Decades after his death, Elvis Presley continues to captivate audiences as a cultural icon. His life has been portrayed in various films, including last year’s award-winning blockbuster Elvis. Another upcoming biopic, Priscilla, focuses on his wife Priscilla Presley. While Priscilla has been supportive of the film, there is one family member who was appalled by its negative portrayal of the King of Rock and Roll – Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Unfortunately, Lisa Marie passed away earlier this year.
Priscilla, written and directed by Sofia Coppola, is based on Priscilla’s memoir Elvis and Me. The film has garnered critical acclaim and currently holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it presents a less-than-flattering depiction of Elvis, depicting him as manipulative, egotistical, and verbally abusive. Interestingly, the film does not feature any of Elvis’ music, setting it apart from the successful Elvis biopic released last year.
Priscilla has sincerely supported Coppola’s film, describing it as a challenging experience to watch a film about her life and love. She commends Sofia Coppola for her diligent research and the remarkable job she did in directing Priscilla.
Lisa Marie’s Frustration with the Script
Lisa Marie, on the other hand, was deeply disappointed when she read the script. She criticized its “shockingly vengeful and contemptuous” portrayal of her father. In an email to Sofia Coppola, Lisa Marie expressed her concerns, stating that she did not see any resemblance to her father in the character depicted on paper. She also confronted Coppola, warning that she might have to openly express her feelings about the film and go against her mother and the project publicly.
Lisa Marie believed that the negative portrayal of Elvis would hurt her family, particularly during a period when they were still grieving over the untimely death of her son, Benjamin Keough. She was worried that her mother was not fully comprehending the potential impact of the film’s depiction of Elvis on the audience.
Coppola’s Response
Sofia Coppola responded to Lisa Marie’s criticisms through a representative. She assured Lisa Marie that she was honoring Priscilla’s perspective and hoped that Lisa Marie’s opinion would change when she saw the final product. Coppola has defended her approach in several interviews, emphasizing that she aimed to be sympathetic to each character and to present the story from Priscilla’s point of view.
Priscilla’s View
Priscilla, in press conferences, has shed light on her relationship with Elvis. She acknowledged the controversial age gap between them, with her being just 14 years old and Elvis being 24 when they began their courtship. Priscilla asserted that Elvis respected her age and that they were not sexually active at that young age. She explained that their connection was based on deep conversations and understanding.
Despite their eventual divorce in 1973, Priscilla still considers Elvis the love of her life, and they remained close until his death. She stated that it was not a lack of love that ended their marriage but rather the challenging lifestyle that Elvis led.
A Film for Fans to Judge
Lisa Marie did not have the opportunity to see Priscilla, so we can only speculate on her final opinion of the film. However, with her mother’s approval, Elvis fans can assess for themselves how the iconic musician is depicted in this highly anticipated biopic.
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