Jimmie later went to Graceland in 1958 to talk to him about how he had given up drinking and doing pills on the road and had turned his life over to Jesus. Parker had no passport and couldnt go and didnt trust any other promoter to take him. King and Little Richard later. Because I made Elvis Presley. [Leslie Uggams released a version a year earlier.] You always preferred Big Mamas version, right? 'Reconsider Baby' is one example I always remember. All Rights Reserved. However, Hanks, who has six prior nominations and won twice, was snubbed for his role as Colonel Tom Parker. It sounded like a weird (Southern) regional dialect, and you would know it was Dutch only by listening for certain consonants. And when he went down there, he was celebrated as though he himself was Elvis Presley. If Hollywood has an everyman, it's Hanks, the affable All-American Guy cut from the same cloth as stars like Gary Cooper, James Stewart, and Henry Fonda. Im not a super rap fan. Parker suffered a stroke in 1997, dying at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada after years of declining health, survived only by his second wife. And when he said that, I said, 'Oh, well, okay, now that's brand new.". She growled it both times. I've never seen a photograph of him. In an exclusive interview, David E Stanley said his brother's manager Colonel Tom Parker - played by Tom Hanks in a new movie about the star - treated the iconic singer as a "product" and. The 89-year-old co-writer of "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "Trouble" and 20 more Presley tracks recalls hitting it off with Presley and alienating his manager as well as successes like the Broadway smash "Smokey Joe's Cafe. Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, had dinner with their friend Priscilla Presley in the hopes of getting a better take on the man he was playing. Capitol didnt want to release it, because it didnt have a back beat. Its kind of like Priscilla letting Baz make Parker out to be such a villain, but is now having Hanks and Baz say they toned down the Colonels evilness once they met with her, because Parker was a good guy. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Yes. Tom Hanks has questioned his decision to play Colonel Tom Parker who was Elvis Presley's infamous longtime manager in the upcoming biopic "Elvis." The 65-year-old Oscar winner discussed. I dont remember that precisely. up to the suite after the shows. It had a line for our signatures. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Years later, I think in the 90s, we all went on a trip to Graceland and were given a private tour by Georgie Klein, who was one of Elvis Memphis mafia guys. In fact, in my book I included a chapter entitled, The Parker Propaganda Machine. It outlines how Parker promoted, marketed, and booked Elvis in ways that undeniably made possible Presleys meteoric rise in show business. 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Thats not really a style that survived over time, but those songs still grab people when they hear them Charlie Brown, Yakety Yak, D.W. In the film, when the Colonel goes to the Louisiana Hayride and first sees Elvis, hes told backstage that Elvis is on the pop charts and that the country DJs are playing him too, and that Black and white kids are buying Elviss records. Read Next: Pink Performs Acoustic Set for No Kid Hungry, Talks Why Her Upcoming Arena Tour Will Feel Intimate. Born in the Netherlands, Parker entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. He had toured with carnivals, worked with elephants and. When Parker crony Gabe Tucker threw a magazine piece on the Colonels desk that insinuated that Elvis was gay, Parker didnt say a word until his friend stopped sputtering. Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kenny Loggins Talks Danger Zone Return For Top Gun: Maverick, Jim Carrey Says Will Smith Should Have Been Arrested for Chris Rock Oscars Slap, Pam & Tommy Director Lake Bell Explores Personal, Cathartic Episode Four. The one where EW follows up with the cast. Alex Shoofey, the executive VP of the International, testified that Parker was good for $1 million a year in gambling, but others think that number is low. Or were there things he did right that he merits credit for? Anyway, whats Elvis need? I do know that while researching for my book, The purpose here is not to recap the relationship between Parker and Presley. Elvis also stars Helen Thomson as Elviss mother, Gladys, Richard Roxburgh as Elviss father, Vernon, Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla Presley, Luke Bracey as Jerry Schilling, Natasha Bassett as Dixie Locke, David Wenham as Hank Snow, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as B.B. While proving to be a frequent challenge for Parker, Elvis and the Colonel stuck together. Is it true that Colonel Parkers reason for being attracted to Elvis was that he thought a white singer who sounded Black was bound to be a star and accomplish what a Black singer could not? Dean Reed was an incredibly handsome guy. Later, in Memphis, he certainly attended a white fundamentalist church, and with his early girlfriend, Dixie Locke the all-Black East Trigg Baptist Church to hear Black gospel. I think it was presented to the guys who run Leiber and Stoller stuff, and they had already done it and were gonna put it in the movie. However, as he always does, Hanks shone as Tom Parker in Elvis, and the Colonel proved to the world that he could play a complex villain. