Jazz biography movies of elvis

Commonly known as The King of Rock and Roll, the American singer, actor, and cultural icon has been depicted numerous times in film and TV, but this list only features movies where Elvis Presley is the central character. What is the best Elvis Presley movie? It will definitely be one that balances time between his life and his music.

Vote up the best movies about Elvis Presley and vote down any that you think other fans should skip. Delving into the heart of Elvis Presley's live performance prowess, Elvis: That's the Way It Is offers an unprecedented glimpse into the creative process and artistic genius of the King during his legendary Las Vegas concert residency. Showcasing the raw talent and charisma that propelled him to global fame, the film features candid rehearsals, exclusive backstage footage, and electrifying performances that leave audiences awestruck by Elvis' undeniable magnetism.

By capturing the passion, dedication, and charismatic stage presence that defined Elvis Presley's iconic career, this documentary-style film celebrates the enduring magic of the man behind the legend. As a result, Elvis: That's the Way It Is remains an essential viewing experience for any fan of the King and a compelling testament to his remarkable influence on the music industry.

Affectionately known as the 68 Comeback SpecialElvis' eponymous television event is a triumphant return to form for the King of Rock and Roll, showcasing his incomparable talent, charisma, and powerful stage presence. This groundbreaking special revitalized Elvis' career, reestablishing him as a relevant force in the music world, while also striking a chord with a new generation of fans.

Featuring a captivating mix of live performances, intimate acoustic segments, and elaborate production numbers, Elvis encapsulates the raw energy and depth of Presley's musical artistry. With its iconic leather-clad image, the '68 Comeback Special remains a seminal moment not only in Elvis' career but in the history of popular music, proving that the King never truly left the building.

Elvis on Tour offers a rare, candid look at Elvis Presley in the midst of his concert tour, providing an intimate portrait of the King as he navigates the demanding life of a touring musician.

Jazz biography movies of elvis: The biographical picture of Elvis Presley's

Through its unique split-screen format, the film captures the essence of Elvis' unparalleled stage presence while also delivering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his personal life and the camaraderie with his band members. With electrifying live performances and up-close footage of Elvis shining light on his genuine love for the music he performed, Elvis on Tour reveals a more human, vulnerable side of the legend that is often overshadowed by his larger-than-life persona.

This Golden Globe-winning documentary not only cements Elvis as a powerhouse performer but also serves as a testament to his enduring influence on the music world, making it an essential watch for fans and aficionados alike. This Is Elvis captures the essence of the legend's life with a unique blend of documentary and dramatized scenes, creating an intimate and insightful exploration of the iconic singer's journey.

The film artfully weaves together archival footage of Elvis Presley's electrifying performances, candid interviews, and reenactments using actors to portray Elvis during pivotal moments in his career, providing a jazz biography movies of elvis look into his rise to superstardom and his eventual tragic downfall. The innovative narrative structure of This Is Elvis allows for a deep dive into the King's persona, as well as offering a critical examination of his impact on popular culture and music history.

By portraying the many facets of Elvis Presley's life, from his humble beginnings to his world-renowned fame, this film stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the indisputable King of Rock and Roll. The singer's final feature isn't a great film, by any stretch of the imagination. It's barely a decent one. But it goes a long way on its concept alone: Presley plays an inner-city doctor whose love interest is Mary Tyler Moore — as a nun.

What's not to love there, right? At one point, his character says, "I get the feeling there's a message here. Need a break? In a perfect world, "Blue Hawaii" would have been the worst movie Presley ever made. Instead, it's solidly in the top third. For all practical purposes, it's a travelogue with a nice soundtrack, including "Can't Help Falling in Love.

Presley's first film appearance might rank higher on this list if he had starred in it — but he had only a supporting role in what Variety called "a minor-league oater," the only time he'd be in that position. Presley clearly was inserted in the film, set during the s, to capitalize on his popularity. Theaters hoped to pull young viewers away from the TVs that were popping up in households across the nation, and it worked.

It's charming to watch a greenhorn Presley enthusiastically acting opposite more seasoned veterans who knew they weren't in a particularly good picture. Glenn Miller wasn't strictly a jazz musician, but he did compose many of the songs performed by historical and modern jazz bands. And who better to play this wholesome historical figure than Jimmy Stewart?

Anthony Mann directs Stewart as the eponymous band leader, featuring a bunch of cameos from his real-life colleagues. Like a musical Amelia Earhart, the mystery surrounding Miller's disappearance is almost as famous as his jazz influences. I Called Him Morgan is the only documentary on this list, as there are just so many informative movies about the history of jazz and we couldn't fit them all.

