by Priscilla Presley, the wife of Rock & Roll legend Elvis Presley, was deeply moved and full of praise for the film about her late husband, which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Elvis, the latest film by director Baz Luhrmann, depicting the life of music icon Elvis Presley, received an overwhelmingly warm reception when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25.
The film stars young actor Austin Butler in the lead role as Elvis Presley, with Tom Hanks portraying Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager. Olivia DeJonge plays Priscilla, Elvis’s wife. The story focuses on the complex relationships between the main characters.
Baz Luhrmann is one of the most renowned Australian directors in the world, and nearly nine years after the success of The Great Gatsby in 2013, he has finally returned with this new film.
Elvis has been highly anticipated by audiences and, along with Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick, is one of the most high-profile films screened at Cannes this year, despite neither film competing for the Palme d’Or.
The premiere of Elvis on May 25 was a glamorous event attended by major celebrities, including Sharon Stone, Kylie Minogue, Shakira, and Priscilla Presley, the former wife of Elvis Presley.
According to Variety, the audience at the Elvis premiere at the Cannes Film Festival gave the film a sustained round of applause throughout its screening. Amid the extended ovation, Priscilla Presley, wife of the legendary Elvis Presley, embraced the film’s stars and wiped away tears.
Priscilla Presley, 77, shared in an Instagram post: “I watched the film about Elvis, and I’ve seen the trailer more than ten times. When I heard my daughter talk about how much she loved the film, I was moved to tears.”
The wife of the legendary singer added that watching the film made her relive every moment of the past. “It took me a few days to get through those emotions, just like my daughter,” Priscilla said.
She also praised director Baz Luhrmann and the film’s cast, affirming that the movie was beautifully done.
“I Truly Loved This Film And I Believe It’s A Movie For Everyone. Even Those Who’ve Heard Stories About Elvis Before Will Learn Something New. The Film Primarily Focuses On The Relationship Between Elvis And His Manager. It’s A True Story Told In A Brilliant And Creative Way That Only Director Baz Luhrmann Could Achieve. Austin Butler, Who Plays Elvis, Was Also Outstanding,” Priscilla Presley said.
“The Story, As We All Know, Doesn’t Have A Happy Ending. But I Think You’ll Gain A Deeper Understanding Of Elvis’s Life Journey. The Film Was Made By A Director Who Poured His Heart And Soul Into It,” She Added.
Elvis Presley Was Known As The King Of Rock & Roll, One Of The Most Iconic Cultural Figures Of The 20th Century. He Sold Over 500 Million Records Worldwide And Holds The Guinness World Record As The Best-Selling Solo Music Artist Of All Time.
Elvis Found Success Across Multiple Genres, Including Pop, Country, R&B, And Gospel. During His Short Life, He Won Three Grammy Awards, Including The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award At Just 36 Years Old.
Years Of Prescription Drug Abuse And Unhealthy Eating Habits Severely Affected His Health. He Also Suffered From An Enlarged Heart, Leading To His Sudden Death In 1977 At Graceland In The U.S. At The Age Of 42.
Priscilla Presley Was Elvis Presley’s Only Wife. The Couple First Met At A Party In Germany In 1959. At The Time, Priscilla Was Just 14 Years Old, While Elvis Was 24. Despite Her Young Age, Priscilla Made A Profound Impression On Elvis. They Spent A Lot Of Time Together Until Elvis Left West Germany In March 1960. After He Departed, Priscilla Was Swamped With Interview Requests From Media Outlets Around The World. At The Same Time, Rumors Of A Romance Between Elvis And Singer Nancy Sinatra Surfaced, Leading Priscilla To Believe That Her Relationship With Elvis Was Over And That She Would Never See Him Again.
