Sofia Coppola’s new biographical drama “Priscilla” delves into Priscilla Presley’s relationship with singer Elvis Presley — together with how the 2 met when he was 24 and Priscilla was simply 14 years previous.
Whereas Coppola has stated she did not intend for the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to be the “villain” within the movie, now that the movie is on the market on Max, HBO’s streaming service, viewers on social media have been questioning their 10-year age distinction.
“The movie doesn’t preserve him on a pedestal. I assumed it was attention-grabbing to be taught that he was so annoyed, that he wished to be a critical actor,” Coppola advised reporters on the 2023 Venice Movie Competition. “I might empathize with that battle. I attempted to method it with sensitivity and never be judgmental. I by no means wished him to be a villain.”
She added that the movie, based mostly on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, “Elvis and Me,” is “all her story.”
On the time of their assembly, Elvis Presley, then 24, was serving within the Military in Germany, the place Priscilla Presley’s stepfather was stationed.
Their story has been the topic of numerous analyses through the years, with Coppola’s work the most recent in a protracted record of retellings. Cailee Spaeny stars within the title position and Jacob Elordi performs Elvis Presley.
The actual Priscilla Presley, now 78, stated at a press convention for the movie in September that it was “tough” for her to observe.
“It’s very tough to take a seat and watch a movie about you, about your life, about your love,” Priscilla Presley stated on the time. “Sofia did a tremendous job. She did her homework, we spoke a few occasions and I actually put the whole lot out for her that I might.”
Bettmann through Getty Photographs
She additionally insisted that the late King of Rock ’n’ Roll didn’t benefit from her as a younger lady.
“It was very tough for my dad and mom to grasp that Elvis can be so excited by me and why,” she stated, in keeping with Selection. “And I actually do suppose as a result of I used to be extra of a listener. Elvis would pour his coronary heart out to me in each manner in Germany: his fears, his hopes, the lack of his mom — which he by no means, ever bought over. And I used to be the one that actually, actually sat there to hear and to consolation him. That was actually our connection. Despite the fact that I used to be 14, I used to be really slightly bit older in life — not in numbers. That was the attraction. Folks suppose, ‘Oh, it was intercourse.’ No, it wasn’t. I by no means had intercourse with him. He was very form, very comfortable, very loving, however he additionally revered the very fact I used to be solely 14 years previous. We had been extra in line in thought, and that was our relationship.”
When did Priscilla Presley meet Elvis Presley? Priscilla and Elvis Presley met in 1959, she wrote in “Elvis and Me.”
She stated her stepfather, who was within the Air Drive, was transferred to a base there, the place Elvis Presley was serving within the Military.
On the time, Elvis Presley had been drafted into the service in 1957 and served abroad in Germany from Oct. 1, 1958, to March 2, 1960, in keeping with the U.S. Military Middle of Navy Historical past.
He’d rocketed to stardom just one 12 months earlier than being drafted along with his January 1956 hit “Heartbreak Resort” and subsequent album “Love Me Tender,” which was launched that very same 12 months in November.
How previous was Priscilla when she met Elvis?
In her guide, Priscilla Presley wrote that she met Elvis Presley at a celebration when she was 14 years previous.
She stated she had been on the Eagles Membership, the place American servicemen and their households typically dined, after faculty at some point along with her brother when a person named Currie Grant approached her and requested if she appreciated Elvis Presley.
Within the guide, she remembers laughing and asking “Who does not?”
“I’m an excellent good friend of his,” she stated Grant advised her. “My spouse and I am going to his home very often. How would you want to affix us one night?”
Two weeks later — and after her stepfather had met and checked out Grant’s credentials — she discovered herself in a navy and white sailor costume assembly the King of Rock ’N’ Roll.
Jacob Elordi opens up about his portrayal of Elvis in Sofia Coppola’s movie “Priscilla,” together with exhibiting a facet of the legendary musician individuals have not seen earlier than, and the hair and make-up that helped him remodel into the position.
She wrote that Elvis Presley had requested if she was a junior or senior in highschool earlier than she revealed she was simply in ninth grade.
“Ninth grade,” she recalled him laughing. “Why, you’re only a child.”
Elvis Presley, on the time, was 24. His beloved mom, Gladys Presley, had died quickly earlier than their assembly.
How did Elvis court docket Priscilla whereas she was in highschool?
Priscilla Presley, in her guide, stated that the singer-superstar had been very respectful. On their second assembly, she stated he requested her to satisfy him in his room, which she’d been “flustered” by.
“There’s nothing to be fearful of, honey,” she recalled him telling her. “I swear I will by no means do something to hurt you … I’ll deal with you identical to a sister.”
She went on to say that they’d cuddled and talked for hours. On the finish of the night, they shared a kiss.
“He kissed me goodbye, my first actual kiss,” she wrote. “I had by no means skilled such a mix of affection and need.”
Priscilla Presley went on to say that her dad and mom insisted upon assembly Elvis Presley. He gained them over along with his “Southern appeal.”
She stated that when the singer had been pressed as to why he wished so far their teenage daughter, he’d advised her dad and mom the next: “Effectively, sir, I occur to be very keen on her. She’s much more mature than her age and I get pleasure from her firm. It hasn’t been simple for me, being away from dwelling and all. It will get kinda lonely. I suppose you would possibly say I want somebody to speak to. You don’t have to fret about her, Captain. I’ll take excellent care of her.”
5 months later, after persevering with so far whereas in Germany, Elvis Presley returned to the US. The evening earlier than his departure, Priscilla Presley wrote that she “begged” the singer to “consummate our love.”
“It might have been really easy for him. I used to be younger, weak, desperately in love, and he might have taken full benefit of me,” she wrote. “However he quietly stated, “No. Sometime we are going to, Priscilla, however not now. You’re simply too younger.”
Priscilla Presley cried whereas remembering her late ex-husband, Elvis Presley.
Did Priscilla comply with Elvis again to the US?
Finally, a younger Priscilla Presley made her manner again to Memphis, Tennessee, on the request of Elvis Presley. She was initially imagined to reside with the singer’s grandparents however ended up spending most of her time at Graceland till she simply moved in.
What was the character of Priscilla and Elvis Presley’s relationship when she was a teen?
In her guide, Priscilla Presley expressly stated that she and Elvis Presley had a sexual relationship however didn’t have penetrative intercourse till marriage when she was 21 years previous.
“We had a robust connection, a lot of it sexual. The 2 of us created some thrilling and wild occasions,” she wrote, cautious to emphasise at one level that she didn’t suppose the musician was “perverted or in any manner dangerous.”
On the Venice Movie Competition press convention in September, she stated that their bond had been based mostly on belief, per Selection.
“I didn’t know why he put a lot belief in me, however he did. And I by no means, ever, ever advised anybody that I used to be seeing him, and that was one other situation that he liked, is the truth that I by no means gave him up in any manner. I by no means advised anybody in school that I used to be seeing him,” she stated.
“So, we constructed a relationship after which our relationship went on till I left. And it wasn’t as a result of I didn’t love him — he was the love of my life. It was the approach to life that was so tough for me, and I believe any lady can relate to that,” she stated. “Nevertheless it didn’t mar our relationship, we nonetheless remained very shut. And naturally, we had our daughter, and I made positive that he noticed her on a regular basis. It was like we by no means left one another.”
Elvis Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, from a coronary heart assault.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s solely youngster, Lisa Marie Presley, died in 2023 on the age of 54.
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