Since Kasper Collin's is generally considered the best, this is the one we're highlighting. It examines the story of Lee Morgan, a trumpeter during the s, who showed equal appreciation for classic jazz and new, experimental sounds. Mostly, he made headlines after being shot by his common-law wife at Slugs' Saloon in Kasper Collin gives us a poetic, almost ghostly account of the lead up to Morgan's death, mixing biopic melodrama with curious true crime.

It's sympathetic rather than judgmental, giving Morgan's wife Helen Moore a voice no one had considered before. Of course, legendary musician Charlie Parker would get his own movie! Nicknamed "Yardbird," Parker was a pioneer of bebop with his incredible and complex saxophone solos. With Birddirector Clint Eastwood stepped away from the Wild West to explore one of his other well-known passions in this moody biopic.

It also marked a breakthrough role for Forest Whitaker, who went on to take a lead role in 's The Last King of Scotland. Opening to Kansas City,Clint Eastwood masterfully takes us through Parker's life from being booed off stage to his tragic heart attack at just Bird is told in montage style across a series of vignettes in bars, hospitals, and jails.

Forest Whitaker won Best Actor at Cannes Film Festival for his performance as the unstable virtuoso, who progresses from standing ovations to suicide attempts. Bird might've failed to bring in much at the box office, but critics loved it—and so do we! Away from the grim realities of addiction and racism during the Jazz Age, Chicago instead focuses on the glitz and glamour.

Set in s Chicago, Rob Marshall's musical black comedy is all about scandal and temptation. Richard Gere stars in Chicago as a slimy, smooth-talking lawyer who turns his clients into starlets. Yeah, there's a lot of that in this movie. Playing on the constative view that fast-paced city life corrupts the soul, Roxie's lawyer gets her off Murderesses Row and onto the stage.

Chicago originated as a play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, then later returned to the stage in before becoming a film when Hollywood took interest. This freshly feminist powerhouse of a film was nominated for dozens of Academy Awards—and won half of them!

Jazz biography movies of elvis: Austin Butler () ·

Presley's importance to film history is less for his continued popularity than for the trend he set within the musical genre. With the success of his vehicles, other recording stars were signed to movie roles and throughout the s there continued a never-ending stream of jukebox musicals: minimal narratives with lots of hit tunes. In the first scene of his movie debut, Elvis was seen deep in the frame laboriously dragging a plow.

In retrospect we can only marvel at how prophetic that shot was considering the material he was made to drag through movie theaters for the next 14 years. Tomlinson, Doug " Presley, Elvis. Tomlinson, Doug "Presley, Elvis. Elvis Presleythe "King of Rock 'n' Roll," was the jazz biography movies of elvis American singer for two decades and the most popular singer of the entire early rock 'n' roll era.

His twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, died shortly after birth. His father worked as a carpenter, farmer, and factory worker to support the family but was not successful in any of his jobs. Raised in a poor and religious environment, Elvis grew especially close to his mother. Elvis's singing ability was discovered when he was an elementary school student in Tupelo, and he first started singing with the choir of his local church.

He received his first guitar as a birthday present when he was about twelve and taught himself how to play, although he could not read music. He went on to participate in numerous talent contests in Tupelo and in Memphis, Tennessee, where the family moved when Elvis was thirteen. Inafter Elvis graduated from L. Humes High School in Memphis, he began working as a truck driver to pay his way into the Memphis Recording Services studio to cut his own records.

It became his first commercial release, selling twenty thousand copies. Elvis reached the top of the country charts with "Mystery Train" in His first number one song on the so-called "Hot " was "Heartbreak Hotel"which held that position for seven of the twenty-seven weeks it was on the chart. This song also reached the top of the country charts, and it became a symbol of his ability to combine country singing with rhythm-and-blues, as well as with the new rage that had grown out of rhythm-and-blues: rock 'n' roll.

Elvis was universally dubbed the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" and led the new music from its beginnings in the s to its peak in the s and on to its permanent place in the music of the s and the s. His impact on American popular culture was tremendous, as he seemed to affect manner of dress, hairstyles, and even behavior. John Lennon — would later note Elvis as one of the most important influences on the Beatles.

Even his spinning hip movements became legendary as he continued his rock 'n' roll conquest to the extent of gold recordssold and 10 platinum records 1 million sold. Ultimately he had the most records to make the rating charts and was the top recording artist for two straight decades, the s and the s. Elvis was an instant success in television and movies as well.

