Elvis Presley once opened up about his struggles in the heartbreak hotel of fame. In the new documentary “Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley,” available on Netflix starting Wednesday, viewers will witness the Rock ‘n’ Roll icon’s 1968 comeback, “Elvis.” This special, initially broadcast on NBC, is widely credited with reigniting Presley’s career after many critics had written him off.
“Hollywood’s portrayal of me was inaccurate, and I knew it, but I felt powerless to change it,” the singer confessed in a documentary clip, as reported by People. “I didn’t know how to proceed. I felt compelled to do things that I didn’t fully endorse.” Before his untimely death at 42 in 1977, Presley starred in over 30 Hollywood films.
“At a certain point, I had no control over my film career,” the legend lamented. “I didn’t have final approval over the scripts, which meant I couldn’t reject roles that didn’t suit me, leading to deep discouragement.” He further added, “No amount of money could have made me feel fulfilled inside.”
In another part of the documentary, Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, watched footage of him in the 1967 musical “Double Trouble,” singing the children’s tune “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” Despite being a Grammy-winning artist, Priscilla found this scene particularly painful. “To me, that’s a crime,” the 79-year-old said, viewing the clip. “It’s a crime to place him in such a situation and make him sing that song. It turned him into a laughingstock, and he knew it.”
Priscilla has previously discussed Elvis’ longing to work on projects with deeper meaning. “Musically, I believe he was content with his achievements,” she shared in a 2023 interview with The Times UK. “He cherished the fact that his music resonated with people.” Priscilla recalled sitting with Elvis at Graceland, listening to his recordings. “I asked him why he sang so many ballads. He replied immediately, ‘Because those songs touch the heart. Life’s truths are in those songs.’ He was absolutely right.”
Elvis and Priscilla were married from 1967 to 1973 and had one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Elvis passed away on August 16, 1977, due to a heart attack. Lisa Marie died in 2023 from complications related to a small bowel obstruction.
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