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. Colonel Parker called himself "the Snowman" because he loved snowing, or fooling, people. I dont like the choice of all the songs. It was the pre-Broadway run in Los Angeles. Anything else to say about the Parker characterization? After a lifetime of earning well over $100 million managing Elvis, The Colonel's estate was barely worth $1 million upon his death. 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. In particular, Hanks was looking forward to taking part in a fresh look at the story, as the tale of Elvis is well-known enough to garner fatigue. Colonel Parker is the devil to many Elvis Presley fans. In addition, he revealed his dream project, which would be about Dean Reed, who was an American actor and singer that decided to become a communist behind the Iron Curtain. He's never been identified as anything other than this mercurial or puppeteer-like, quasi-evil, greedy manager that took advantage of Elvis from the get-go. What turned Colonels head, though, was a report from his old friend Oscar Davis, who went to Memphis in October 1954 to advance an Arnold appearance at Ellis Auditorium, and saw how Elvis packed a local dive, the Eagles Nest, night after night with screaming women. Because what you get from that is a suit of armor. The Colonel was upset with us because we got friendly with Elvis, and he didnt like that. Fontana. I'm just going to say, sir, it is always a pleasure to talk with you. As you can see in the trailers, Elvis is about the complicated relationship between Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks) and Elvis Presley (Austin Butler). Hanks explained that he was days away from shooting the film in March when he contracted COVID-19. Im not a super rap fan. And by the 418th time you've listened to it, you know every pause, every word, every lyric, and you have an emotional connection, an image for every one of those songs, every one of the emotional beats that's on the record. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997), [1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley 's manager. And the Colonel said, What took you so long?. However, Hanks, who has six prior nominations and won twice, was snubbed for his role as Colonel Tom Parker. 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. Love him or loathe him, Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker was good for Vegas Related: Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? 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. She growled it both times. 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. That's what makes him so delicious.". We can get Singer sewing machines as long as you sing a song about Christmas, that's all we need. They call it The King and I, which is a good title. Colonel Parker Answered Criticism in 1964 Interview - Elvis History Blog King, there was a chance meeting at Sun Studios and, in late 1956, at a famous all-Black charity show, where King was the headliner and Elvis, as an invited guest, came out and wiggled his leg, but did not perform. Then after that, you just have to have this faith in your own individual process and the power of the script. They had a piano player, Duddly Brooks, on the session. I was expecting to hear stories about the distrust she had for Colonel Tom Parker over these many years. Colonel Tom Parker Biographer Says Tom Hanks' Elvis Movie Accent Isn't MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A judge says Col. Tom Parker made so much money by molding truck driver Elvis Presley into an international singing phenomenon that it 'shocks the conscience of the court . The film tells Elvis story from Parkers point of view, and it spans over two decades and includes Presleys rise to fame against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America. It adds a little spice. Did Elvis ever really fire Parker on stage, followed by Parker getting back at him by threatening to demand repayment for every tiny expense item over the years? Did Parker talk of things in carnival or carnie or conman terms as much as he does in this movie? Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic. And she said, No. 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. Colonel Tom Parker - New Netherland Institute Yes. But this is Lurhmann telling us Elvis didnt steal Black music, as he has been accused of doing, but performed it in homage. But the first take was great. As opposed to the more methodical camera coverage Hanks is accustomed to, Luhrmann is more free-wheeling. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal is certainly one of the highlights of the movie, giving audiences something they aren't used to seeing from the actor. King would be playing in the lounge, and Elvis would be playing in the big room. They keep asking us to do more, he said. