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In 2023, the film Priscilla divided those who knew Elvis Presley, including his daughter, Lisa Marie. She denounced the movie for the way it portrayed her late father. Elvis’ stepbrother, however, said the film seemed accurate. He explained that Lisa Marie wasn’t around for significant parts of what the film covered, as she hadn’t been born.
Lisa Marie Presley criticized the portrayal of Elvis in ‘Priscilla’
Priscilla is based on the memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley. The book follows her relationship with Elvis and shows a darker side to the iconic singer. As a result, the film did too. Lisa Marie wrote to director Sofia Coppola, asking her to reconsider the film’s portrayal of her father.
“My father only comes across as a predator and manipulative,” Lisa Marie wrote, per Variety. “As his daughter, I don’t read this and see any of my father in this character. I don’t read this and see my mother’s perspective of my father. I read this and see your shockingly vengeful and contemptuous perspective, and I don’t understand why?”
Coppola explained her intention with the film in her response.
“I hope that when you see the final film, you will feel differently and understand I’m taking great care in honoring your mother, while also presenting your father with sensitivity and complexity,” she wrote.
Elvis’ stepbrother said Lisa Marie Presley wasn’t there for significant parts of her dad’s life
While Lisa Marie didn’t think the film accurately depicted her father, his stepbrother, David Stanley, liked it. He moved to Graceland when he was four and spent time working closely with Elvis in Las Vegas.
“People dislike [Priscilla] because of her story,” Stanley said, per Express. “I saw the movie. I’m one of the few that know what really happened, and I thought she was right on.”
Elvis died when Lisa Marie was nine, and her parents finalized their divorce when she was only five. Stanley said she hadn’t spent enough time seeing their dynamic to understand that Priscilla accurately depicted it.
“Lisa only knew her dad until she was 9 years old,” he said. “Her mother was there a lot longer. I was there a lot longer.”
Stanley said he witnessed the way Elvis treated Priscilla during their relationship.
“[The movie] showed Elvis throwing a chair at her, and he’s angry. Real mad,” he said. “He used to pop like that. I mean, I saw that more than once.”
Priscilla Presley said she felt emotional after watching the film
Priscilla had a more positive view of the film despite her enduring love for Elvis. She said she felt emotional after watching it, though.
“When I saw the movie, I tried to separate myself and live it as if I was just a fan or just someone that’s wanting to see the movie,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “At the end, I actually — I was quite emotional. Only being 14. You look back and you go, ‘Why me? Why am I here? Why am I driving in a limo, going through the gates of Graceland with Elvis?’”
She admitted some scenes were hard to watch.
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