How many films did Elvis Presley make during his acting career?

Netflix The Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley revisits that period of Presley’s career when he was at a crossroads. Converted seven years earlier from singer to movie star at the behest of his influential manager, Colonel Tom Parker, Presley was dissatisfied and restless. Elvis Presley’s film roles became plastic, fake and unreal, and he longed to sing again. With Elvis taking the musical world by storm in 1956, Parker was quick to capitalize on the box office looks of his new cash cow. and charisma and signed him up for his first film, Love me tenderly.

The film was panned by critics but adored by Presley’s legion of devoted, mostly female fans. Three films starring Elvis Presley were released over the next two years, culminating in King Creole in 1958, before Presley was drafted into the US Army and sent overseas. Honorably discharged in 1960, Presley hoped to resume his singing career, but Parker had other ideas. He took advantage of Presley’s passion for James Dean and other serious actors to persuade him to focus on film production, while also recognizing that the songs and soundtracks for Elvis Presley films would sell big.

Elvis Presley starred in 31 films during his career

Many were panned by critics; Everyone made a profit

Parker signed Presley up for modestly budgeted musical comedies. When, at Presley’s insistence, he tried out for more serious roles, such as Flaming Star and Wild in the country, they were much less commercially successfuland so Presley was persuaded to return to the formula. The subsequent 27 films were almost universally panned – critic Andrew Caine called them “pantheon of bad taste“, but Parker knew that such was Presley’s magnetism that they would yield profits. Hall Wallis, who produced nine Presley films, declared, for cinemaparadiso.co.uk“A photo of Presley is the only sure thing in Hollywood.” Presley made 31 films in total.

Elvis Presley also appeared in two concert films

Scorsese’s contribution to Elvis on tour The film won a Golden Globe

In addition to his film releases, Presley made two documentaries announcing his return to the stage after his film hiatus. Elvis: That’s the way it is (1970) and Elvis on tour (1972) are two concert documentaries that feature Presley in his live performance heyday. Directed by Denis Sanders, That’s how it is offers a candid view of his Las Vegas residency, bringing together images from shows with intimate behind-the-scenes moments that humanize the great performer.

Two years later, Elvis on tourco-directed by Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel, it took Presley’s touring life even further. With Martin Scorsese contributing editing expertise, the documentary won the Golden Globe for Best Documentary. Scorsese’s involvement introduced innovative split-screen visual storytellingfilming Presley in rehearsals and travel sequences. Elvis on tour it portrays a more reflective artist, struggling with the demands of his fame and presaging the problems that would ultimately destroy him. The film gives a contrasting image of Elvis Presley with that found in The Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley.

SOURCE: cinemaparadiso.co.uk