Next week, the highly anticipated Elvis Presley movie will hit cinemas with Austin Butler starring as The King alongside Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. Express.co.uk has seen and reviewed Baz Luhrmann’s new film, which focuses on the star’s relationship with his manager through the latter’s eyes from 1955 to the star’s death in 1977. Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ ex-wife, features throughout the film, however much of his final years and the women who dominated them do not.
Elvis as a biopic does tell the story of The King’s short 42 years, with much of the focus around his rise in 1956, the 1968 Comeback Special and early 1970s Las Vegas years.
However, the action only goes up to late 1974, not long before his 40th birthday the January, as the star is depicted worring about not being remembered – a scene that features in the film’s trailer.
Yet, while the movie does conclude with his 1977 death, neither his girlfriend from 1972-1976 Linda Thompson, nor his final lover Ginger Alden – who found him dead on his bathroom floor – are even mentioned in the film.
There is brief real archive footage of Linda with Elvis in a car driving into Graceland’s gates, but that’s it. In the last few days, both women have alluded to their frustrations in social media posts.
A fan commented on Ginger’s post: “Thank you for sharing this! I hope you write another book about this. I think you are really brave to speak out for him always. He would be proud of you for standing up for him. They erased you from the Graceland displays, but real fans know you were his future.” To which, she affirmed by replying: “Thank you.”
Elvis hits cinemas on June 24, 2022.