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. Tom Hanks Was Surprised By Priscilla Presley's Feelings About Elvis It's one of only a very few villainous roles that Hanks has taken in his long career in movies, making it a relatively rare departure for the actor. But I thought the next one was pretty good, King Creole. It was a better script, better story. Parker returned to the carnival (one not-too-dissimilar to the 1950s carnival in American Horror Story thanks to the setting), where he made his living for a time before getting involved in music promotion, working with the likes of Gene Austin, Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, and Hank Snow. Of course, I had no idea what he was saying, much less remembered it. So we developed some protective mechanisms. "And I told Baz, 'But you're describing Falstaff and Hal,' and Baz said, 'Exactly, except with millions of dollars thrown into it. Yes, it was manager Colonel Tom Parker who had his reasons for finally cutting Leiber and Stoller out of Presley's creative camp after 1963, none of them good. 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. "You can see Colonel Parker as despicable, but when it's Tom, he's such an incredible actor, that he can justify everything and he's not playing a bad guy in his mind," says Butler. Are you kidding? Would you say Elvis was growling when he covered Hound Dog three years later, in 1956, becoming the first of the big hits he had with your songs? Jumping into why I get to talk to you.The thing that's interesting about Tom, is that he was really good for Elvis at the beginning. COLLIDER: I want to start with congratulations on the movie. In Elvis, out June 24, we get a portrait not only of the rise and fall of Elvis (Austin Butler), but also of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), and the co-dependent relationship between the two. One was a 1956 radio interview that basically contains Parker's master plan for Presley's career. But he also did extraordinarily genius things. But he worked closely with the Pentagon, planning Elvis army career and post-army concert to raise money for the U.S.S. The pattern that Parker would traditionally follow was affordability and profit over quality, which would eventually help to torpedo Elvis' career for a time. In 1958, Parker encouraged Elvis to voluntarily enlist in the Army (part of Elvis' true story) after he received a draft notice and serve a two-year stint as a regular soldier, showing the world that he was just like any average American. We found that a lot of the blues singers that we knew, he knew them also, which was a surprise to us. Which is not the one in the film, because the one in the film was blown out and had a bigger orchestra. That caused a big to-do, because they didnt want anybody presenting him with a song that they might not own the publishing rights to. Would Elvis have gone to Black Pentecostal tent meetings as a kid, as seen in the film? Watch what Tom Hanks had to say in the player above, or you can read our conversation below. Near the end of his life, Parker is said to have been speaking with two promoters about this, since Elvis was so deeply unhappy about never getting to go tour Europe, but it never happened. He literally never made any artistic suggestion to Elvis. Fortunately I managed to get down a Jacobs ladder into a broken lifeboat. He is seen attending so many performances by R&B singers, whether its Arthur Big Boy Crudup as a kid or Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, B.B. He had a matter-of-fact method of speaking and didn't suffer fools lightly. 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? Elvis never knew how many shows he played free to satisfy Parkers enslavement to the roulette wheel and the craps table. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But Elvis gives us Hanks as we've never seen him before: trussed up under layers of costuming and make-up, bloated and reptilian, with a strange, slightly Dutch accent, pulling the strings as the carnival barker-turned-talent manager who made Elvis into a star. In Parker's version of his life story, he had run away from home to join a circus, where he worked with elephants and horses. I dont like the story. The actor wore a fat suit and heavy make-up to appear more like Parker, but the real performance came in the mannerisms, accent, and presence of Hanks embodying Elvis' manager. He says, "I said he should sing this kind of thing." In the end, playing Parker required Hanks to spend an average of five hours per day in the make-up chair. "We thought we were the only white kids who knew that stuff!" And the movies I mean, naturally I liked Jailhouse Rock, but I dont think it was a great movie. He wanted us to write the score for it, and for us to help get Elvis to play the lead. But she got it. And then I guess it, obviously, became something else. Elvis took care of what Elvis did and Colonel took care of what Colonel did. In 1969, she was an employee of the International Hotel when Elvis made his record-breaking performances there. I don't know what he sounds like. I tried to put together, and it was tricky, this story of There was a guy named Dean Reed. So that started a little bit of discomfort on the part of the Colonel. And you hate the director the first day and he's okay the second. Dont worry about it. I think Jerry said, You cant, were unmanageable. Which was somewhat true. "They made some of the most brilliant moves in the history of show business," he reflects. He told me: There were times when B.B. The issue of his choices to include in his repertoire would become important to signify his talent. 