Although few of Elvis's motion pictures were well-received by the critics, they showcased his music and extended his image and fame. BluesBlue HawaiiGirls! Wild in the Countrybased on the J. Salamanca novel The Lost Country, marked his debut in a straight dramatic role. Elvis began a well-publicized stint in the army in That year, while he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texashis mother died.

The remainder of his military service was spent stationed in Germanyuntil his discharge release in It was in Germany that he met Priscilla Beaulieu —his future wife. Elvis's success in the entertainment industry was accompanied by numerous failures in his personal life. He arranged to have Priscilla, still a teenager, live at his new Memphis home, Graceland Mansion, while she finished high school there.

He married her inand she bore him his only child, Lisa Marie Presley, in In he and Priscilla were divorced. During this time, and for his entire career, his personal manager, Tom Parker, controlled his finances. As Elvis's millions grew, so too did the mismanagement of Parker, a known gambler. Parker was later prosecuted for his financial dealings, but he was acquitted proven innocent.

This caused frequent legal battles during and after his lifetime among his management people and several record companies. Elvis had similar luck with his friendships, and frequently surrounded himself with a gang of thugs to shield him from an adoring public. A weight problem became evident in the late s, and in private Elvis became increasingly dependent on drugs, particularly amphetamines and sedatives.

His personal doctor, George Nichopoulos, would later be prosecuted, but acquitted, for prescribing and dispensing thousands of pills and narcotics illegal drugs to him. Though Elvis's weight and drug dependency were increasing, Elvis continued a steady flow of concert performances in sold-out arenas well into the s. The official cause of death was heart diseasealthough information revealed after his death about his drug dependency created a media event.

His death caused worldwide scenes of mourning. Elvis continues to be celebrated as superstar and legend as much in death as he was in life. Presley became the first-ever inductee into three music halls of fame when it was announced that he would be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame on November 27,in NashvilleTennessee. Gordon, Robert.

The Elvis Treasures. New York : Villard, Jenkins, Mary. Memories Beyond Graceland Gates. Lichter, Paul. Parish, James Robert. The Elvis Presley Scrapbook. New York : Ballantine Books, Elvis Presley was jazz biography movies of elvis as the King of Rock and Roll even before his early death at the age of forty-two. His impact on American popular culture has never before or since been duplicated.

Presley was born a twin on January 8,in Tupelo, Mississippi. His brother, Jesse, died shortly after birth. Elvis's singing ability became obvious when he was still in elementary school. At thirteen, he and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from high school inPresley worked as a truck driver to earn money to record his own records.

The tune spent twenty-seven weeks on the chart, seven of them in first place. It also reached the top of country charts, testament to the musician's ability to combine country with rhythm and blues to appeal to a crossover audience. Presley spent the rest of the decade turning out one hit after another, all under the new label of rock and roll.

Jazz biography movies of elvis: If you want a

He was the top recording artist throughout the s and s, and before his life ended, he had gold records and 10 platinum albums. Presley not only influenced and pioneered the music scene of his era, he shaped American culture with his manner of dress, hairstyle, and dance. Never before had anyone seen a performer gyrate his hips as Presley did, and he shocked and frightened parents and more conservative Americans across the nation.

Teens and young adults loved him, though, and John Lennon — credited Presley as one of the most important influences on his own band, the Beatles. As television became a major entertainment medium, Presley made guest appearances on the many variety shows of the era, including The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. Cameramen were instructed to show the performer from the waist up only, to avoid controversy caused by his gyrating hip movements.

The entertainer made his mark in films as well. His first movie, Love Me Tenderwas released in His movies were nothing more than vehicles to showcase his singing and dancing abilities, and all of them included young, beautiful women. Critics agree that Presley's films did as much as his songs to cement his place in cultural history. Presley served in the U.

Army from until his discharge in While in Germany, he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who later became his wife. As successful as Presley was in his professional life, his personal life was a succession of failure and struggles. Before Priscilla had even graduated from high school, he had arranged to have her live in his new mansion, Graceland, in Memphis.

Jazz biography movies of elvis: A look at the

Inthey married, and their only child, Lisa Marie Presley, was born the following year. The couple divorced in For Presley's entire career, his personal manager, Colonel Tom Parker —controlled and mismanaged the star's finances. Because of Parker's manipulation, Presley never learned how to manage his own money, and this caused many problems for him.

Although Parker was eventually tried for his unethical management dealings, he was found not guilty.