Elvis Presley regretted turning down A Star is Born: book
Joel Brokaw, the son of late Hollywood agent Norman Brokaw, wrote a biography about his father, “Driving Marilyn.” Brokaw described how Elvis Presley was desirous to work alongside Barbra Streisand, however was compelled to show the function down.
One in all Elvis Presley’s largest regrets was not sharing the display with Barbra Streisand.
The declare was made by Norman Brokaw’s son, Joel Brokaw, who wrote a biography in regards to the late Hollywood agent titled “Driving Marilyn.”
Brokaw, who represented Presley, in addition to Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and different high stars, died in 2016. He was 89.
Elvis Presley would have turned 90 on Jan. 8. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures)
“I had interviewed Priscilla Presley, who was additionally a shopper of my father’s,” Joel informed Fox Information Digital. “I had requested her in regards to the relationship with [his manager] Colonel [Tom] Parker. She talked about that there was just one time through which they’d any variations.”
In response to Joel’s e-book, Presley had the chance to star alongside Streisand in 1976’s “A Star is Born.” Nonetheless, Parker “discouraged it,” believing that “Barbra would possibly decrease him.”
“It was a call that Elvis regretted,” Joel wrote.
Joel Brokaw’s e-book, “Driving Marilyn,” is obtainable now. (Lyons Press)
Joel informed Fox Information Digital that on the time, Presley was craving to be taken significantly as a Hollywood actor. He seemed to “Rebel Without a Cause” star James Dean as an inspiration. Nonetheless, Parker needed Presley to prioritize performing – even when it meant taking up mediocre musicals.
“Elvis needed to department out into meatier… performing roles,” stated Joel. “[But] Colonel Parker actually appreciated the established order that Elvis was making these motion pictures that had soundtracks. Plenty of songs… have been popping out of the films. [And the films] have been enjoyable and lightweight. It complemented the primary residencies that any artist was doing in Las Vegas… Elvis, I believe, was one of many first individuals to do this.”
WATCH: ELVIS PRESLEY REGRETTED TURNING DOWN ‘A STAR IS BORN’: BOOK
“It was a really handy… advertising technique,” Joel shared. “However Elvis needed to develop himself as an actor. And so, Colonel Parker turned down the chance, the supply for Elvis to star in ‘A Star is Born’ with Barbra Streisand… He didn’t need to see Elvis being overshadowed by Barbra Streisand.”
Barbra Streisand performed Esther Hoffman within the romantic drama “A Star is Born.” (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives by way of Getty Pictures)
“That was the one blemish on their relationship, in accordance with Priscilla,” Joel added.
The writer had his theories about why Parker was adamant that Streisand would overshadow Presley.
“Maybe a part of Colonel Parker’s trepidation in regards to the pairing of Barbra Streisand with Elvis possibly would have one thing to do with their present trajectory and their careers,” he defined.
“Elvis needed to develop himself as an actor. And so, [his manager] Colonel Parker turned down the chance, the supply for Elvis to star in ‘A Star is Born’ with Barbra Streisand… He didn’t need to see Elvis being overshadowed by Barbra Streisand.”
Joan Blackman and Elvis Presley in 1961’s “Blue Hawaii.” The singer was deeply dissatisfied along with his Hollywood profession. (Sundown Boulevard/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures)
“Elvis had been on the high for therefore lengthy. And as we have been coming into the Sixties and the British invasion, the Beatles popping out, Elvis was starting to lose a variety of his luster and recognition.
“Barbra Streisand was on her approach up,” he identified. “I believe that [Parker] felt that possibly the momentum was extra on her aspect at the moment.”
The unique Nineteen Thirties movie starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, with Judy Garland and James Mason within the ‘50s remake. Streisand starred in her model alongside Kris Kristofferson.
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Kris Kristofferson went on to star reverse Barbra Streisand in “A Star is Born.” (Display Archives/Getty Pictures)
A fourth model of the romance between a rising younger performer and a fading one premiered in 2018. It starred Woman Gaga and Bradley Cooper, with Cooper directing.