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Me Im happy being able to buy the groceries., As for the reports of declining returns on Elvis movies, Parker didnt believe them. Elvis kind of liked Jimmie. Anyway, one of us said, Uh, Big Mama, you know, you could growl it, and she said, Dont be telling me how to sing the blues! [The version Leiber and Stoller relay in their memoir has a little more lewdness to the response.] In 1983, he was paid $2 million dollars in an out-of-court settlement, which had him turn over any and all audio and video recordings he had of Elvis and terminated his involvement in any Elvis-related earnings for five years. And we finally were called in, and Jean Aberbach, in his Viennese accent, said, Vell, ze Colonel said, if you ever dare try to interfere in the career of Elvis Presley, you will never work anywhere again New York, London, Hollywood nowhere. And I dont think we ever wrote anything more for him. 1 hit in 1953 with Big Mama Thorntons Hound Dog, which you wrote for her. Privately, Parker referred to Elviss family as shit and rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. And we got to demonstrate the others for him. nothing., According to Parker, production costs for the average Presley film ran between $1.5 and $2 million, and if the studio lets it maybe a little more., The Colonel didnt seem too concerned that Elvis film popularity would dry up someday. They call it The King and I, which is a good title. Because Shakespearean villains are never just a bad guy. Yes. He claimed that at least 50% of his share went right back into the business of promoting Elvis office expenses, advertising and exploitation, etc. Elvis cut, said Parker, goes straight to the Memphis accountants., "Look you got a product, you sell it. That was in our minds (during the initial writing). I had a different layer of expectations," the actor said. And you just, you always think about it. Sadly, the blues do not sell well. He could have said, I mean, Priscilla herself told me he could have said no to those movies. Theyre having it both ways. Austin Butler won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, beating out favorite Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and he picked up a nomination for the same award at the Oscars. Was there a late 50s concert riot in which Elvis deliberately disobeyed Parkers orders not to move around or wiggle on stage? But she got it. Alan Hanson | 2015, Reader Comment:For me, Elvis was quintessentially suited as a blues artist. I'll tell you specifically. I think thats what we sent to (Presley), and he loved it. I mean, even the 1968 comeback special, he said, "Hey, great. I told him pay us our regular fee and if Elvis gets the Oscar well give him his money back. Parker was ticked that there was initially no Christmas music, though, and (TV producer) Steve Binder and Elvis threw him Blue Christmas as a bone. Marty Lacker told me that Elvis and B.B. Parker found ways to market Elvis through merchandise, TV appearances, and films, always working in some kind of cross-promotion to make more money off the endeavor. Every hero needs a villain, and in the case of Elvis Presley, the man who made him was also the one who destroyed him. and B.B. But you ought to see it, because theres something happening with these songs in this theater. You know, there wasnt much rock n roll or rhythm and blues in these theatrical productions that I knew of at that time. Did the Colonel live out his later years being sickly in casinos, as portrayed in the movies framing device? In 1969, she was an employee of the International Hotel when Elvis made his record-breaking performances there. Before production began, he read music critic Peter Guralnick's two books about the rise and fall of Elvis, 1994's Last Train to Memphis and 1999's Careless Love. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. TOM HANKS: Wow. Yes. Gaining or losing weight, taking on accents, and experimenting in a variety of genres that pushed his limits as an actor, Hanks has built a career out of challenging roles. A nice thing is that the characters names are the real names of the first cast, and its kind of sweet those first members of the cast have been immortalized. This is Luhrmann showing us Elviss influences. Known for his keen promotion and merchandising savvy, Parker, or "the Snowman," would help to make Elvis a household name, putting the singer on everything from lunch boxes to board games to trading cards and beyond. In contrast to Butler, who had to craft a version of a man everyone recognizes, Hanks had the freedom to start from scratch. I ended up being the piano player on screen in the movie Jailhouse Rock. And so (on-set) Elvis asked me, Write me a real pretty ballad. That was on a Friday. