colonel was, I've always believed that he really loved Elvis like a son. And, from a personal point of view, he was devastated when Elvis died. But he was a ruthless enough businessman to realise that, in his words, Elvis' death "changed nothing", from the business side of things. And he was right.
Yeah, well Eddie Murphy's Norbit was also nominated ...and so were some of the worst films ever made. Oscar nominations are no guage as to how good a film (or actor*) is. Go by what the critics and general filmgoers say. The general consensus is that Star was crap.
* Gwyneth Paltrow beat Cate Blanchett for an Oscar. How stupid is that?!!
Getlo - cute'n'cuddly
Well I agree they do not always hit the mark-but the people who actually act for a living and know how difficult it is to do so are the ones who vote for the acting honors at the Oscarsso I would be willing to give them some creedance on their opinions on what is or is not a good performance. By the same token the directors vote for directors, and so on. Sure they can be wrong but I tend to give people credit who actually do the work they are praising or dissing. Just as in any other profession the people who do the same type work generally know if its been done well or badly. IMOYes. I do think the story is very probably true.
When all is said and done, and despite what a rip-off merchant The Colonel was, I've always believed that he really loved Elvis like a son. And, from a personal point of view, he was devastated when Elvis died. But he was a ruthless enough businessman to realise that, in his words, Elvis' death "changed nothing", from the business side of things. And he was right.
Yeah, well Eddie Murphy's Norbit was also nominated ...
* Gwyneth Paltrow beat Cate Blanchett for an Oscar. How stupid is that?!!
I actually like Kris's performance and did not feel the movie as a whole was that bad. My wife and I saw it in 76 in St. Louis, the audience was packed and it was well received. But we all have our opinions.
Well, ASSUMING Larry Gellar is telling the truth, the Colonel had a well known gambling problem, so my guess is that the Colonel needed the money that Elvis' concerts were bringing in to support his gambling habit...
...and as long as the money kept rolling in, the Colonel really didn't care what condition Elvis was in....as long as he made it to the stage!
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
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