A brand-new Elvis Presley documentary,Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, is currently streaming on Netflix, but there are several things the movie leaves out about the King of Rock and Roll.Return of the Kingis focused on Presley’s 1968 Comeback Special, a live concert performance Presley delivered on a TV program a little more than a decade after he made it big. Although Presley had become an international sensation just a few years after he began his singing career in 1954,Presley’s time in the armyhad diminished his popularity somewhat.
Presley’s many movie performancesdidn’t help the matter, as the movies not only pulled Presley away from his music for five years but also proved to be largely unpopular, particularly as the years went on.The songs in the 1968 Comeback Specialwere meant to remind audiences of Presley’s greatest hits, thereby drawing audiences back to him and increasing his popularity once more.BecauseReturn of the Kingwas so focused on this one concert, however, these 10 aspects of Presley’s real life did not make it into the documentary.
The Death Of Elvis' Twin Brother And Its Impact On Him Are Not Addressed
Elvis Presley Never Forgot His Stillborn Twin Brother, Jessie Garon Presley
Although Elvis Presley grew up an only child,he was actually a twin to his brother, Jessie Garon Presley, who was stillborn just 35 minutes before Presley entered the world. Presley remained deeply impacted by the loss of his brother, and many accounts suggest that he saw his brother as a spiritual guide. This makes sense, given Presley’s religious upbringing and his devotion to Christianity throughout his life.
Jessie remained so important to Presley, in fact, thatthe Graceland websitenames Jessie on Presley’s biography page. Despite this importance, Jessie’s story is not a focus inReturn of the King. This is an interesting choice, particularly because there are a number of other biographical details provided in the documentary, even with the focus being on Presley’s Comeback Special. Despite this absence inReturn of the King, it’s undeniable that Jessie remained important to Presley, who never forgot his twin brother.
How Old Elvis Was When He Bought Graceland
Graceland, the famous mansion owned by the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley, was a major part of Presley’s life—but how long had he owned it?
Return Of The King Avoids The Controversy Regarding Big Mama Thornton
There Have Long Been Debates About Whether Presley’s Songs Were Taken From Black Artists
Return of the Kingtakes a clear stance on Elvis Presley drawing inspiration from Black artists of his era, butthe documentary avoids directly acknowledging the accusations that Presley stole his music from Black musicians—an accusation that has been lodged against Presley numerous times throughout the years. Interviews with various friends, acquaintances, and family members inReturn of the Kingcover Presley’s adoration for Black music, particularly Gospel music, but that is as far as the movie goes in exploring this long-standing controversy.
Other movies about Presley’s life, including the 2022 movieElvisstarring Austin Butler, also depict Presley being inspired by Black artists, but few delve fully into the claims that Presley took the work of Black singers and marketed it as his own. In reality, this continues to be a heated debate, with many specifically arguing that Presley stole “Hound Dog” from Big Mama Thornton, an American singer and songwriter who began her career several years before Presley. Co-writer of the song Mike Stoller has maintained that Presley didn’t steal it, but it remains a contentious topic.
Elvis And Priscilla’s Age Gap Is Swept Under The Rug
Priscilla Was Just 14 Years Old When She Met Elvis Presley
Priscilla Presley appears inReturn of the Kingfrequently, sharing her perspective on her ex-husband’s life and career, butthe age gap between Priscilla and Elvis Presley goes largely unspoken in the documentary. However, movies likePriscillahave made it quite clear that the age gap between the two was significant and that the circumstances of their relationship began questionably. Priscilla was just 14 years old when she met then 24-year-old Elvis Presley, andPriscillasuggests the two developed a romantic relationship quickly.
Like the controversy surrounding Presley’s music,Return of the Kingelects not to dive into the more thorny aspects of Presley’s relationship with Priscilla. This may be in part due to Priscilla’s involvement in the documentary. Although Priscilla wrote a memoir (along with contributions from Sandra Harmon),Elvis and Me, detailing some darker aspects of her history with Presley, it’s clear that she still feels plenty of warmth for her ex-husband.