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. The music publishers for Elvis were there. Did Parker really install Elvis dad, Vernon, as business manager to make sure he, the Colonel, could really run all things? "It's possible to be driven mad by it," the actor says. Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley 's career from 1955 to 1977, overseeing almost every aspect of the star's life. Parker struggled with a gambling addiction while keeping Elvis on a short leash, halting the singer from touring overseas and pushing him into cheap projects that were frequently averse to what the artist wanted to be a part of, eventually taking 50% of Elvis' earnings, of which they both agreed upon. He was a fabulous singer, fabulous performer, and very special and hes very hot, again, still. The Black-white divide didnt mean much to the Presleys. And I went, 'I bet Tom Hanks would be into a playing a dark note on his instrument that no one could see coming. Elvis, especially, thought that it might even be over by the time he got out. continues Hanks. I thought you guys did such a great job. Colonel Tom Parker, as played by Tom Hanks in Elvis, was the controversial manager of singer Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) with a mysterious past who had a key role in both The King's success and downfall. Its all a Baz Luhrmann fever dream. '", Luhrmann's instinct was right. One of the first things that we saw was the kid (in the screenplay) was in prison. No. Its (Eminem performing) over the background sound of Elvis recording of Jailhouse Rock, which Jerry and I virtually produced as well as wrote not the movie version, but the single version that Jerry and I were in the studio with Elvis working on back in 1957. In actuality, he worked the carnival circuit, presenting acts like Colonel Tom Parker and His Dancing Chickens, which saw the fowls jumping because they were on a hot plate hidden under sawdust. Love him or loathe him, Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker was good for Vegas That's the standard trope that goes along with Colonel Tom Parker. Headlines about how lascivious early Elvis was sold concert tickets. We were picked up by a freighter, and I had to pay cash to send a wire to Atlantic Records that we were arriving. And heres a guy who carries his pictures by himself ., Colonel Parker Answered Criticism About Elvis' Movies In 1964 Interview, To what extent Parker was guilty of such sins against Elvis, Im not qualified to say. But once Elvis was onstage, controlling the music, he did what he wanted. But this is Lurhmann telling us Elvis didnt steal Black music, as he has been accused of doing, but performed it in homage. "We ended up talking for well over an hour," Hanks recalls. Elvis picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations. . During the interview, Hanks talked about the way Parker was a promoter and not a manager, why Elvis never fired him, and how he prepares for a really emotional scene. I dont like the choice of all the songs. What is it like for you when you are getting ready to step on set for say a big emotional scene on a Monday, can you explain to me, is it weeks in advance you're thinking about that big scene? He was a very disciplined man, but also a guy who you might want to check your wallet to make sure you still have all those fives and 10s. The actual Parker diedJan. 21, 1997, at the age of 87. He did make him by 1961 a talent that would reign eternally, probably a career that could be of import for 20 years. And, yeah, she was very difficult to work with, and very wonderful. But I thought the next one was pretty good, King Creole. It was a better script, better story. On that note I got to go. A lot of the young Brits, the rockers, they were big fans of American rock n roll or rhythm and blues records. COLLIDER: I want to start with congratulations on the movie. To play additional iconic musical artists in the film, Luhrmann cast singer/songwriter Yola as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, model Alton Mason as Little Richard, Gary Clark Jr. as Arthur Crudup, and artist Shonka Dukureh as Willie Mae Big Mama Thornton. By Ken Sharp "The King" is back in the forefront of popular culture with the new Baz Luhrmann bio pic Elvis starring Austin Butler as the hip-swiveling Memphis fireball of a singing sensation and Tom Hanks as notorious manager Colonel Tom Parker.. On the heels of the film's release comes a new re-pressing of the must-have book The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker . The piece by Michael Fessier, Jr., carried the headline, Elvis Hits $20,000,000 Gross Jackpot. The articles first three paragraphs broke down the various amounts and sources of Presleys income since 1956, with the total having reached the $20 million mark by the end of 1963. Cash was split down-the-line of 75% to Elvis and 25% to the Colonel, with the William Morris Agency taking 10% off of the top of film revenues. ", We start telling people what to do and they blame us if the picture doesnt go. The Masked Lookalike Explained, Every Baz Luhrmann Movie, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo, Tom