In November, Priscilla confirmed that Streisand had Presley in thoughts to play her onscreen love curiosity, however Parker informed him to not take the function.
“Barbra had provided him the half,” Presley’s ex-wife informed People magazine in November. “Colonel talked him out of that, saying, ‘Oh, it isn’t going to be good. She’s going to be in cost, not you. Her film, not yours.'”
Norman Brokaw, left, a sought-after expertise agent, represented Elvis Presley. He’s seen right here with Presley’s supervisor, Colonel Tom Parker. (Brokaw Household Assortment)
“Elvis regretted that as a result of he felt he may have performed that half,” the 79-year-old added.
In 2023, Streisand wrote in her memoir, “My Title is Barbra,” that she thought-about Presley to seem within the music-centered drama earlier than the function went to Kristofferson. She flew to Las Vegas to satisfy with Presley in an try to persuade him.
“We talked in regards to the movie, and Elvis was ,” the 82-year-old wrote, as quoted by USA Today. “However clearly it didn’t work out. Marty [Erlichman, her manager] says that Colonel Parker requested for more cash than we may afford. And [producer] Jon [Peters] says the Colonel needed to provide the movie. I’m unsure about that.”
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Priscilla Presley additionally confirmed that her ex-husband needed to work alongside Barbra Streisand. (Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty Pictures)
“I do know that Elvis had gained a variety of weight and was now not on the high of his sport, though he was nonetheless drawing massive audiences,” she shared. “Perhaps the story was a bit too near his personal life, and the Colonel talked him out of it.”
Presley’s difficult relationship with Parker is explored in a new Netflix documentary, “Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley.” It options interviews with Priscilla and his shut confidante/enterprise companion, Jerry Schilling, amongst others.
Within the movie, Presley is heard describing how pissed off he was about making cash-grab musicals, versus taking up extra critical roles.
Barbra Streisand wrote that she traveled to Las Vegas in hopes of convincing Presley. (Silver Display Assortment/Getty Pictures)
“Hollywood’s picture of me was improper, and I knew it, and I couldn’t do something about it,” stated Presley. “I didn’t know what to do. I simply felt I used to be obligated to issues I didn’t totally imagine in.”
“They couldn’t have paid me no sum of money on this planet to make me really feel I had any satisfaction inside,” Presley added.
Presley’s Hollywood profession had gotten so low that the Grammy winner is heard singing the kids’s melody “Previous MacDonald Had a Farm” within the 1967 movie “Double Bother.”
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Elvis Presley reverse Annette Day in “Double Bother,” circa 1967. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives by way of Getty Pictures)
“That to me is against the law,” stated Priscilla within the movie whereas watching the scene.
“It’s a crime,” she harassed. “To place him in that state of affairs and sing that tune. It made him a laughingstock. And he knew it.”
Filmmaker Jason Hehir stated Presley felt so defeated and trapped by his movie profession that he would at occasions get “bodily sick.”
Netflix documentary “Return of the King: The Fall & Rise of Elvis Presley” is obtainable for streaming. (Netflix)
“He was deeply dissatisfied. He couldn’t get off the bed,” stated Hehir. “Many… don’t notice how disenchanted he was… He was taking these film roles and seemingly simply taking the simple approach out and cashing monumental checks. But it surely wasn’t his ambition as an artist.”
“It had all the time been a frustration for him,” Hehir shared. “… He couldn’t even get off the bed as a result of he was so starved for a creative problem. However he had locked himself into these film contracts, and his administration had allowed him to be locked into these film contracts.”
“It shined a lightweight on what really mattered to him – to carry out,” Hehir continued. “And I believe that frustration of seven years of not being in entrance of a dwell viewers and as a substitute, simply being on film units doing more and more extra mediocre movies – a lightweight bulb went off over his head.
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Filmmaker Jason Hehir informed Fox Information Digital that Elvis Presley was desirous to make his personal mark as a star, just like his idols James Dean and Marlon Brando. (Netflix)
“He needed to do one thing for himself, not for his administration. Not for film audiences. He needed to get again to the Elvis he needed to be.”
Presley died in 1977. He was 42.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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