Purchase Elvis and Me on Amazon
The Issues Between Elvis And His Manager Are Only Briefly Referenced
Colonel Tom Parker Has Become Infamous In Elvis Presley’s Story
Colonel Tom Parker, Presley’s manager, also plays a surprisingly limited role inReturn of the King, despite how much continued interest there is in Parker and his role in Presley’s life. Although it’s generally agreed that Parker was a genius when it came to marketing Presley and turning a profit, many also perceive Parker as having had a negative effect on Presley’s physical and mental health. This is a large focus ofElvis(2022).
Several of the people interviewed inReturn of the Kingmake mention of Parker—some of them not all that fondly—but the more negative perceptions of Parker aren’t directly stated in the documentary. In real life, Parker managed Presley’s career from 1955 untilPresley’s death in 1977, so there can be little doubt he helped Presley achieve more fame, including by planning the Comeback Special. Even so, many still perceive Parker as a controlling manager who took advantage of Presley and his talents.
Many still perceive Parker as a controlling manager who took advantage of Presley and his talents.
Return Of The King Doesn’t Delve Into Elvis' Many Affairs
It is well-known thatPresley had a number of affairs throughout his relationship with Priscilla, including after the two were married and had a daughter. These affairs are documented in bothElvisandPriscilla, and Priscilla’s own affair (whichPriscillasuggests only came after years of Presley’s infidelity) is also depicted briefly and subtly in the latter movie.Return of the King’sdecision to exclude those affairs from the narrative is consistent with the choices made throughout the documentary to not explore controversies from Presley’s life.
In real life, rumors were constantly flying about Presley having affairs with the women who co-starred alongside him in his various movies, some of which were later revealed to be true. Priscilla has spoken at length about Presley’s affairs over the years, highlighting that things were difficult because Presley was so beloved that women were constantly trying to be with him. Ultimately, Priscilla and Presley were divorced, at which point Presley became engaged to Ginger Alden, who he was with until his death.
Elvis' Daughter Lisa Is Largely Absent From Return Of The King
As mentioned, Priscilla and Presley had just one child together, their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.Lisa Marie is only briefly mentioned inReturn of the King, which is likely due to the sensitive nature of her story. Sadly, Lisa Marie Presley died unexpectedly in 2023 at just 54 years old, and she is survived by her mother and many other members of the Presley family.
This absence inReturn of the Kingdoes not suggest that Lisa Marie was not important to her father, however—quite the contrary. Lisa Marie continued to divide her time between her mother and father after the two divorced in 1973 until Presley’s death, and Presley cared deeply for his daughter. At present, Lisa Marie Presley’s own daughter, Riley Keough, is the owner of Graceland, which reflects how connected the Presley family remains even following these tragic deaths.
Elvis' History With Drugs Is Not Featured In Return Of The King
Elvis Presley’s Substance Use Is Prominently Shown In Many Movies And Documentaries
Presley’s history with substances is well-documented and well-known, and bothPriscillaandElvisdepict what a toll drugs took on his life. However,Return of the Kingonly briefly touches upon Presley’s drug use. Yet again,the documentary seems to want the focus to primarily be on Presley’s singing career and his 1968 Comeback Special, not on the more personal details of his life, which have been represented frequently in other movies and documentaries.
There has also been plenty of discourse surrounding how much of an impact Presley’s substance use may have had on his life and his death. The common perception seems to be that drugs directly caused Presley’s death, although the impact of substances on Presley’s early death remains widely debated. Notably, coroner Dr. Jerry Francisco has long argued that Presley did not die due to drug use.
Return Of The King Intentionally Ends On A “Happy” Note Before Elvis' Death
Return Of The King References Elvis Presley’s Death But Doesn’t End With It
Perhaps becauseReturn of the Kingfocuses on the 1968 Comeback Special and not Presley’s full life and career,Presley’s death is not depicted in the documentary. Certain interviews reference Presley’s death, butReturn of the Kingelects to end on a happier note, highlighting what a massive boon this concert was for Presley’s career. For the same reasons,Return of the Kingdoes not explore the trajectory of Presley’s career once he begins performing in Vegas, which becomes its own complex situation.
Ultimately, the absences and exclusions inReturn of the Kingseem to have much more to do with the documentary prioritizing the story of the 1968 Comeback Special than they do inaccuracies or, presumably, intentional omissions. Even so, the documentary does avoid a number of controversies in Presley’s personal and professional life. There are many facts about Elvis Presley’s life missing fromReturn of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, although there are numerous movies and documentaries that capture many of those biographical details.