Hanks' Tom Parker isn't his usual role, Star Wars Rumor: Rey Would Have Been Recast In Lindelof's Canceled Film, Sisu Is The Inglourious Basterds Reboot We've Been Waiting 15 Years For, Kevin Costner Begins Western Sequel Production That Reportedly Delayed Yellowstone Season 5. That sold tickets! There just werent a lot of other performers who could pull that off. I recently spoke with Baz Luhrmann to discuss the 20th . Your blog on the Colonel is most helpful. I hope its a big hit. I tried to put together, and it was tricky, this story of There was a guy named Dean Reed. He also says in the film that if he could find an act that gave the audience feelings they werent sure they should enjoy, but did, he could create the greatest show on earth. Tom Hanks has built a reputation for disappearing into his roles. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, Baz Luhrmann clarifies not casting Harry Styles as Elvis, hopes to work with him in the future. Still, Elvis is right on enough counts literally or spiritually that its worth trying to separate fact from fiction in the movies narrative of Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) and his nearly career-long manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). In the end, they'd become dependent on one another and were in too deep to even know how to start over. Austin Butler and Tom Hanks star in this musical biopic about the life of Elvis Presley, specifically his relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker. Everybody's very familiar with it. We'll make a lot of money." And I hated the show. They were hot with Grand Funk Railroad and a variety of things, but that was not what they were looking for in 1969. In addition, he revealed. Of course, we werent in the studio when she did Kansas City [in 1962]; there was a Quincy Jones chart on that. Well, Parker finally said, Did they spell his name right?. On top of that, Parker found venue upon venue for Elvis to perform in, be it recording studios, Hollywood films, TV specials, and even satellite broadcasts, immersing the artist into the cultural zeitgeist while keeping him landlocked in North America. So while he was gone (remember, Parker never went to Germany when Elvis was there), Parker set up all these appearances and movies for him, and the idea was to make him appeal to families the all-American boy that would have longevity, and could grow into that role as he aged. But Gladys was a big Grand Ole Opry fan, and it was in part the Colonels introducing her to Hank Snow that got her to let her boy go with the Colonel. Its the blues! Related: Why Elvis' Reviews Are So Positive. ), Parker admitted he was a bit troubled by the public perception that he was profiting too much from Presleys work. "Baz said, 'There would've been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. With the Coasters, who you were just as prolific with, you had a whole style of songwriting going that was based in storytelling, almost like mini-musicals you called them playlets.. But if you have gotten over the fear of making the movie in the first place, which you do I think in the first three days of the movie. The branding. The Colonel promoted Elviss first big tour with Hank Snow. Nash, a veteran music journalist, published The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley to acclaim in 2010 and her book has just been reissued with a new afterword. Tom Hanks goes dark: Why our favorite good guy wanted to play the. Monday at 10:00, you're going to be on set and you're going to be committing to film forever the emotional spine of the movie. The trade paper said, Just buy a boxed set of Phil Spector records instead. The Phil Spector line was the lowest blow of all. And then Jerry added: Screw Variety. I looked up the review, and it wasnt very prophetic, saying that things did not bode well for Smokey Joes Broadway aspirations. So maybe this is a place for you to get some official vindication. Lets talk about a few of the greats you worked with who were not Elvis Presley. "I had the luxury of essentially recreating somebody who no one really knew. Parker became known as a shrewd, showy, and manipulative businessman who was able to work out lucrative deals at minimal overhead while making sure his pockets were lined healthily along the way. Elvis never knew how many shows he played free to satisfy Parkers enslavement to the roulette wheel and the craps table. But living in a colored neighborhood, as he did, he certainly heard early R&B, jump-blues and swing tunes pulsating through the walls at the nearby juke joints, and he loved it, as he did both Black and white gospel. So when they call you and tell you Eminem wants to incorporate a song of yours into his, do you just say sure, or ask to hear it? But there was never a Christmas sweater or a fairy-tale Christmas set. "Elvis is like playing Jesus, and it doesn't really matter who plays Pontius Pilate," says Hanks. Davis went to have a look and went back to tell Colonel Parker all about him and how he wiggled and girls went wild. So that started a little bit of discomfort on the part of the Colonel.