However, After Elvis Returned To The U.S., He Kept In Touch With Priscilla By Phone, And They Didn’t Reunite Until The Summer Of 1962. That Year, Priscilla’s Parents Agreed To Let Her Visit Him For Two Weeks, On The Conditions That Elvis Would Cover The Trip’s Expenses, Priscilla Would Be Accompanied At All Times, And She Would Write Home Daily. Elvis Agreed To All The Conditions, And Priscilla Flew To Los Angeles, U.S.
In 1963, Priscilla’s Parents Finally Allowed Her To Move To Memphis, U.S., Where She Attended A Catholic Girls’ School. She Lived With Elvis’s Father And Stepmother Just A Few Blocks Away From Graceland. Part Of Elvis’s Agreement With Her Parents At The Time Was That He Would Eventually Marry Priscilla.
Priscilla Was Eager To Join Elvis In Hollywood, But The Singer Repeatedly Told Her He Was Too Busy With Work. Later, During The Filming Of Viva Las Vegas, Elvis Began A Romantic Relationship With His Co-Star Ann-Margret. When Priscilla Read About The Affair In The Press, She Confronted Elvis, Who Insisted That It Was Nothing More Than Rumors. In The Following Years, Elvis Continued To Have Intimate Relationships With Several Other Famous Women.
Before Christmas In 1966, Elvis Proposed To Priscilla. At The Time, Some Sources Claimed That Priscilla Had Threatened To Go Public With Her Story If Elvis Refused To Marry Her. Elvis’s Manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Also Encouraged Him To Marry Her By Reminding Him Of The “Morality Clause” In His Recording Contract.
Elvis And Priscilla Got Married On May 1, 1967, At The Aladdin Hotel In Las Vegas, U.S. The Wedding Was A Small, Private Ceremony Lasting Only Eight Minutes. It Was Followed By A Brief Press Conference And A $10,000 Reception Attended By Friends And Family. The Wedding Reportedly Caused A Rift Between Elvis And Some Of His Closest Friends, Who Had Not Been Invited To The Ceremony.
After Marrying The Legendary Artist, Priscilla Was Overjoyed To Finally Become A Proper Wife. She Spent Her Time At Home Cooking, Cleaning, Doing Laundry, Personally Caring For Her Husband Without Hiring Any Maids Or Housekeepers. Priscilla Soon Became Pregnant And Gave Birth To Their Daughter, Lisa Marie, On February 1, 1968.
In Her Autobiography, Priscilla Admitted That After Giving Birth, She Had A Brief Romantic Relationship With A Dance Instructor, While Elvis Also Had “Affairs” With Other Women. After 1968, Elvis Presley Went On Frequent Tours, Leaving His Wife And Daughter At Home. Their Marriage Quickly Deteriorated.
Elvis And Priscilla Separated On February 23, 1972, And Elvis Officially Filed For Divorce On January 8, 1973. The Couple Agreed To Share Custody Of Their Daughter, And Priscilla Was Awarded A Lump Sum Of $725,000 Along With Monthly Child Support, 5% Of Profits From Elvis’s New Company, And Half The Proceeds From The Sale Of Their Beverly Hills Home. Despite The Divorce, The Couple Maintained A Close Relationship And Even Walked Out Of Court Arm-In-Arm On The Day Their Divorce Was Finalized.
Priscilla Presley Dated Many Famous Men After Her Breakup With Elvis Presley, But She Never Remarried. One Of Her Longest Relationships Was With Screenwriter Marco Antonio Garcia. The Couple Lived Together For 22 Years And Had A Son, Navarone Garibaldi, Born In 1987.
Priscilla Has Enjoyed A Successful Career In Both Business And Film. She Was The Director Of A Company That Transformed Graceland (The Home Elvis Lived In Until His Final Days) Into One Of The Top Tourist Attractions In The United States.
Although Her Marriage To Elvis Presley Did Not Last, Priscilla Has No Regrets. She Shared: “I Truly Cherish Those Wonderful Moments. When You’re Young, You Have Fears And Insecurities, But As You Get Older, You Understand Everything Better. Elvis Left An Incredible Legacy, And I Will Always Treasure My Moments With Him.”