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. The Elvis version became a smash while you were overseas and blissfully unaware. Of course, we werent in the studio when she did Kansas City [in 1962]; there was a Quincy Jones chart on that. Yeah. Although from the Netherlands originally, actor Tom Hanks' Parker had a Southern-style accent due to a huge chunk of his life being spent there, but it was more of a mixture with his native Dutch accent. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. They were hot with Grand Funk Railroad and a variety of things, but that was not what they were looking for in 1969. What about Presleys entrance into the Army? Country radio stations said Elvis sounded too Black to play, and the stations that played rhythm and blues said he sounded too much like a hillbilly. We did Procol Harum [in 1975]. Fontana on drums and Scotty Moore on guitar, and Bill Black, who passed away after that, on the upright bass. 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. You think you're going to get fired and nothing works. Its a wild story. It was supposed to be a Christmas show in the sense that it would air in December, and Parker wanted it to be a family show with Elvis as a 60s-era Bing Crosby or Perry Como. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Elviss first manager, Bob Neal, told me that he had a heck of a time getting stations to play Elviss first single. Lets talk about a few of the greats you worked with who were not Elvis Presley. As it is, we both take bows and if it doesnt hit maybe they get more blame that us. The branding. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. In their rush to denounce him for failing his client in later years, many Elvis fans forget that there may not have been an Elvis Presley were it not for Tom Parkers work in those early days. Austin Butler on Elvis and Why it Took Months After Filming to Find Himself Again, The Best Epic Movies of All Time, According to the AFI, The 25 Best Thrillers of All Time, Ranked, The Legend Behind the Jerry Lewis Holocaust Clown Movie Youll Never See. Turns out he didnt have an impediment he was just trying to wrap a Dutch tongue around the English language, Southern-style. It has been my thought that Elvis was afraid that his success would evaporate, and therefore it was business, a formula that worked. Elvis clearly demonstrates the ways in which Parker was integral in crafting Presley into an icon, but it also doesn't hold back in exposing the abuses and limitations of that relationship a paradox and tragedy that Hanks says became the most intriguing driving force in his portrayal. Never one to miss an opportunity to make money off of his prized client, Colonel Tom Parker jumped on Elvis' death as a marketing cash grab. It was never a well-organized hand of poker. . You and Jerry started producing more things that you didnt write, including some rock albums of the 70s that people dont associate with you because they arent the old-school Leiber-Stoller sound like Stealers Wheel and Stuck in the Middle With You.. When it was just written lyrics on a piece of paper, she started to croon it. "The promotion. [A movie version of Walk on the Wild Side was eventually produced in the 60s, with none of the same talent attached, and flopped.]. "But the challenge for me, as well as the freedom, was having this engineered look every day. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. What happened at Atlantic Records was, we said, You know, were making these records. "The gargantuan size and complexity of Parker would define the air for Elvis to be internal and spiritual," Luhrmann tells EW. So everything is a paradox and a coin flip. And when he said that, I said, 'Oh, well, okay, now that's brand new,'" remembers Hanks. It's like you have a record, you have an album by your favorite artist. He was in for a surprise. But Baz wanted to make him seem more other. Or as Baz told me in an interview, I thought it was very important that Tom present the audience with a strangeness, a sort of What is going on with this guy?. You are aware that this thing is going to be coming up and you corral all the emotional sheep slowly over the course of it. He mentions that church in the film. The Masked Lookalike Explained. Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. All Rights Reserved. Stand by Me as the song for the royal wedding, where they had the Black choir singing it, that was apparently Meghan Markles choice as the song for their wedding. This would sand the rough edges off his image and bring him back as the all-American boy fit for family entertainment with Frank Sinatra. He could turn down scripts. There was a precursor to [Smokey Joes Cafe] that was done up in Seattle. In fact, Colonel didnt even have to go down to the casino. Even so, he continued to sell out shows and hit the Top 10 charts. No, no, not at all. Baz Luhrmann is much like Colonel Parker. The Elvis manager certainly had some unethical practices when it came to the King of Rock n Roll, and many were shocked upon viewing the film to find out that this was the case. There's no substitute for going there. 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? Teenage Elvis, living in Memphis, certainly went to West Memphis, Arkansas and to Beale Street to hear Black performers. He was also a consultant to the Hilton, where he gambled every day. Carl Gardner was the rube or the straight man. Eddy Arnold, whom Parker had built into a household name, had fired him as his manager over failing to honor their exclusive contract, though Parker continued to book him. Elvis would never have been so crass as to have fired Colonel from the stage. As a matter of fact, when we were in Paris, I heard Edith Piaf at LOlympia doing a French translation of Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots, called LHomme a la Moto The Man on the Motor Scooter which was a big thrill. So, after a couple dozen songs together, that was it one big strike with Parker and youre out. In a way, sure. shown as being Parkers idea to get him away for a while to put a lid on the sexual energy and image. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He was doing a Christmas album, and we wrote it in another room during the recording session. Colonel Parker Managed Elvis' Career, but Was He a Killer on the Lam? 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. Elvis Biopic Will Feature A Side Of Tom Hanks We've Never Seen Before I do know that while researching for my bookElvis 57: The Final Fifties Tours, I became increasingly impressed with how the Colonel managed Elvis during the 1956-57 period. Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis, House & Death - Biography This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. I say, 'Oh, here I was worried about geography and logic and the timeline, and Baz saw all those three very specific physical forces as rules that do not need to obeyed.' Colonel Tom Parker Facts for Kids - Kiddle Its a very strong film; I really like the movie. 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. The Colonel was well-known as a strong promoter that frequently leaned into exploitation. It sounded like a weird (Southern) regional dialect, and you would know it was Dutch only by listening for certain consonants. He didnt care what color he was. Why AI Has Some Viewers Asking Which Film Actors Are Real. The bass was either the father or the heavy. When watching the movie, you think about all the what ifs. About Elvis' Movies In 1964 Interview. All Rights Reserved. But the more I read about the Colonel, it was about the sell overwhelming the other side. You always preferred Big Mamas version, right? That was amazing because you still see the twinkle in his eyes. And when he went down there, he was celebrated as though he himself was Elvis Presley. Colonel Tom Parker [1909-1997] Colonel Thomas Andrew "Tom" Parker (Born Andreas Cornelis van Kuyk) was an enigma from the day he arrived on a freighter in Tampa Bay, Florida, as an illegal immigrant at about the age of 20 until his death at the advanced age of 87 in 1997. Tom Hanks on 'Elvis' and How He Prepares for a Really - Collider But yes, adolescent Elvis listened to all kinds of music, from the Ink Spots to Dean Martin. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, the movie is not a traditional musician biopic as it's a film that explores Elvis Presley's rise through the eyes of his manager. Also pictured: Scotty Moore, Judy Tyler, Bill Black, Mickey Shaughnessy and D.J. He had never seen that before. 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. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. '", Luhrmann's instinct was right. Over the next four years, Elvis movie career would indeed play out. Elvis made a chilling cry for help just months before his death The actor won his first Oscar for Philadelphia, where he played an AIDs-afflicted lawyer, losing significant weight to portray the character's declining health. 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. I got to really appreciate Elvis. Tom Hanks has built a reputation for disappearing into his roles. Elvis seemed to evoke a love or hate response in anyone I knew. The music publishers for Elvis were there. You know, it was Big Mama Thornton married to D.W. Washburn with a son named Charlie Brown that kind of inane shoehorning of things. Arizona monument. 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. However, it soon became obvious that Elvis had staying power, with the right guidance. Second, for a movie about a musician, Elvis also didn't receive any music nominations at the Oscars. You seem right.' continues Hanks. Leiber died in 2011 but, creeping up on 90, Stoller remains active still showing up to collect the few accolades he hasnt already received, like the Icon award BMI bestowed upon him at its annual ceremony in May, and also working on a stage musical he doesnt want to say much about at the moment. No one is probably expecting that; any practiced watcher of biopics knows virtually any example will take deep liberties with the facts for dramatic purposes. COLONEL TOM PARKER - Interview on "ABC Nightline" (Aug 15, 1987) - YouTube 0:00 / 7:03 COLONEL TOM PARKER - Interview on "ABC Nightline" (Aug 15, 1987) waylonvids 20.1K subscribers Subscribe. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). 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